Check It Out: Charlotte NC Fashion Week!

Charlotte NC Fashion Week Begins Today!

http://www.charlottencfashionweek.com/

Southern Lady Style's Interview with Karen Dooley

My momma, Karen Dooley, has been interior designing for over 25 years. She is the reason why I enjoy decorating and making my home feel like home. She works full-time as an Administrative Assistant at a department store, but in her free time she loves to decorate! She has designed for her own home and many of our family members and friends. I believe she creates a true southern charm when she decorates. I decided to interview her for my first post for the Southern Decor section of Southern Lady Style.

1. How would you describe your personal interior design style?

Elegance, comfort, clean, stylish, and relaxing. I love trends, however I like my home to reflect the day to day instead of themes. I want my home to feel like home, a place my family can kick their shoes off and relax. I design with this in mind.

2. Who would you like to collaborate with on a project?

I would enjoy working with Laurie Hickson-Smith from TLC's Trading Spaces because we have similar styles and taste. I love her style and her designs. The rooms she decorates are filled with warmth and practicality, and I would say the rooms I decorate have a similar feeling.

3. Do you have "go to" paint colors?

I love neutral colors, such as creams and beige. If I use color I normally choose a red or sage green. I always paint trim bright white. I enjoy neutral walls in the living room and dining room because I love to decorate with art. The piece of art should be colorful and will stand out on a neutral background.

4. Where do you recommend readers to splurge versus save?

Splurge on bedding! Everything from the mattress to the sheets to the comforter. Splurge on furniture! Buy good furniture that will last for years. Save on accent pieces and wall decor.

5. Where do you love to shop for home decor?

Black Lion, Kirkland's, Garden Ridge, Kohl's, TJ Maxx Home Goods, and Lowe's Home Improvement Store

6. What are some of your favorite items?  

My bedroom suite from Kincaid Furniture.

 My daughter, Sarah's bedroom furniture from Rooms to Go and S & G Furniture and Interiors in Gastonia, NC.

My daughter, Cherae's bedroom furniture from Ashley Home Furniture.

Southern Lady Style's Top Southern Recipes

Two of my favorite things to do is cook and eat! My all time favorite type of food is down home southern cooking. I decided to share my picks for Top Southern Recipes and feature Paula Deen's recipes on Southern Lady Style. Paula Deen features great recipe catagories on her website pauladeen.com, so I chose my top pick from each. It was not an easy task since she offers so many great dishes. Throughout the post click on the name of each of my picks and the link will take you straight to the recipe. Enjoy! 

Appetizer: Traditional Southern Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs has always been one of my favorite foods. I love to eat them anytime they are prepared, but especially on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Beverage: Sweet Tea

My top picks would not be complete without a recipe for homemade sweet tea. Southern Ladies always have sweet tea in the refridgerator!

Bread: Cheese Biscuits

I remember the first time I had cheese biscuits. I was at Red Lobster with my family and they brought them out before our meal. They were so warm and delcious. Paula Deen's recipe is quick and easy so now I can bake these biscuits at home!

Casserole: Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie was the first southern dish I started making when I was just a pre-teen. I brought a recipe home from school and cooked for my family. They all loved it. I still enjoying cooking this very easy recipe!

Dessert: Pumpkin Pie

With fall right around the corner, I could not resist putting this dessert on the list. :)

Kid Friendly: Sausage Balls

Paula Deen has a kid friendly category and I am really glad sausage balls were on her list. This recipe is really simple!

Main Dish: Old-Fashioned Meatloaf

This recipe is one of my top picks because it is one of my boyfriend's favorite southern dishes!

Sauce & Dressing: Three Cheese Hot Artichoke Dip

I know this recipe is not technically a sauce or dressing, but Paula Deen feautured the dip in this category so I am going to use it. This dip is one of my favorites!!

Seafood: Southern Fried Catfish

One of my favorite pastimes was going catfishing with my MawMaw Faye. We would stay out all afternoon fishing and then come home and she would always cook the fish for us. I love good home fried southern catfish!

Side Dish: The Lady's Cheesy Mac 

Mac & Cheese is good by itself or with any southern meal!

Slow Cooker: Harvest Stew

This vegtable soup recipe is oh so good! I love a good slow cooker stew when it is freezing cold outside!

Soup & Salad: Sliced Onions & Cucumbers

I love cucumbers soaked in vinegar. This recipe serves the vinegar on the side.

Please visit pauladeen.com for all her wonderful recipes! I would love to hear some of y'all's favorite recipes are! :)

 



About Cherae

As soon as I could dress myself I have been obsessed with fashion and clothing.  I used to change clothes many times throughout the day so I could express myself through my outfit.  I have always enjoyed flipping through magazines looking for new trends and following what the celebrities were wearing.  When I was in high school, we had a local boutique owner speak to our class about his job.  This is when I learned about buying and what a buyer/entrepreneur does on a day to day.  I fell in love with fashion all over again, and I knew I would work in the industry one day!

