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The LastDays Clothing Company is far more than a clothing line. It is part of a much larger idea that Armah Shiancoe and his cousins Bart Cooper and James Freeman have set into motion over the course of several years. Armah is a senior at Queens University who is from Liberia in West Africa. He came to America from Ghana, where his family sought refuge from the civil war in Liberia. He is certainly a man with abundant aspirations and a vision for what he can achieve. When such quality is bestowed upon someone with Armah’s determined persistence and general know-how, only great things can result.

The LastDays Clothing Company is the first piece of an elaborate and thoughtfully conceived plan for Armah and his cousins. They want to leave their stamp of positive influence on the world. On the surface it is a line of fresh looking urban street wear. Its hook is that it is completely eco-friendly. The line is made from the finest quality materials, and is culturally significant in its design and subtleties. However, when you look deeper into the business plan you find that, while the purpose of the line is obviously to turn a profit for its creators, its ultimate intention is so much more than that.

photo by www.lastdayswear.com

Armah and his cousins already have the foundation for a nonprofit organization that will eventually be funded and maintained exclusively through the proceeds of the LastDays Clothing Company. There is a Facebook group created by LastDays called “1 Million Strong for the environment” for which the company pledges $50 for every 1 million people to join. While the company is currently based in California for production and other reasons, Armah plans to reside permanently in Charlotte and is adamant that the nonprofit will be a major contributor to the local philanthropic community.

Photo by www.lastdayswear.com

He is already a very active member of the Charlotte community and has given more than his share of time and energy towards the advancement of. Armah organizes a regular series of events on the campus of Queens University called: Say Word. It is a poetry slam of sorts featuring spoken word poets, hip hop performers, and anyone else who wants to share their writing. The event brings together members from various backgrounds and communities in a focused, peaceful, and productive way. It is truly a sight to behold.

If everyone used the resources at their disposal as efficiently as Armah, then we could all reach an unparalleled level of productivity as Armah has. For instance, Armah recently received academic credit for creating a business plan with a professor that will help him to orchestrate and implement his fantastic ideas and dreams.

But Armah’s endeavors don’t end there. He is the co-chair of the Chamber of Commerce’s Fellows Program, which is a group of student leaders that promotes the Chamber within the community . He has won awards from Student Life at Queens for being a visionary and inspirational member of the community. He knows everyone on campus and everyone knows him–faculty, students, and administrators alike.

photo by www.lastdayswear.com

Q: Tell me about your background?

A: I was born in West Africa and I’m part Liberian and Ghanaian. Being raised and living in two different countries as a child taught me to adapt easier to various situations and cultures. After coming to America, growing up here, and learning that just about anything is achievable; my ultimate objective is to be an example for anyone (especially young people) who doubt their own abilities due to inopportune circumstances.

Q: What are your long term goals/what are you expecting in the future (for your career/business)?
A: My goals include building the Lastdays Clothing Company into one of the most recognizable brands on the planet. My partners and I expect the brand to be one of the most charitable companies around. It will not only better our lives, but also the lives of people we have yet to meet and positively impact the world.

Q: What item do you carry everywhere, your STYLISH obsession that you can not live without?
A: The one thing I (somehow) can’t leave home without is my iPhone. It’s funny because I used to question what all the excitement was about until I got my hands on one of them. I feel like Apple should pay me to be a spokesperson!

Q: Who or what motivates you to succeed or gives you inspiration?
A: This may sound very cliché, but God uses my past to motivate me. I’ve been fortunate to make it to where I am at this point in my life. I’m also grateful to all the many people I’m blessed to call family; they all know who they are and have all influenced my life in some way.

Q: What is the toughest part of your business/career?

A: The toughest part is definitely taking an unknown brand from nowhere and putting your efforts into making it something that is wanted and identifiable. It’s a challenge, but I’m glad I have a partner, Bart Cooper who is one of the most creative individuals in his field, and James Freeman who is one of the most skilled internet marketers out right now.

Printable STYLE Version

1 - Matt Carroll

Image provided by Marco Dayne Photography

photo from NBA.com

Matt Carroll, #13 of the Charlotte Bobcats, graduated from the University of Notre Dame after a 4-year career on the Notre Dame basketball team. The 6 foot 6 athlete has been in the NBA for 5 years, and is currently a guard for the Charlotte Bobcats averaging 9 points per game.

