Style Girl’s intern Michael Deininger-Bell with his Fresh & Precious
blog partner Courtney McGovern showing off their Americana style.

 

Even when Memorial Day was a few months away, did you notice stars and stripes are having a bit of a moment? Separately (stars. stripes.), that’s not all that surprising. Same goes with the red, white and blue combination. Every year when the sunshine calls, we see the “summer on the French Riveria” type of vibe, but I’m talking about in-your-face America. Get this. It’s actually kind of in style to be patriotic.
 
(Click HERE to see “60 Hot Hipster Girls Wearing American Flags”)

In the past, it was something your neighbor’s parents “did.” You know, wearing their flag t-shirts, accessorizing with fanny packs and heading into town for the fourth of July parade. It’s kind of like wearing a band t-shirt of the band you’re at the show to see (my parents insist on doing this groupie faux pas all the time).
 

When I studied abroad in England my last semester of college, I was all
about the Union Jack. Announcing the arrival of my Anglophile status,
it was English breakfast tea, English humor (Coupling and Are You Being Served?) and my trusty Union Jack sequin sleeveless jumper (recently sold via the Style Girl Collection).
 

I can remember going to TopShop with my English friend Elsie where we discovered a cool tank top with a hint of an American flag on the top half. Elsie suggested we both get it, but I passed, preferring to keep my flag fashion limited to the Union Jack (whereas, she wouldn’t have been caught dead in my sequin Union Jack jumper).
 

It seems times have changed. Although the US of A might not be in fashion in the rest of the world right about now, ‘Merika is experiencing a bit of sartorial self-love, at least from the outside. Go on, mix star-spangled prints with wild abandon!  Since my intern Michael Deininger-Bell is often seen around town in stars and stripes (with a denim collar, of course!), I thought it only fitting to address the Americana / flag fashion trend while re-capping his first fashion show (featuring several vintage Americana looks) held last Thursday at Sputnik downtown (below under Social Chic).
 
God Bless America the Beautiful.

Last year, I was contacted by Make-A-Wish in Raleigh about an event they were planning on bringing to Wilmington. They expressed interest in promoting their event Wine, Women & Shoes in the FASHION FIX. I was excited to hear about the concept: fashion show, shopping, wine and most memorably, “Shoe Guys” that basically “serve” and sell shoes from local boutiques to raise money for a cause close to all our hearts, granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. A few months later, I was disappointed to hear the event was to be postponed due to the difficulties they were having juggling both their event in Raleigh and two hours away in Wilmington.
 

Luckily, they brought Janis Heath Netherland on board, effectively developing Wilmington’s official Make-A-Wish team.  I’m excited and proud to report that at Wilmington’s very first Wine, Women  & Shoes event benefiting Make-A-Wish (where I styled the event fashion show), Janis and her team sold-out the event the night before hosting at least 300 guests at The Terraces on Sir Tyler last Thursday evening. I also heard a rumor that Wine, Women & Shoes founder Elaine Honig (also in attendance) said this event was “the best one yet.” Needless to say, Wilmington knows how to “work it” for wishes!

Joel and Jess with our dear friend, painter Brad Kunkle, at his second sold-out show  ”Gilded Wilderness” at Arcadia Gallery in Soho 

Jess James / “FASHION FIX” along with Land Rover Cape Fear hosted
a high-style Mid-Century inspired “MAD MEN Returns” event March 29 at The Courtyard Marriott as a follow-up to the success of the “We Miss MAD MEN” event held in June 2011 at The Hilton Garden Inn. Since the new season FINALLY premiered Sunday March 25 (after a year-long absence), we gave fans their Mad Men fix with a celebratory premiere party that would have  impressed even the likes of Don Draper.

For the past several months, I’ve been in touch with Arielle, who works at a production company called 44 Blue based in LA. She originally contacted me after discovering the Style Swap website. She said they were intrigued with the concept as a potential for a reality-based show, and wanted to know more. They are producing their first style-based show “House of Consignment” documenting Chicago-based fashionista Corri McFadden’s online high-end consignment business Edrop-off, airing on VH1 March 21, and are thinking of adding another style-based show to their mix.  After watching a number of my event videos, Arielle along with her co-worker, set up a Skype meeting to get to know me a little better. After providing  bios of all the people I work with on Style Swap in a variety of markets, Arielle promptly asked “When’s the next Style Swap?” followed up with, “I’m coming.”

After inking a new show with Mark Wahlberg and a military-based reality show, Arielle’s Charleston trip was unfortunately sidelined. Although I’ve come to view the prospect of reality TV as a lot of hot air, I did have at least one moment at The Charleston Swap that could have resulted in a made-for-TV meltdown.

It all started with Angela’s Black Label dress. When I did her closet clean-out in Charleston a few months back, she showed me her Black Label dress she purchased during Smolder’s closing sale. It looks a bit like an abstract painting with a nude panel and exposed zipper up the back. The fit wasn’t right for her, but she didn’t think she’d get much if she consigned it. Since I purchased two Black Label dresses in the same sale that fit perfectly, I asked if she might want to trade her Black Label dress for an item from my Style Girl Collection. We decided to make the switch at the Style Swap.

After hugging Angela and her mom “Hello,” I swiftly made my way to the back room at the gallery to store my new Black Label dress, already thinking of what accessories might work best if I decide to wear it at the Spring Fashion Preview (Thurs March 8th).

Over an hour later while the swap was in full swing, I saw Joel making his way across the gallery to hand off two more swap items that just arrived. One was a geometric style blazer and the other was my Black Label dress!

I thought there had to be some mistake and immediately started making my way towards the back room when I was swarmed by swappers demanding, “Is that a dress for the swap?” “Are you putting it on the rack?” and “Oh-my-Goddddd.  I love that!”

I was surrounded. Trying not to panic, I asked one of the style ambassadors to hold the dress and blazer while I ran to the back realizing that I might start a Style Swap revolt if I attempted to disappear in the back room with the Black Label dress in hand.

Luckily, my dress was just where I left it and amazingly enough, a Charleston swapper had brought the very same dress in the same size. The determined blonde who initially cornered me immediately sprang forward with her five tags and laid her claim. And that, my dear readers, is how a Style Swap crisis was averted.

Wearing my 1990′s Guess snakeskin jeans from
A Second Time Around, studded collar blouse from Hallelu
and spiked necklace from Mod.