So here I am! I have 7+ years experience in the retail industry, and I am about to graduate with my Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Marketing and Management from The Art Institute of Charlotte.  I currently work at Aeropostale as an Assistant Manager.  I absolutely love it!  I enjoy working in management and in the teen retail market.  Although, I enjoy what I do now I hope to open a boutique in the future.  

I currently live in Charlotte, North Carolina; however I was born and raised the heart of Dixie, Alabama.  I am a true Southern lady, brought up to have respect, grace, and style.  My blog is dedicated to highlight these attributes and the charm of the south.  Not only do I enjoy fashion, I also enjoy cooking, interior design, beauty, and being inspired.  Southern Lady Style will feature posts about all these categories with a little Southern charm added in.        

I am so excited to be starting my first blog and I plan to take this opportunity and run with it! 

Southern Lady Style: A Look Inside Cherae's Make-Up Bag

I like changing things up a bit, and I do this frequently with the beauty products I use on a daily basis. I decided to look inside my make-up bag and conduct reviews on the products I am currently using. Maybe you will find your next favorite! Enjoy!


1. Clinique Moisture Surge: When I ran out of my Mary Kay Enriched Moisturizer Formula 1, I decided to try a sample of the Clinique Moisture Surge. The first time I used it I was a little unsure of how I felt about it because I am use to a creme based product, and the Clinique product is a gel-creme base. When you use the Clinique Moisture Surge it feels like you are rubbing aloe vera on sun-burned skin. It is refreshing, but sticky. After a minute or so the sticky feeling wears off, and your skin feels rejuvenated. All Clinique products are allergy tested and 100% fragrance free. They are also made in the U.S.A.  I enjoy this product and will most likely use it again in the future.  Visit clinique.com for more details. :)

 2. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse: I switch brands of foundations every time I run out of the one I am currently using. So, I have tried out several different kinds, from liquid to mineral powder.  I am using Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse and I am not too impressed. I have very dry skin and this matte based foundation is not the best one for my skin. The product advertisements show the foundation covering the skin for 100% perfection. I have found this benefit to be not so true. The matte mousse is a little too thick for me as well. I will most likely never use this product again. Visit maybelline.com for more details. :(

3. Cover Girl TRUblend Minerals: I change brands of powders just as frequently as my foundations. Currently I am using Cover Girl TRUblend Minerals. I love this product because of how light weight the powder feels on my skin and how well the powder covers. Since I use a foundation almost every day, this powder sets the foundation and makes my skin feel soft and smooth. I would definitely recommend this powder to anyone! Visit covergirl.com for more details. :)

 4. Cover Girl Smoky Shadow Blast: I use various eye shadows every week. I absolutely love my newest addition to my make-up bag! I am currently using the Bronze Fire combination of the Cover Girl Smoky Shadow Blast. This eye shadow stick is the easiest product I have ever tried. The shadow goes on smooth and even and stays on all day long. Step 1 is label on the stick and is applied to your eye lid. Step 2 is the other side of the stick and is applied to your crease and between your lid and eyebrow. Once the second color is blended you have a pretty smoky eye. Eyeliner and mascara increases the effect. I will be buying another stick as soon as I use the one I have. Visit covergirl.com for more details. =)

5. Benefit Smokin' Liner: I love black eyeliner even though I just use a small amount on a daily basis. Eyeliner along with my mascara brightens my eyes and highlights my changing eye color. I love my Benefit Smokin' Liner that came with my Benefit Smokin' Eyes Kit. I only use the kit on special occasions, but I use the eyeliner almost daily. This eyeliner goes on smooth and lasts all day. I will continue to use this product and recommend the entire kit to all my readers. Visit benefitcosmetics.com for more details. =)

6. Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion: I always buy the newest mascara, so again I have tried several different types of mascara. Recently, while shopping for new mascara with my best friends, Lindsay & Brittany, I decided to try the Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion. We were planning to compare this brand to another brand. Both mascaras give you length and volume when applied. The other brand looked fabulous on my girl, and the Cover Girl brand look pretty good on me. However, I am not too impressed and I will most likely not buy this particular mascara from Cover Girl again. The Lash Blast Fusion is a good mascara, but definitely not one of my personal favorites. I have used other brands of mascara and been much more impressed with how it looked on my eye lashes and how long it lasted throughout the day. Visit covergirl.com for more details. :/

7. Benefit Erase Paste: After most of my make-up is applied I enjoy applying this awesome brightening concealer from Benefit Cosmetics. I apply the Erase Paste underneath my eyes. This technique brightens my eyes and gets rid of any under eye circles. This concealer is a must have for all Southern Ladies. Visit benefitcosmetics.com for more details. =)

8. Benefit Brow Zings: I absolutely love this product and sometimes forget I even have it. The Benefit Brow Zings is a shaping wax for your eyebrows. When I use this product I always apply towards the end of doing my make-up. The wax helps to keep your eyebrows in place all day. The wax came along with my Smokin' Eye Kit. Visit benefitcosmetics.com for more details. :)

9. Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss: I have been using this lip gloss for years now and I love it! I love the color and the light weight feeling of the gloss. I use the Shocking Pink color, not the one shown in the picture. I definitely recommend this product. Visit esteelauder.com for more details. =) 

10. Personalized Train Case: Lastly, I put my makeup into a personalized train case. A train case is the perfect size to put all your makeup in and easy to travel with. :)

I would love to hear from all my Southern Ladies about your own beauty product favorites! :)

Miranda Lambert has a New Online Boutique

I am so excited to see country music star, Miranda Lambert, has a new online boutique on boutiques.com.  I am little behind because she debuted in January, however better late than never! :) This online style boutique features Miranda's hand-picked apparel and accessory items.  There are many items for many different budgets.  You can mix and match the items, and shop for the items on boutiques.com.  Many local boutiques, mass retailers, and online boutiques offer Miranda's picks.    



I have always admired Miranda Lambert's style.  She always looks gorgeous, whether she is on stage or on the red carpet.  She describes her style as "casual, with a little rock ‘n’ roll thrown in: jeans, cowboy boots and belt buckles. I also love to dress up now and then too." She loves to wear t-shirts, jeans, sundresses, and cowboy boots. She always seems to put her own spin to whatever she is wearing.  

                                             

Recently she married country music star, Blake Shelton. Her dress was her mom's wedding dress and look absolutely stunning on Miranda. The dress was worn by her mom in 1979 was designed by Gunne Sax. She left the spaghetti-strap, off-white gown exactly how it was, except for adding a small train.  Her bridesmaids worn custom Priscilla of Boston dresses designed by Mark Brower. Blake and Miranda's wedding definitely reflected both of their personalities and style.



Here is a note from Miranda about her online boutique at boutiques.com.

"Although most of my time is spent in jeans and a t-shirt, on occasion I love to get dressed up. Whether it's for red carpet events or a performance out on the road, I love to mix my girly side with my more rock n' roll side. Check out my new page at Boutiques.com where you can get ideas for your look, take a style quiz, make comments and check out who wore what recently, including yours truly. Happy New Year and I hope to see you out on the road soon!" 

Ran

Let me know what y'all think of Miranda's online boutique :)

http://www.boutiques.com/boutique/Miranda_Lambert?storefront=t&profileTypeName=celeb&boutiqueSource=following

 

Fall 2011 Fashion Trends

I always go to harpersbazaar.com to look at the fashion trends for the upcoming season. With Autumn right around the corner, I thought I would bring you the top fashion trends for the season. 

1. Crimson Tide

Roll Tide Roll Baby!!  This color trend will definitely be an easy one to follow with football season coming up :) Crimson can be the perfect pop of color for any outfit.  My favorite crimson item for the fall is this Red Elephant Elizabeth Ruffle Blouse from Elizabeth McKay.  When you purchase this blouse $100 from the sale goes to benefit the University of Alabama 's Act of Kindness Fund. This fund helps to provide emergency assistance to UA employees and students. Visit emckay.com to find out more.

2. The Clash

The Clash trend is all about mixing patterns.  This is one of my favorite things to do, however I always am self-conscience about doing so.  Lily Pulitzer makes mixing prints effortless. This super cute Kelsi Dress is the perfect way to clash prints for the fall season. Visit lilypulitzer.com for more mixed prints.  

3. Cloak & Swagger

When the weather turns cooler I love to throw on my favorite sweater poncho from Old Navy. I found a new favorite from Ralph Lauren's Lauren Collection, the Zary Lambswool Plaid Pancho. Visit ralphlauren.com to find more great fall outerwear. 

4. Luxury & Demand

The Luxury & Demand trend is all about the fur. You don't have to purchase a real fur jacket to represent this trend.  I found some great faux fur items at one of my favorite stores, Ann Taylor's LOFT.  I love this Faux Fur Collar Cardigan. Visit loft.com for more faux fur.

5. Great Lengths

Maxi dresses were huge for spring and summer, and they are still in for the fall. Long skirts and dusters are definitely apart of the Great Lengths trend as well. I know tradition says no white after Labor Day, but I could not help myself when I saw this gorgeous dress from Lacoste.  This maxi comes from the Lacoste + Malandrino Collection. The Pointelle Dress Maxi is also available in black. Visit shoplacoste.com

6. Suit Yourself

The description is in the title. This super hot trend is all about work wear and fabulous suits for women. One of my favorite places to shop for a well fitted suit is The Limited. Visit thelimited.com for a variety of work wear options.

7. Coat of Arms

I love my winter coats! Every lady needs a statement coat as a staple item in their coat closet. A statement coat could feature a bold color or big buttons. My favorite coat for the upcoming season is Double-Cloth Townhouse Trench from J. Crew. I love the buttons and the color. Visit jcrew.com to see all the colors.

I hope these trends help all my Southern Ladies get ready for the cooler weather! I would love to see pics of y'all wearing these items. :)