Image provided by Marco Dayne Photography

2- Morgan Fogarty

Morgan Fogarty co-hosts FOX News Edge at 10:35 every weeknight, but she
 spends most of her day out in the field, interviewing everyone from Mayor
 Pat McCrory to the American Idols. Fogarty admits that when she is reporting, she is more focused on “writing style” than “fashion style,” but in her free
 time, she is a self-confessed fashion addict.

Image provided by the Gazi Company

3- Afshin Ghazi

Since moving to Charlotte, NC in 1993, Afshin Ghazi has been involved in the development and leasing of multiple commercial and mixed-use projects throughout the region. These projects include ParkTowne Village, Grande Promenade, Shops at Franklin Square, Torrence Village, and Epicentre just to name a few. Afshin’s vision included setting the bar high, and he continues to raise and make a lasting impression.

Photo Credit: Xavier Grier

4 - Courtnee Mason – (picture sent to us by Mason)

Model/Actress Courtnee Mason, NC native, has an intense acting background and has appeared in countless runway shows, television shows and print ads throughout the country. Mason was recently the face of the 1^st annual Charlotte Fashion Week and appeared in the July & September issues of Elevate Magazine and campaign ads for LA East.

Getting it Done: Jessica Stroup of 90210”

Interview Conducted by Joy Hunter, Editor-In-Chief

www.CWTV.com

Joy: Tell me about your background

Jessica: “Basically, I was born in South Carolina (Anderson)…so I’m a huge Clemson fan. I’ve lived in North and South Carolina because we moved with my dad’s job but I graduated from Providence High School. Sports were huge in my family and I actually was going to go to University of Georgia on scholarship but I deferred to try things out in California. I was really lucky when I was in high school at Providence, there was a girl on my JV Volleyball team whose mother was a former Miss North Carolina and she always told me that if I wanted to try modeling out, she would introduce me to some people and she did. I came out here (Hollywood/LA) in 2004 and have been out here every since.”

Joy: How does your Southern background play apart in who you are now? As we both know, there is nothing like being a Southerner.

Jessica: (Laughing)“That is so true! I am so proud of where I am from and I reference it whenever I can. I love the fact that people from the south are so friendly. They are about not only sports but about rallying together and building a community and acting is a harsh world and its a lot of ups and down, putting yourself out there and its super competitive and for me I had to love what I was doing and being from the South and being completive pushed me to book jobs and study for them. “

Joy: Speaking of the difference between the West Coast and the East Coast, …tell me what differences you’ve noticed as it relates to fashion?

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 09: Actress Jessica Stroup arrives at the World Premiere of Screen Gems' 'Prom Night' at the Cinerama Dome on April 9, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

Jessica: “Well, the East Coast is definitely up and coming especially Charlotte and the downtown. Last time I was home, my parents took me to Stonecrest and the Arboretum (shopping centers) and when I came back, people were asking me where did I get that and I was like North Carolina!

But, as far as fashion, with the West Coast, a lot of it is trend and a lot of it is what’s being put out there. Is it leggings right this second or is the cinched waist with belts or is it a certain bootie show right now? I think the West Coast is kinda in a cool spot because we are trying to create a fashion sense. My character on the show, Silver, she’s the one that really takes chances. My costume designer on the show worked with Friends, Deb McGuire and the first time she sat down with me it took four or five hours long and she had stacks and stacks of clothes so it was like heaven to me! My character lives in LA and she grew up in Beverly Hills so she has seen the fashion but she doesn’t care because if she wants to wear something then she will. She wants to stand out. Every morning I walk onto the set and see what’s been laid out for me, I’m like a kid in a candy store.”

Joy: Well, you tell them you need to keep it all and then you UPS it next day to me!

