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Mar
12
Novel, Chapter Two.
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No, silly, the Shop Tart is not writing a novel. She has neither the time nor the skillzz. (She would, however, like to read a good one. Suggestions?) Novel is the latest pop-up shop in Charleston. In fact, it is the second time around for Novel. (Chapter One happened in December of last year.) Lauren Lail of Library: Archives of Fashion, Jane Pope of Balboa and Jane Pope Jewelry and Marysia Reeves of Marysia Swim have a gorgeous space at 438 King Street, just a few doors down from the Shop Tart’s beloved La Fourchette.
In Charleston last weekend, the Shop Tart meant to get there, but the preparations for the Unmasking Colon Cancer Ball took up all her time. Saturday night, she saw Marysia at the ball - her swimwear was included in the fashion show - and hinted ever so subtly that she might like begged like the tart she is for a chance to pop into Novel Sunday morning before she returned to Columbia. In fact, she still didn’t have a thing to wear to the Oscar party at the Nick that evening. Marysia is charming and lovely and everything nice - so is Jane, so is Lauren - and agreed to meet the Shop Tart at Novel at 10 am. And it was fab. Surprised? The space itself is beautiful.
Mr. Shop Tart enjoyed a coffee and the newspaper on a verrah comfortable sofa.
His wife browsed racks of vintage things from Lauren’s Library, all gorgeous and in a wide range of prices. Just a few…
The dress below was her absolute favorite and it would have been the perfect thing to wear to co-host an Oscar party with a drag queen, but it was a bit more than the Shop Tart wanted to spend. *sigh* If she remembers correctly, it was a little more than $300. The frock was absolutely beautiful on and the Shop Tart thinks you might like to buy it. And let her borrow. The French dress was incredibly well-constructed and required no brassiere. (Somehow, that sentence called for “brassiere.” “Bra” would have been tacky, n’est-ce pas?)
In the end, she decided this coral, one-shoulder number would work. In fact, she loves it!
Marysia had several racks of clothing and swimwear too, including some of the samples from last year’s Charleston Fashion Week show. (She won best emerging designer.) The Shop Tart was feeling a bit too pasty to try on swimwear just yet, but no worries, because VanJean in Columbia also carries the line. Some day soon, spray on a tan and get down there to try them, m’kay? She had suits and clothing for women and adorable suits from her line for children.
Marysia recently partnered with The Laundress to create her own swimwear wash. The Shop Tart absolutely recommends such products as they really do help your suits stay nicer longer. (Other products from The Laundress can be found at Pout in Columbia. And they rock.)
Jane Pope’s jewelry, Balboa and Jane Pope Jewelry, was divine. The Shop Tart is not-so-secretly in love with the branch rings with diamonds. She has three children. Don’t you think three of the rings - two in rose gold, one in gold - would make a lovely Mother’s Day gift? Don’t you? All of the pieces were fab and the Shop Tart and Marysia had a great time comparing favorites.
The Shop Tart has a 54-inch strand of pearls. She thinks the whole twenties-tie-it-in-a-knot-and-bob-your-hair thing is a bit played out and has never worn them. She also has a sweet little princess-length string of pearls she received for her twelfth birthday from her grandmother. Thanks to her new necklace by Jane Pope (only $28!), she is rocking both strings of pearls. All together now…
There were loads of fab accessories from Library: Archives of Fashion. Lauren has a great eye for inexpensive vintage accessories that make an outfit. (She has some more expensive ones too, if you like. Predictably, they are also fab.) The Shop Tart scored a skinny purple belt with a brass buckle. Sweet!
Even the walls are decorated with original pieces, available for purchase bien sûr, in a variety of prices.
The furniture in the shop is also for sale. It comes from Elizabeth Stuart Design. And is gorgeous. The Shop Tart wants these chairs real bad for the fab kitchen redesign she is planning in her head.
Flowers for Novel come from Stems, so if you need to order or send flowers in Charleston, give them a call. Love!
If you happen to be in Charleston this evening, Novel is throwing a party tonight to celebrate upcoming Charleston Fashion Week. If you can’t make the party, do try to visit the shop before it closes at the end of the month. Shopping at Novel will make you a true original.
After Novel, the happy couple wandered into Rue de Jean for brunch. (He was happy because he had gotten to read his paper, uninterrupted. She was happy because she scored a dress, a necklace and a belt. She might have been happier. Hard to call it.) It’s a bit of a cliche, but they love the French feel of Rue.
The coffee was perfection and the salmon b.l.t. - not pictured here because it got eaten - was ruh-diculously good. And away they went, back to Columbia for the Oscar party.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
P.S. All regular-priced shoes at Revente are 20 percent off until Sunday. Have you been there recently? Hello, Chanel, Prada, Jimmy Choo and Manolo!
P.P.S. So…you do know tomorrow is a big day in Five Points, right? The annual St. Patrick’s day festival will be rocking all day and night. Free Times has a great guide if you are going. If you are shopping or dining out that evening in Five Points, make sure your destination is open. A handful of businesses close to enjoy the festivities or modify their hours. Party on, yo!
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6 Responses to “Novel, Chapter Two.”
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The Shop Tart Loves...
I did enjoy the paper, but I wasn’t drinking coffee*. I had water in a bottle that looked a lot like the swimwear wash bottles. This may explain why my (never mind).
Fact checking,
TF
*I gave up coffee for Lent, but had a mid-season trade for bread on March 8. I know: fascinating.
The Widow’s Season by Laura Brodie
Mr. ST - Thanks for the clarification. Still want to have dinner with me tonight?
Kathryn - Just looked it up - that looks great! It’s my next read. Thanks!
Dear Shoptart,
I am an avid reader of yours! I am from Columbia but live in Charleston so I have loved hearing about Charleston! Don’t get me wrong I love hearing about Columbia and all of its greatness but Charleston is even better! The post today was especially great because the lovely Jane Pope is my first cousin! I’m not a big comment person but I wanted to give you a suggestion of a new blog and a book. Can’t remember if you’ve read it or not but The Help by Kathryn Stockett is my new favorite book. Definitely a must read. Also a friend of mine has started a blog that looks rather promising. It is titled E-Revelry, http://www.e-revelry.blogspot.com/ ,
and has a great little story behing the name so you should check it out. Wow, this comment got long fast, whoops.
Ann
Our shoe sale at Revente lasts through Sunday.
PS: We are opening at noon on Sunday for those that didn’t get down due to the festival on Saturday.
Hi Ms Tart,
I met you at the Social Media’s club meeting at Terra and you are a hoot! I must co-sign Ann Pope’s book recommendation, The Help. Funny thing is that I’m from Newberry like Jane Pope (she and my sister were good friends)and it is so cool when I see her designs on celebrities.
On another note, check out Banana Republic at Columbiana Mall. Scored about $250 of merchandise for $36. Divine bronze driving shoes for $12 that were originally $98! The jewelry sale is fantastic!!!