Fortunately, you don’t have to go far to find shoes like this. Just stop in the Charleston Shoe Company on lower King Street. Owner Neely Powell is a talented young designer who studied shoe and accessory design at the Savannah College of Art & Design.

Her shoes come in over 40 styles. Their distinguishing feature is the fabric: it’s made of a supple, supportive elastic that cradles almost any width foot, from ultra-narrow to wide. Colors range from solids and multicolored wovens to festive stripes and animal prints. A variety of heel heights and styles take the line from casual to formal.

Faced with so many permutations of color and style (which all seem, magically, to fit) shoppers often buy two or three pairs at a time. “It’s like crack for women,” jokes Powell.

Her bestseller, the Monterey, is perfect for travel. Its “aggressive” trend is rugged enough to negotiate uneven pavement, while its graceful straps and higher heel move easily into evening. Powell’s tagline for this shoe—“from cobblestones to cocktails”—is on target.

Powell’s success has been meteoric. After opening stores in Charleston and Savannah in 2010, she’s planning others in New York City, Charlotte, N.C., Newport, R.I., and St. Michaels, Mich.

The key to her success? “I quickly learned it’s not about trends, “ says Powell, “It’s about “making something classic and timeless—and getting women out of tennis shoes and flip flops. It’s about being a woman again!”

Charleston Shoe Company
Charleston, SC: 161 King Street and 188 Meeting Street
Savannah, GA: 226 W. Broughton Street
www.charlestonshoeco.com

Sales associate Tom Fulmer confirmed that bow ties are very popular these days, representing 40 – 50% of sales. And although it’s possible to buy a bow tie in the same traditional patterns and colors as a regular tie, ultimately, says Fulmer, “It’s all about color.”

Randy Hanauer, a creative bow tie designer in Rock Hill, South Carolina, (www.bowties.com) supplies both Berlin’s and Grady Ervin & Co. in Charleston. His ties are handmade and fashionable.

Randy reports that bow ties have become a hit among the younger generation. “Young men in high school and college are now driving the market,” he says, adding, “This is the first generation of males in 50 years that cares about good clothes!”

According to Randy, the younger generation also loves madras, seersuckers and great-looking khaki trousers and shorts. His upcoming spring/summer bow tie collections are all about color. “We’re adding several new stripe designs in colors like fuchsia, citrus, pink, yellow and Carolina blue,” he says. “We’re also adding colorful woven plaids, paisleys and dots. And we’ll have a fun, new range of printed cottons from France that are very whimsical!”

As for tie trends among older men, the sales personnel at Berlin’s and Grady Ervin & Co. claim that, in Charleston at least, bow ties and traditional four-in-hand ties are equally popular.

Check out the new collections at Berlin’s, and at Grady Ervin & Co. on 313 King Street.

Berlin’s
114 King Street
843-722-1665
www.berlinsclothing.com

Grady Ervin & Co.
313 King Street
843-722-1776
www.gradyervin.com

Alana Knuff prefers painting from real life. “My fascination is with the person’s face,” she says. “You can see their personality, their soul. I’ve always loved painting people because they each have their own uniqueness.”

Knuff started creating portraits professionally in 2008, but she’s adored the art form her whole life.

“I started drawing as a child,” she says. “When I had free time I would sit out on the porch with my pad of paper and sketch people. I started with imaginary figures, and then gradually worked my way to people. As I got older, I created my first portraits—one of my mother and then one of my college roommate.”

up with a mother who taught art and a father who was a mechanical engineer, Knuff felt torn between her analytical mind and her artistic heart. She worked most of her life as a capital project manager for Harvard and the University of Texas, retired in 2008 and began living her dream.

“I decided that my artsy side would finally have its day. I feel like I’ve been on the expressway in the art world for the last few years,” she says. “I still have so much to learn about it.” Although I’ve worked a lot with pen and ink and with pastels, I know that my passion lies in creating portraits.”

Knuff did a lot of her learning this year at the Art Academy in Florence, Italy, where she studied portraiture with Maureen Hyde.