Jessica: “For sure, for sure.” (Laughing…)

Joy: How did you land 90210, how did this part fall in your lap and fit perfectly for you right now? Because you’ve been doing a lot of movies recently…

Jessica: “I have been working on a lot of movies but, I kinda set out a life goal and TV wasn’t one of them. As far as movies go, some people blow up after one movie and maybe their career skyrockets or whatever but, most of the time your “under the radar, under the radar” and you’re booking projects and some executive somewhere brings you into their office and its all because of the connections and the stuff that you take. I was booking little things, really low-budget and movies and stuff and I got really lucky with traveling. So, I wasn’t here during pilot season and I wasn’t into the TV world but this past year I was doing this show on the CW, Reaper and I did a 5 episode guest-star. It the first time that I had actually done a project for TV long enough to really be apart of it. I kinda got that sense of what it felt like to do a show… I was working with really cool guys and the crew and it felt like a family and I really enjoyed it. Its a whole different way of doing work… so I decided I really wanna go for this when pilot season comes round. So after I shot Homecoming, I went back home (to LA). When I first went in and met with Rob Thomas I went in and did a reading for Annie because at the time Silver was this very wealthy, Jewish girl which is not usually the type of person I audition for just based off looks. In the meanwhile, I was kinda auditioning for some other stuff and just trying to put myself out there. But, they come back to me and said they had re-written and wanted me to audition for silver. Which, to be honest with you, as a secret was kind of my favorite character as it is. When I re-read it I LOVED the character of Silver. I was just very real with them and was like this is my take on it and if you don’t like who I am putting forth then talk to me about it but, this is how I read it and this is how I want to personify this girl. They thought I was spunky, is what they said which is a really good compliment especially for this girl. And I booked it, right before May and the minute I booked it we had photo shoots. I left work on a Friday, got the call on a Monday and it was like “bamn, starting up.”

Joy: Oh, I love it. You can so hear the excitement in your voice, just the passion and that’s awesome. What are you passionate about? What drives you?

Jessica: “At this point in my life, where I am, I really and truly love music. It’s everything to me and that’s the really good thing about LA and I think Charlotte is kinda opening up to that too. Small music venues that can allow local bands to come out (is cool) so for me, like 90% of my friends are in the music industry. In the show, I kinda tie that in, my character has a blog and they always have me put input in, what I’m listening to and so I incorporate it (love for music) there as well. Traveling, fashion, …umm, I didn’t get to go to Fashion Week but, because I come from a modeling perspective I really love to watch and see how, well, I want designers to understand for the real women out there, to design not just for a model. I do feel pretty confident when I’m out and looking at clothes and stuff but because of my pretty hectic schedule, I’m using a stylist now and its just like a whole new world. “

Joy: Whom are you working with (as your stylist) right now?

Jessica: “Her name is Leah Hunter (she told me she’s only met her a couple of times and is not exactly sure of her last name); she used to work under Rachel Zoe and she does a lot of stuff with the Hiltons, Nicole and she’s great. Its very fun right now because I’m into it and I’m able to go to showrooms sometimes and I get to see what’s new and what the high-end designers are putting out there right now and then at the same time going to target and getting the clothes that look just like it. I was at Target yesterday and bought this awesome jacket that zips up the side but OH, OH(!)…I was in Target on yesterday and I look at the tag and it says Mossimo, you know and Lori Laughlin who is like that mom on the show…well that’s her husband so I was like crap I need to call Lori right now and use her discount!” (laughing…)

Joy: Really, that is so cool… I would have never put two and two together.

Jessica: “Me either, I’ve met him and stuff but I don’t know, I never would’ve thought about it! “

Joy: On the subject of style; Define style. When you hear that word, what does it mean to you?

Jessica: “Oh, a really good question. To me, being stylish or style in general is about confidence. If what you are wearing, if it fits on you and if it makes you feel like a women. Every day when I get up and get ready, I ask myself who do I want to be today? A lot of times, Ill say you know I want to be a rocker chick. I want to go out and people think that girl loves music. You know what I mean?? Like, if that means I’m wearing skinny jeans, heels and like a cool jacket …I love jackets with thick collars. Its whatever I want to be that day. But, I want to look strong, curvy and beautiful. As a woman, know your body and to be stylish, its simply dressing the way that works for you. You can follow trends but in the end you are one in the masses so be yourself. I’m really into vintage shopping and when you come out to LA, you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.”

Joy: What is next for you?

Jessica : “Right now, I am absolutely in a bubble. I’m working every day. It’s been a really intense schedule. But for right now we are about to go into episode 9 which will take us into next year. I’m just now starting to read scripts because when hiatus comes, I don’t want to stop working.”

