Style Profile: Gabe Bratton

Jewelry designer Gabe Bratton has made a name for herself with her beautifully hand-crafted pieces which she creates using highly detailed Old World-style metalworking techniques. She casts her keepsake designs from lace, oftentimes using a small piece from a new bride's wedding dress to create a one-of-a-kind treasure. 

Meet Gabe Bratton of Gabrielle Jewelry

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Fleur: Tell us a little about your work and lifestyle?

Gabe:I work for myself making jewelry.  Everything is one of a kind and can go with something as casual as jeans or as dressy as a gown.  Working for myself, I don’t always need to be dressed up but I wear the jewelry daily.  Right now I am big on a pair of studs and a cuff.  They go together with whatever I have to be dressed for and complement each other without being too matchy.

Fleur: Tell us a little about your personal style? How would you describe your day-to-day style? What about special events?

Gabe: Day-to-day I usually get pretty dirty with work but I like to feel put together.  I love an easy dress like the Harvey Faircloth shift from Fleur.  Easy with booties or flats and I would love it with a little jean vest.  Wedding events are always going on and this would be great for a shower.  For special events I like to pick out one thing to focus on.  A lot of times it is a piece of my jewelry but with the orange Nha Khanh I chose the big and bold floral sandal for some fun.

What are some of your favorite lines at Fleur, and what do you love about them?

Gabe: by Malene Birger.  I love how elegant and clean her clothing is and how I feel that way in her pieces.

Lauren Moffatt.  I love how everything is easy to wear.  It is very multipurpose and fun to wear.  I especially love how she seems to do a red/white/blue line in the summer time, it feels very summery and patriotic.

Troubadour.  I love that she has local roots and has come up with a fantastic looking line.  Her pieces are very well made and you know that you will wear them for years. I am also very bias to Charleston, where she is now located.

Fleur: Do you have a favorite item you’ve gotten from Fleur that is a forever piece?

Gabe: A few! A white ¾ silk shift by Quadrille.  I have worn it in the winter with black tights and booties and in the summer with a bright shoe.  Another off white piece by Malene Birger.  Its a sleeveless, kind of pin stripped shirt dress that I have worn a ton.  

Fleur: What do you love about fashion? How does it play a role in your life?

Gabe: I love playing dress up, I love putting pieces together and I like to feel good in what I have on.  Even if I know I would never wear something out in public I love how much you can play around with fashion, you can make it whatever you want.  That is what I do with jewelry all 

day.  I play around and make it whatever I want and its endless.

Pop-Up Fleur: Swim

As a bit of a pre-Cinco de Mayo celebration, Fleur held it's first ever pop up shop event. Pop-Up Fleur: Swim kicked off the spring and summer season and showcased some of our favorite beach and pool-inspired goodies. We stocked the home of our gracious hostess, Meg Venters, with swim wear, cover-ups, flip flops, jewelry, totes, and more. Margaritas and delicious tacos from Captain Poncho's Food Truck were on the menu as our partygoers browsed. If you missed the Pop-Up, come visit us in-store, we have everything you'll need for your summer style.

Style Profile: Emmy Preiss And Harriet Mills

This week we'd like to introduce you to Emmy Preiss and Harriet Mills, the founders of Wine & Design. Wine & Design is all about "getting your art buzz on"; get a group and bring some wine and learn a little about painting. Their concept has taken off, and Emmy and Harriet have had franchisee locations open in over 20 locations since 2010. The two long-time friends share a sweet bond, and in addition to staying busy with their growing business they share a love of style and fashion. 

***Meet Emmy & Harriet***    

Tell us a little about your lifestyle?

 Harriet: We started this business three years ago and it has taken off; now after only franchising for about a year in a half we have 26 franchisees, with 4 more signing on this month. Emmy and I have learned so much over the years, and have grown to love being called the Mompreneurs of Raleigh! I also love being a mom. I have a 4-year old son named Patrick, and my 18-month old daughter, Abigail; both are wild and the love of my life. We also have an 8-year old golden retriever who is my first real baby! I love playing tennis and working out-my obsession is hot yoga and heat-and being with my family.

Emmy: In addition to overseeing each franchisee, we personally run the corporate studio in Raleigh. Needless to say work keeps me insanely busy, but my 3 children (God love them) are what really just keep me insane, ha! Luckily for me my job encourages the consumption of wine!

Tell us about your personal style?

Harriet: I would say that my day-to-day style is more casual, a Wine and Design t-shirt and lululemon shorts or pants. But when I want to get out of my workout gear, I love to put on a pair of colored skinny Hudson jeans and a top from Troubadour or Lauren Moffatt. For special events I love a good dress from Shoshanna or Erin Featherston. I always accessorize; I love a big chunky necklace or my grandmother's simple, gold vintage necklace with either her ram or heart charm on it.  

Emmy: My personal style is casual comfort, which I try really hard to pull off while not looking like a hobo. I basically live in skinny jeans and boots in the winter, and cutoffs and Rainbows in the summer. Now when it's time to get dressed up, I would describe my style as sassy sleek. I love dressing up in pieces that are fresh and sleek, with just a touch of sassy. It's what makes me feel high-spirited and lively!