“It was a life-changing experience. I now paint every day and I’ve joined several art associations,” she says. “I have paintings in the United States and in Italy as well. I sold a painting to [master craftsman] Giorgio Filacamo while I was in Ravello; he’s made cameos for Elizabeth Taylor and the Roselyn Carter.”

A portrait can make a very exquisite gift in a family, and Knuff takes pride in creating something that will last.

“It’s a legacy, an heirloom,” she explains. “It’s also an act of love on the part of the painter.”

Knuff shares the different stages of the portrait’s creation with her client, ensuring that they’ll be happy with the finished piece. “I begin with the underpainting by using transparent red oxide,” she explains. “It captures the values and pose for the portrait, providing a roadmap for the entire composition. I then ask the client to come see it before I continue.”

Later, clients come back to check for additional changes.

“I want to know if I’ve accurately captured the person,” says Knuff. “There is nothing more satisfying than the client viewing a portrait of their loved one and falling completely in love.”

Speaking of love, Alana agrees that portraits make unique, timeless gifts for any romantic occasion, from Valentine’s Day to a wedding anniversary.

“There are two people in a marriage, and I suggest a portrait together of the husband and wife,” says Knuff. “Why not capture the love between them?”

“I’ve always loved the process of a portrait,” she says, “particularly the moment when the person finally jumps onto the canvas and you say, ‘A-ha! There they are!’ It’s exciting.”

Visit Alana’s website at www.alanaknuff.com. To view her work, go to the Hamlet Fine Art Gallery on Broad Street in Charleston.

Alana Knuff
www.alanaknuff.com

Every Charlestonian is familiar with the dog days of summer in the Lowcountry—the heat, the humidity and the endless search for the perfect pool to hop into to cool away the day. That search has ended, because Clear Blue Pools, Charleston’s premier pool provider, turns that summer fantasy into a reality in as little as four to six weeks. This locally owned small business has been serving the Charleston area for the past 13 years, providing high-end custom pools to homeowners who wish to soak up the blue waters, vitality and sunshine only a refreshing swimming pool can offer.

Clear Blue Pools is a company built on a friendship that began almost two decades ago. The company president, John Waite and Mike Greer, vice president of sales, met over 15 years ago while working for another pool company in Charleston. They became fast friends and were both passionate about creating high-end custom pools. “We decided to start our own company and we have never looked back. The great part about our relationship is we have worked together for almost two decades and still remain friends,” says Mike Greer.

The fact that Clear Blue Pools was born out of a friendship is no coincidence. Building relationships is core to the company’s mission and a key to their continued success in Charleston. The award-winning pool company can assist homeowners with all things pool-related, from design, placement and add-on’s to installation, care and maintenance for the life of the pool. “We believe in building relationships with our customers,” says Mike Greer, “Our customers are our customers long after the pool is built.”

It is important to Clear Blue Pools not only to build a beautiful pool but also to provide service to the pool owners. In addition to the service and maintenance programs, Clear Blue Pools backs up their craftsmanship with a warranty. They also offer renovations, repair and weekly pool care. Once the details are finalized, they begin building the pool by grading the site and framing the shape of the pool. Next in the process is the pre-plumbing, electrical and wall construction, followed by finishing touches like decking, landscaping and accessories. Clear Blue Pools manages the project from start to finish.

“We are a small company that takes a lot of pride in what we do,” says Greer.

And what they do isn’t just about building a functional pool. A beautiful pool can become a sanctuary for the family. Just as the kitchen is the heart of the home, the pool is the hub of family fun! The staff of Clear Blue Pools agrees. “We love what we do. The end result is fun for the customer,” Greer says. “We are building something for entertainment and relaxing.” Clear Blue Pools thinks that the experience of buying and building a pool should be a fun experience. “Although at times our work can be challenging, we try to maintain a sense of humor and really get the customer to enjoy the process,” shares Greer. With the goal of creating a relaxing environment in mind, Clear Blue Pools often incorporates unique elements into the design to create the perfect retreat. Natural elements, such as fieldstone or travertine, blend into the outdoor environment. Other popular additions include sheer or rock waterfalls, vanishing edges, beach entry, LED lighting, fountains, decking, seating benches and pool bars. The waterfalls are always a chic water feature. If the homeowner has a picturesque backdrop such as the ocean, river or marsh, a vanishing edge complements the view. To highlight the pool and offer mood lighting, LED lights provide ambiance. A lighted spa, accompanied by a starry night and the crisp fall air brings romance to the back yard; it’s a home addition that can be enjoyed year-round. An especially popular trend this past year was the sun shelf, an oversized shelf built into the side of the pool. It is approximately nine to 12 inches deep, and can incorporate an umbrella stand. Voila! The sun shelf provides an instant place for sunbathers to soak up the sun, while still staying cool in the pool. A homeowner with a penchant for entertaining may be fond of the pool bar, which is a great feature for a party or gathering.