Joy: I am a total workout fiend so tell me, how do you fit in working out and what is your fitness mantra? I’m sure right now its feeling pretty crazy so you cant always find the right things to eat and what’s do get a chance to throw something in your mouth, you cant think about if its good for you. So, how do you make it work for you?

Jessica: Right now, my goal is actually to put on a little bit of weight. But, when a work schedule gets crazy and I am an absolute workaholic who loves to work out and get energy from it that when I don’t get to work out I feel frail and especially coming from a sports background where my body is naturally muscular. So, when I don’t get to work out then I miss it, I want that lean muscle mass and I want to get it back. But, right now I am all about eating healthy, proteins, I’m really into fish right now and no read meats. I try to eat really lean things like sushi. As far as working out, I’ve been trying all different types of yoga , I go out to the beach and I get occasional “play work-outs” where you’re working out but, don’t realize it. I really have become aware within the last year or so that your body is a temple and all the junk food and soda pops that you put in there, they leave stuff behind and I don’t want to feel run-down and sluggish because of the crap. There is a huge organic movement right now and I love it. I try to show my mom and dad that this is my lifestyle right now and my mom shops organic sometimes. But, you have to find what works for you.”

Joy: Just talking to you these past 20 minutes, I see that for you style is a lifestyle and you embody that in work and play and I love to see that in a person with a STYLISH Career. What advice would you give an aspiring “Jessica”? Someone that wants to be you and someone that wants to do what you are doing?

Jessica: “Know that there is no limit to how high you can travel and how high you can go with whatever you want to do. If you are living in a small town, you have a huge family and you feel like you are one of many then know who you are and set yourself apart. Don’t ever, ever, ever be pushed back by someone who doesn’t believe in you, believe in yourself …that is ALL that matters. Just get out there and get the knowledge for the career , for the choices that you want because you can never learn enough. That’s the beauty of life, its changing and learning more about how the world works and how people work and if you know that then know that there is no end to what you can do.”

Printable STYLE version

Nouveau Fashion Club

from left to right: Leslie Gebhardt (Vice President), Kandace Clay (President), Taylor Trent (PR), Stephanie Taylor, Christina Menconi (Student Ambassador), Aysia Nesmith (Secretary/Treasurer), Kimberly Brookshire (Student Ambassador) 

After acquiring fashion expertise in cities such as Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia, the fabulous Stephanie Taylor has recently joined The Art Institute of Charlotte as Department Chair for Fashion Marketing and Management. She continues to spread her passion for the industry by inspiring her students to immerse themselves in the fashion world.

Q: What is your role at The Art Institute?
A: I am the department chairperson for the fashion marketing and management program. Right now, my job consists of managing seven instructors and around 243 students. I have been here nine months now, so I am still getting my feet wet. However, before I came to Charlotte I was at the New York Art Institute for three years as department chair for fashion design. Before that, I was at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, working over all three departments: fashion design, fashion marketing and visual merchandising. I’ve been with the Art Institute almost eight years at three different schools, but always in the fashion department because; that is my niche.

Q: What does STYLE mean to you?
A: When I think of style, I think of individuality. I do not think that it is following the trend necessarily all of the time. Style is not what’s hot and what’s not. I believe style is what works for you. What works for you may not work for me, and vise versa. Style is an individual that has their own thing going for them.

Q: What are your long term goals?
A: Charlotte is my third stop with the Art Institute. My next move would probably be consulting. Since I have been doing this for a while at three different schools with three different personalities, I would be interested in being a consultant to the Art Institute. I would love to do something where I would have the opportunity to work with fashion programs over all the Art Institutes. In my mind, that would be moving to the next level.

Q: Tell me about your background
A: I am originally from Flint, Michigan. I knew when I was a child that I wanted to go into fashion. Some people go in and out of their careers not knowing what they want to do, but I knew right from the beginning. I used to sit and sketch, so my family thought I was going to be a designer, but I ended up going in the merchandising end of the industry. I went to Mott College (in Michigan) and received my two-year degree in fashion merchandising. From Michigan I moved to Chicago, and I was there for a year studying fashion. Then I transferred to Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, between Detroit and Chicago and had a great experience. After that I went out and worked in the industry as a divisional manager and a buyer for about six years. I had education in the back of my mind, but I always thought that the best educators were the ones who had worked out in the industry first and gained job experience so that they could bring that knowledge to the students in the classroom. So I worked as a divisional manager, buyer, and fashion show producer and then decided I would go back to school and get a Master’s so I could go into education. I moved to Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri and worked as a professor of fashion there. After that, The Art Institute came on board and I moved to Philadelphia to take a position as department chair. Next, I moved to New York, and now I am here in Charlotte. I thought New York was going to be my last stop, but it is actually for personal reasons that I am now in Charlotte. I think that it is a very progressive city, and I think that things are getting ready to happen here. I feel like my timing is really good.

