N. A WAY OF LIVING WITH ELEGANCE OR GRACE; IMPECCABLE TASTE
They're the designers, boutiques, and artists who put a twinkle in your eye.
Amber Perley Pearl Southern Couture
Longing for dresses inspired by the South, the LSU grad decided to fill the fashion void herself. The Dallas native's first collection of prim-yet-posh styles is already dressing up stores around town. Read more
Mother of Pearl
Pearl Southern Couture Clothing Debuts
No one had as much Southern charm as Minnie Pearl herself (hooooowdy!).
But Amber Perley’s designs come awfully close.
Dubbed Pearl Southern Couture, the Dallas native’s new dress collection was inspired by her love of the South.
As one would presume, her designs are prim and proper in breezy fabrics (chiffon, linen) with cascades of ruffles and off-the-shoulder necklines. But before you turn your nose up, take note: They have an edge (perhaps a wink at her Charlotte Ronson stint in NYC) in the form of short hemlines and skin-baring styles.
The moderately priced pieces are as appropriate for a Junior League luncheon as for a night at the rodeo.
Hee haw.
Available at Kacky & Carl, 2722 Routh Street, Uptown (214-295-4486 or kackyandcarl.com). To see styles, go to pearlsoutherncouture.com.
Kerry Bonnell Archive
In conjunction with her online designer vintage boutique, the New York transplant opened a brick-and-mortar version in Uptown to showcase her near-perfect finds by Chloe, Halston, Gucci, and more in the flesh Read more
History Lesson
Archive Vintage Boutique Opens
While your girlfriends get Halston gowns, Pucci shifts, and Geoffrey Beene hand-me-downs from their mothers, you inherit polyester pants and tarnished turquoise jewelry.
Good thing Archive, our favorite online vintage store, has just opened a brick-and-mortar location in Uptown. It’s packed with clothing, shoes, handbags, and jewelry in near-perfect condition.
The treasure chest includes Chanel tweed blazers; Herve Leger bandage dresses; Moschino purses; and several pieces by Cardin, YSL, Versace, and Gaultier. Most of the unique finds are from the ’60s and ’70s, eras adored by the owner who spent five years buying and selling for Resurrection in New York.
Don’t pass the curio cabinet up front stocked with envy-inducing accessories including Gucci snakeskin bangles, evening bags, and even a deck of cards. And no need to fret: Everything is marked well below the original sticker price, so you can catch up to your pals in no time.
Your daughter will thank you.
Archive, 2912 Maple Avenue, Uptown (214-999-8921 or archivevintage.com).
Cassandra MacGregor The House of MacGregor
The Dallas gal makes modern headgear using traditional millinery techniques. Last year she moved from NYC to a Bishop Arts atelier to handcraft her designs, which have appeared everywhere from magazine covers to the Broadway stage. Read more
Hat Lady
Cassandra MacGregor Hats
Sure, you’d sport a fedora this spring — if only you could be assured of looking more like Sienna Miller than Indiana Jones.
Milliner Cassandra “Cassie” MacGregor’s got you covered. After taking hat-making classes at FIT in New York and apprenticing with some pros, she launched The House of MacGregor.
MacGregor’s handmade headpieces are de rigueur in haute fashion circles from Proenza Schouler’s and Marc Jacobs’s runway shows to W magazine’s coveted cover. Thankfully, MacGregor moved to Dallas recently and is stocking a small selection of her couture creations — mini cocktail caps, cowboy hats, feather-spiked fedoras — around town.
Have a custom order in mind? No prob. She makes made-to-measure designs with a two-week turnaround.
Mother’s Day gift, anyone?
Available at V.O.D., 2418 Victory Park Lane (214-754-0644 or vodboutique.com); Pumps, 217 North Kentucky Street, McKinney (972-562-4555 or gottahavemypumps.com).