This past year Clear Blue Pools completed more than 25 pool projects. Two were memorable not only for the pool, but because of the relationship with the clients. One of Greer’s favorite projects was building a pool for a client in Huger, S.C. “It was a spectacular pool with tons of rock work, a swim-up bar and a beach entry. It is a pretty amazing pool, and the client was great,” says Greer. A second favorite project was a pool built for a couple living on the Harbor. “The pool was simple but elegant, and the setting was unreal.”

Whatever the project, Clear Blue Pools can help homeowners turn a vision into reality. Unique and unusual pool projects are their specialty. “We don’t build basic projects, although we do enjoy the basic pool. We have built some of the most outstanding pools in the Lowcountry,” says Greer.

No matter what size, shape or features you decide, Clear Blue Pools is committed to building a beautiful pool to bring years of fun, luxury and entertainment to your backyard. Greer puts it best, “Our work speaks for itself. I think what separates us from the competition is our commitment to do what is right. Many companies will say it, but very few actually do it. We are one of the few.” When you need a pool company you can count on to create a unique, one-of-a kind design with excellent service and a fun-loving spirit, Clear Blue Pools is for you.

Clear Blue Pools
7110 Rivers Ave.
North Charleston, SC 29406
843-300-4143
www.clearbluepools.net

About 10 years ago, the wire shelves in Colleen Adams’ closet fell down in the middle of the night. She was offered some melamine shelving and went to work on a solution. The experience, which prompted her to research a line of custom shelving, led to the launch of A Closet Case in 2003.

A Closet Case, located on Daniel Island, provides custom shelving solutions for clothes closets, media centers, laundry rooms, home offices, pantries and garages. The company designs and assembles closets using a range of products to create just the right storage solution.

Adams, who has a background in construction and sales, stresses that her goal is to take her knowledge of organization and efficiency and apply it to a client’s needs and budget. Along the way she gets to know her customer very well—after all, what’s more intimate than learning what’s tucked away in someone’s closets?

Adams says closets come in different sizes, meet varying demands and hold a variety of objects; therefore, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.

“We try to define what makes sense for each client,” Adams says. “Sometimes it’s simply organizing their current closet.”

Once A Closet Case assesses the situation, the solution can come in a variety of forms.

Sometimes all it takes is clearing out the clutter. Other times, swapping out hangers and organizing clothes by color makes a huge difference. Adams, who owns only 75 pieces of clothing, believes if you know what you have you’ll be less likely to buy duplicate items, and you’ll cut down on the time it takes to select an outfit for the day.

A Closet Case helps clients group their items into “keep,” “donate” and “recycle” piles, then it takes the items to Goodwill or a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. This benefits both the environment and the charities, while the client clears some clutter, Adams explains.

“It’s rewarding when people can find the garage floor and park the car in it,” she says.

The initial visit involves measuring the space and consulting with the client on storage needs. After that, Adams can provide some options within 24 hours. She offers two or three choices and a range of pricing, so clients can decide what works best for their situation and budget. Once a client makes a decision, A Closet Case is ready for installation in four days.

Because space organization is all about efficiency, features like a drawer for jewelry or a three-quarter-length mirror that slides out and pivots are ways to maximize space and keep items organized.

This year, Adams is diversifying the company to expand on the professional organizing component of the business. “A Basket Case” will focus solely on home organization, independent of closet design.

Also added this year is Monkey Bar, a line of garage storage systems typically used for longterm storage solutions. “It gives us some variety,” Adams says.