What are some of your favorite lines at Fleur, and what do you love about them?

Harriet: I love Troubadour, Erin Featherston, Calypso, Lauren Moffatt, Shoshanna....

Emmy: To be quite honest, I don't even know what lines they carry! All I know is that whatever lines that are, I must love, because it seems that every single piece of clothing I've ever purchased from Fleur are my "most faves" in my wardrobe! I don't have a lot of time to go shopping so whenever I do, I have to make that time count. That's why Fleur is really the only place I hit up because their clothes have proven over and over again to me that they are timeless while still being trendy-which is probably the most important characteristic to me when it comes to my clothing.

Do you have a favorite "forever" piece from Fleur?

Harriet: I love my Erin Featherston pink lace dress I got this winter! It is a classic and forever piece I will keep in my closet for a lifetime (and hope one day my little girl will want to wear it)!

Emmy: I'm not trying to toot Fleur's horn, but seriously, every piece I've ever bought from them I have absolutely loved and am still wearing years later. My favorite "going out" tops, which I usually pair with jeans, as well as every dress (which can almost always be dressed up with heels or down with flats), have ALL been purchased from Fleur.  

What do you love about fashion? How does it play a role in your life?

Harriet: I love fashion because it can really make you feel good about yourself, especially when you wear good pieces from great designers that will last you for a long time. I love looking into my closet and seeing all of my beautiful clothes (in which most are from Fleur). If I ever need a boost of self-esteem, I put on a fabulous outfit and a little makeup and my world has changed! Fashion is timeless and I plan on saving a lot of my great pieces for my children one day, which I know they will appreciate, as styles always come back around.

Emmy: My favorite thing about fashion is its ability to boost my self-confidence. When I like the way I look, I love the way I feel, and I'm all about feeling good! Even though I am a mother of three (which I absolutely love), I do not want to feel like I've got to dress like "Old Mother Hubbard". The owners of Fleur help me do exactly that; they always help me pick things I love, while being honest in their opinions and never pushy. 

Read more about Wine & Design here:

www.wineanddesignus.com

Style Profile: Charman Driver

One thing we love and admire about our Fleur customers is their personal style. When we started thinking about it, we realized that so many of our customers are entrepreneurs or artists or style experts. We realized that we wanted to share not just their fabulous style, but their accomplishments and achievements. So in our new feature Style Profile we will be introducing you to some of our favorite style-setters and standouts, and let you know about some of the amazing things they are doing.

Our very first Style Profile is somewhat of a local celeb in the wellness world; she is a Pilates teacher, Booty Camp instructor, health and wellness coach, retreat facilitator, wife and mother of a 5 year old (are you tired yet?).

Meet Charman Driver of Driver Mindbody.  

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Fleur: Tell us a little about your lifestyle?

Charman: Like most working moms, my life is busy and also very physical. I'm constantly on the go among the various jobs under my healthy lifestyles company, DriverMindbody.

Fleur: Tell us about your personal style? How would you describe your day-to-day style? What about special events?

Charman: "Less is more" is my mantra when it comes to personal style. I'm a no-nonsense kind of girl! I don't have a lot of time to spend fussing over clothes and searching through my closet for something to wear-I keep it simple. I love effortless, classic lines that are also modern, but without being too trendy.

On the days when I'm not in work out clothes and Nikes, I go for skinny jeans with a pretty shirt and a cashmere cardigan and comfortable shoes-flats or wedges. Throw in a beautiful handbag and I'm good to go!

For special events, I like to play with my look a bit more and try to get outside of my comfort zone by adding some texture and flow or by getting a little edgier. I also love super-high heel shoes (only on occasion)!

Fleur: What are some of your favorite lines at Fleur, and what do you love about them?

Charman: Harvey Faircloth, Lorick, Paul and Joe Sister, and Shoshanna are all great lines I have purchased at Fleur, but I'm not faithful to any one line or designer. I'll buy anything that moves me, is made well, and looks great. I love it when the girls introduce me to something new or a line I've never heard of before.

I enjoy shopping at Fleur-Christina, Eliza, and Louise make shopping uncomplicated and entertaining! I never feel pressured to buy anything and they NEVER say something is right when it's not. I appreciate that.

Fleur: Do you have a favorite item you've gotten from Fleur that is a forever piece?

Charman: I have this cool Lorick, 2-piece shorts and top set that I bought about 3 or so years ago. It is so beautiful and unique, yet versatile.

I took it with me to Italy and rocked it with heels to dinner at a five-star restaurant one night and the very next day I'm chasing after my 2-year old in just the shorts paired with a t-shirt, cardigan sweater, and stripy sandals. I'm still wearing it to this day.

Fleur: What do you love about fashion? How does it play a role in your life?

Charman: I work hard to live a healthy, happy, and fit lifestyle. Fashion plays a big part in that overall feeling of well-being for me. When I feel good about myself and about my body, beautiful clothes look and feel better on me. In my opinion, they go hand-in-hand.

Charman is wearing looks from Harvey Faircloth, Milly, and Calypso. Contact Fleur for outfit availability!

Learn more about Charman's health and wellness company, DriverMindbody here:

http://www.drivermindbody.com/

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