At A Closet Case, there’s more going on behind the scenes than design and organization. Adams is an avid supporter of The Brittney Strom Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Dayna and Kenneth Bledsoe. Adams met Dayna Bledsoe through a mission trip and decided she would be a perfect in-house designer for A Closet Case.

The Strom Foundation supports Camp Brittney in Costa Rica, a Christian youth camp, named in honor of 14-year-old Brittney Strom who wanted to become a missionary to Costa Rica. Tragically, Brittney and her family were killed in a plane crash. The Bledsoes decided to form a foundation to honor Brittney’s memory.

Adams has been on two mission trips, both with her teenage son, Jake. The company supports the Strom Foundation financially because it is part of their overall business philosophy to give back.

“It makes how we do business make more sense to us,” Adams says.

A Closet Case
Daniel Island, SC 29492
843-971-9069
www.AClosetCase.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday and by appointment.
The Brittney Strom Foundation
www.CampBrittney.com

Circa 1886’s impressive cuisine is a blend of the best of Charleston, past and present.

By incorporating African, Caribbean, English and French influences, the fare emphasizes the heritage and influences of our port city.

“I think that in this technologically advanced world, we’re all connected to everything but each other,” says chef Marc Collins.

“Circa 1886 offers a chance to come in, enjoy your food, and to have a walk through our garden—to take a walk through our culinary mind, so to speak—to reconnect to the basics of life.”

Collins embraces the mission, inspired by the city and restaurant’s setting inside the Wentworth Mansion. Built in 1886 during the post-Civil War era, the building remains one of Charleston’s most prominent properties. Once the private residence of Charleston cotton merchant, Francis Silas Rodgers, the mansion survives as an example of the Second Empire style. The interior includes hand-carved marble fireplaces, complicated woodwork and plasterwork, specially crafted crystal chandeliers, and mahogany, oak and walnut finishes. A bas-relief cornice above the dining room displays a sculpture of a cotton plant, speaking to the past and Rodgers’ trade.

The restaurant, itself, was the mansion’s original carriage house. The heart-of-pine floors and large windows enable the building to retain its character. Coffered ceilings and wainscoting help create a cozy, dining space. The arched booths, set alongside one of the walls, provide a place to relax. Circa 1886’s neutral color palette does not distract or overwhelm; it fixes the emphasis squarely on the content provided by this Forbes Four Star and AAA Four Diamond-rated restaurant.

“I still try and pull from what this place would have been like 200 years ago,” Collins says. “It’s a huge influence: the French Huguenots, the West Indian spices that came through, the Caribbean, the African influences. All those things were coming through here. Charleston became a melting pot—what I consider the first New Orleans, so to speak. I think, in its own right, it has its own flavor, just like New Orleans.”

An Erie, Pennsylvania, native, Collins started at Circa 1886 in 2001. He came of age early, assuming his first chef job at 23 at the Fairmount Hotel, an AAA Four Diamond hotel restaurant. Before Circa 1886, he spent 10 years in San Antonio focusing on French and Creole fare.

Like the restaurant, Collins is not showy or strident. His approach is unobtrusive, and likely undervalued. The press that given other Charleston chefs and restaurants sometimes eludes Circa 1886. Not that Collins feels slighted. Among those who eat well in Charleston, the chef’s abilities are fully appreciated.

In fact, Collins has an unparalleled distinction: He founded the Charleston Food and Wine Festival in 2006. The festival has rapidly evolved into one of the country’s best food events, attracting prominent guest chefs, national media figures and, just last year, more than 19,000 visitors. For his contribution, the festival annually awards a medal in Collins’ honor.

“It’s very humbling. I always said I wanted a James Beard award when I started cooking,” Collins says. “So having the Wine and Food Festival is like having my James Beard moment. I did it for the greater good of Charleston, so that everybody could be busier and get more attention and notoriety.”

Collins pays his respects to the region with every meal. A plantation rice bread roll references South Carolina’s role as a chief exporter of rice during the 18th and 19^th centuries. The rolls tear gently apart and are best when brushed with a whipped butter olive oil and dots of red salt.

Collins’ menu receives two major refreshes each year and will be revised again following Restaurant Week in January. But three constants remain: a plate of three artisanal cheeses, soufflé and a signature antelope dish.

Premium, lean-cut antelope is like veal in texture and taste. Circa 1886’s current incarnation takes on a peppery tone, which benefits from a French onion sauce and burgundy braised vegetables. It’s not gamey or particularly rich, just delicious and comforting.

The manner in which the antelope is cooked suggests an historical framework. “It hearkens back to a classic French dish,” Collins says.

The seared beef tenderloin references the past, too, served alongside sweet and creamy Pencil Cob grits from Anson Mills. Add a poached egg and whisky sauce, as Circa 1886 does, and the dish assumes a high-octane, breakfast-for-dinner appeal.

Meantime, Circa 1886 plums the sea, serving plump vanilla-scented scallops and a Carolina flounder. It’s heaped with delicate chestnut mousse, which quickly melts after a ladling of a sweet parmesan verjus broth.

But Collins mixes it up, too, making asparagus buttermilk ice cream—much better than it sounds—with smoked salmon roe, malt and pickled red onions. It’s a fun, crisp appetizer, almost like pistachio in flavor.

Knowledgeable servers are quick to suggest a glass or bottle from Circa 1886’s 250-bottle wine list, stored in the original wine cellar of the Wentworth Mansion. Desserts are events in themselves. Collins’ blueberries and cream soufflé is accented with a vanilla bean anglaise and a dollop of lemon icebox ice cream. Sweet potato donuts, filled with cinnamon pastry cream and finished with a pecan praline glaze, are a worthwhile indulgence. It’s doubtful anyone would have dreamed of such a dessert in 1886, but it’s pretty dreamy now.

In sum, Circa 1886 isn’t entirely beholden to the past. Rather, the restaurant uses it as a road marker to guide its future.

Circa 1886
149 Wentworth Street
843-853-7828
Hours: 5:30-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
www.Circa1886.com

Movement has meaning, that’s the truth of it.

We tell our stories through our words, yes, but also in the way we walk. Even tapping our toes can be communication. A world class dancer moving across the stage takes that story to another level, turning movement into poetry.

Maybe that’s how Charleston Ballet Theatre (CBT) has kept us enchanted, performance after performance, year after year.

And now it’s their silver anniversary. That’s right: 25 years as a professional dance company. That’s considered a milestone in most marriages, a time to renew vows and reaffirm the love. And this season is shaping up to be exactly that—an affirmation of love between CBT and the audience that loves them.

It opened with the glory and grandeur of Don Quixote, literature’s most famous comic knight errant, as his story was brought to life on the stage of The College of Charleston Sottile Theatre. “Don Quixote is a full-length classical ballet that was choreographed by Jill Eathorne Bahr herself a few years back,” says Kyle Barnette, CBT Administrative Director. “It is a prime example of the ballet at its classical best, showing off the elaborate costumes, epic set designs and the classical style Charleston Ballet Theatre patrons have come to expect.”

After that, The Big Easy paid homage to the sights and sounds of New Orleans, a dash of A Streetcar Named Desire sprinkled in to give it extra spice. “The Big Easy took a look to the past and the future, with a more modern balletic vibe and presenting new works by famed guest choreographers,” Kyle explains. And that was just the beginning of the season! “The other end of the season,” he continues, “is based on audience feedback, celebrating many of the greatest performances from our past repertoire, as identified by members of our audience.”

When it comes to audience feedback, it’s hard to top the seasonal delight that is The Nutcracker (just play a few notes of the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and even those who swear they’ve never seen a ballet in their lives will likely begin to tap their toes in recognition), especially given CBT’s Charleston-inspired take on the beloved classic.

“Our Nutcracker is an annual holiday tradition and continues to stand as one of the most unique versions of the story, set entirely in 1850s Charleston with familiar Charleston family names and landmarks,” Kyle says. “It’s something the ballet is very proud to perform each year. And it continues to grow. Now there are shows both at the Gaillard Auditorium and the North Charleston Performing Arts Center!”

February will hold a special treat for those who’ve watched choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr’s career with CBT over time: a revival of her very first CBT ballet, Poetry with a Splash of Red Blood, will be included with the ballet’s performance of the classic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

That’s a lot of celebrating for one season…and that’s really just a few of the highlights. Outside of their regular season, CBT has been all around town, collaborating with other artists and organizations. These collaborations included New Orleans-themed dance vignettes at the exhibition In Search of Julien Hudson: Free Artists of Color in Pre–Civil War New Orleans at the Gibbes Museum and a one-night Halloween production called Thriller: A Monster Mash-up with local theater group What If? Productions and Greg Tavares of local comedy legends, The Have Nots.

It hasn’t been all up-hill, and they’ve managed to ride the rollercoaster of the last few years of economic upheaval with their own characteristic grace. Changes, such as a new location and innovative fundraising and collaborative projects, have just been part of the ride.

Though long a treasured part of the Upper King Design District, the Charleston Ballet Theatre moved from their signature black box setting at the corner of King and Ann in the summer of 2011. Both the professional company and ballet school relocated to a consolidated Dance Education Center in The Plaza at East Cooper in Mt. Pleasant. The location allows the dancers 6,000 square feet of rehearsal space, just what they needed to really stretch their legs.

A substantial gift from the estate of a wellloved patron became the inspiration for a major fundraising drive, with the long-term view to fund the dance company not only for the current season but for years to come.

“Over the past season and last summer we launched a Major Gifts Initiative with a matching donor goal of $250,000, which we have been lucky enough to have matched and exceeded,” Kyle says. “Also, this season we are trying a new sort of gala fundraising event. In the past we have had great success with our annual Oscar Gala, but with our recent music collaborations with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and Charleston Jazz Orchestra, we really wanted to highlight the beauty and importance of music in what we do.”

Countless hours of practice, performances, galas, collaborations, celebrations, sweat, pain, love and longing have come and gone since 1987 when artistic directors Don and Patricia Cantwell brought choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr to Charleston and transformed a small ballet group into a world-class professional dance company.

Over the years, the company has developed a diverse and innovative repertoire. Though classical ballet is very much its specialty, it has also become renowned over the last 25 years for exploring new styles, even bopping to the beat of The Beatles or dancing to the great pop music divas. Toss some R&B, rock, jazz or even country—the sounds that form the soundtrack to our daily lives—into the ring and these pros will find a way to meld motion with music and produce a sensation that will keep crowds begging for more.

“We wanted not only to celebrate some of the greatest achievements of the past, but also display how eclectic and broad the styles of dance are that CBT performs,” Kyle adds, then sums it up: “We‘re celebrating what makes the arts so important and vital to everyday life.”

Charleston Ballet Theatre
Charleston Ballet Theatre’s 25th-anniversary
gala season finale will be held March 24th,
2012 at the Gaillard Auditorium.
For this and other performances.
843-723-7334
www.charlestonballet.org

Photographer – Travis Teate, Fashion Editor – Anna Stahl,  Hair – Charlotte Belk, Make up – Elina Mille, Model – Erin Harris

Arriving in Style

Escada red wool stretch suit from Gwynn’s of Mt. Pleasant. Fox-trimmed three-quarter length rex rabbit fur jacket from Anne’s. Judith Ripka 18K gold-and-black onyx cuff bracelet and ring, Judith Ripka necklace with Contempo chain in 18K yellow gold, estate black onyx pendant set with pave diamonds and onyx earrings—all from Nice Ice. Tom Ford sunglasses, Rebecca Minkoff black love knot bag and Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, all from Gwynn’s of Mt. Pleasant. Louis Vuitton vintage luggage, c. 1958, courtesy of Merrill Benfield. Male model Hunter Watson.

On the Avenue

Akris Punto jacket and pants, Armani pink scarf and Portolano red gloves, all from Rapport. Hidalgo 18K pink gold ring with pave-set pink diamonds from Dazzles. Staurt Weitzman shoes and black Gucci purse from Bob Ellis Shoes. 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Sports Saloon courtesy of Merrill Benfield.

Bohemian Corner

Byron Lars sequin crochet dress, Suzi Roher quilted belt with embroidered buckle, and Hammitt Los Angeles charcoal suede Westwood handbag, all from Berlin’s for Women. 14K sterling silver Konstantino earrings, ring and bracelet (right arm) from Dazzles. 18K yellow-gold-and-sterling rough-cut aquamarine ring and 18K rose-gold bracelet set with white topaz and diamonds from Ember’s Jewelers. Giuseppe Zanotti shoes from Bob Ellis Shoes. Shot on location at Sermet’s Corner.

Starry Night

Grey metallic strapless dress from Anne’s. Three 14K white gold diamond-and-sapphire bracelets and a 14K white-gold dome-style pave-set ring by Natalie K from Dazzles. 18K white gold 6.77-carat diamond fashion necklace and a 14K white gold in-and-out 1.25-carat diamond hoop earrings from Charleston Gold & Diamond Exchange. Fontanne shoes from Gwynn’s of Mt. Pleasant. Lorren Bell grey satin clutch from Anne’s. Shot on location at Robert Lange Studios.

Treasure Hunt

Lela Rose floral dress from Finicky Filly. 14K citrine-and-diamond wide-band ring, 22K yellow-gold-and-diamond hoop earrings, vermeil bangles with multicolored stones, all from Croghan’s Jewel Box. Emerald-and-diamond cuff bracelet from Ingram Fine Arts. Limited-edition Lace Icon necklace and Disco Icon ring, both from the Mysterious Nights collection from Oxette – USA. Red Gucci purse from Bob Ellis Shoes. Shot on location at Jacques Antiques.

Pleasure Reading

Akris Punto pink jacket and dress from Rapport. Maija necklace featuring 11mm pearls and 22K gold clasp, Matoloni 11mm triple-strand pearl bracelet with 18K gold nuggets, Rudolf Friedmann 18K gold-and-diamond hoop earrings with 14mm pearl drops, Rudolf Friedmann 18kt gold-and-diamond ring set with South Sea pearls, all from Nice Ice Fine Jewelry. Shot on location at Blue Bicycle Books.

Local Color

Escada wide-leg tweed pants and coral cowl-neck silk blouse, Brave metallic haircalf leather belt, Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic gold handbag—all from Gwynn’s of Mt. Pleasant. 18k yellow gold, 56-carat square-cut aquamarine and 24-carat oval rose-quartz earrings from Embler’s Jewelers. Signature bracelet and lariat necklace featuring hand-blown murano glass and two-tone charms from Pandora. Shot on location at Bev’s Sweetgrass Baskets & Things in the downtown market next to Gold Creations.

Carriage Trade

Grecian Goddess dress from Lucinda Eden. Southern Gate’s wide scroll ring, sterling oak ring, sterling cuff (right hand) and sterling graduated necklace from Loy Harn Jewelers. Judith Ripka fancy 13.5-carat blue topaz ring and blue topaz earrings from Nice Ice Fine Jewelry. Fontanne shoes from Gwynn’s of Mt. Pleasant. Horse and carriage courtesy of Carolina Carriage & Polo Co.

Founded by three food-loving friends— Carlye Jane Dougherty, Brad Norton and Bryan Lewis—Heirloom serves up thousands of tempting titles, both current and vintage.

There’re books on cooking techniques, regional cuisines (the store has one of the largest collections of Southern cookbooks anywhere), specialty diets (vegan and glutenfree) and more. Other books are simply great food writing, such as the work of M.F.K. Fisher.

On a recent visit, Norton pointed out a few of his favorites: Ruhlman’s Twenty by Michael Ruhlman (“20 techniques to become a better cook”), A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for your Kitchen by Hugh Acheson (“recipes from the celebrated chef of Five and Ten in Athens and Empire State South in Atlanta”) and The Unprejudiced Palate: Classic thoughts on Food and the Good Life by Angelo Pellagrini (“great perspectives on food, America and what we take for granted”).

For Valentine’s Day, Dougherty suggests the 1952 cult classic Venus in the Kitchen by Norman Douglas, a collection of aphrodisiac recipes, and Tart Love by local writer Holly Herrick, the definitive book about tarts, whether they are “sassy, savory or sweet.” Visit the Heirloom Book Company at 123 King Street and check www.heirloombookcompany.com for upcoming dinners and book signings.

Heirloom Book Company
123 King Street
www.heirloombookcompany.com