Q: Where did your interest in fashion originate?
A: My grandmother and my mother were both very stylish women, especially my grandmother. She was the type of woman who would never leave the house without powdering her nose, or putting on lipstick, and I used to watch that when I was a little girl. I think that watching the woman in my family and the style that they had that influenced me at a very young age. A lot of the activities I was involved in as a young girl influenced me too. I was put in beauty and charm classes, modeling, and dance, which were all influences on me as well.

Q: Who or what motivates you to succeed?
A: I feel like in a field like fashion, you really have to have a passion for what you do. You have to really love being in the fashion industry and really love being around students. I can look at new students coming in every quarter and tell who is passionate about it or not the first time I meet them. I believe it is something that comes from within. I always knew I did not want to do anything outside of fashion. I knew that I would change gears with my career, that I would not always do the same thing because I don’t like being stagnant, but I knew that it would still be in the fashion arena. My passion is what motivates me to succeed.

Q: What is the toughest part of being in the fashion industry?
A: I think that fashion is a misunderstood field. People stereotype what it is all about. An example would be when I was in college, we were in the same building as the engineering students, and they could not understand what we were doing all day in class. They used to come by and say, “I don’t understand. What do you guys do? Do you cook and sew?” You would think after college I wouldn’t hear things like that anymore, but even now, people will say “Fashion? What do you mean? Do you model? Why would somebody pay that much money to go to college to be a model?” The bottom line is that people do not understand that fashion is a lucrative business. I tell my students; that when people tell them they don’t understand what they do, just respond that everybody wears clothes. There is a whole process and cycle behind the fact that everybody wears clothes. Breaking the stereotypical image of what fashion is seems to be tough.
Another challenge for me has been teaching at three different Art Institutes in three different cities which all have very different personalities. I know that part of the game is adapting to your culture and the environment around you. It has not been difficult for me, just challenging.

Q: What is a typical day like as the department chair?
A: [Laughs] I do not have a typical day. I learned a long time ago that I can sit down and write out a list of things I need to do and plan out my day, but it is never going to happen the way I want it to. I have to be available for my students and faculty, and being in the position of department chair, I have to be the middleman between the Dean and the faculty and students. I have to mediate between all of the groups. Right now being new as department chair, I have been working on making changes to the current curriculum, and familiarizing myself with all of the students and the faculty. I have an amazing faculty who helps to make my job a lot easier. I have been putting a fashion organization together, that way I have a connection with the students. We have had the fashion club going for about two quarters now. We are also planning a New York trip for September. The students are really excited about that because that will be the first big trip we have had since I have been here. We also plan to attend a show in Atlanta that takes place in August. Real buyers and vendors will be there, and I want my students to see what it is like outside of the classroom and see the negotiation process. Fashion is glamorous, but students need to see the business side of it. They are really excited about that.

Q: What item do you carry everywhere, your STYLISH obsession that you can not live without?
A: I never go without lipstick. It completes my look. People joke that I always wear my shades, but I don’t wear them inside of course. I am a makeup girl definitely though. I love makeup.

Q: What career advice do you have for individuals who aspire to become a part of the fashion industry?
A: The first thing I would say is you have to have a passion for it, because if you don’t you’re going to have a difficult time. It’s not as glamorous and easy as people think it is. It’s very challenging. Also, a lot of people want to be in this field so you have a lot of competition. I ask my students, “How can you stand out from all of the other students who are graduating? What are you doing? What looks so different on your resume?” I’m always telling them that school is very important, that the degree is going to open the door, but in this industry, they need to do things while you are a college student also. Students need to join the fashion club, take trips to New York, and be in attendance anytime we bring fashion speakers in. They have to get all of this on their resumes and take in as much as they can while they are in school so it can give them a leg up on their competitor when they get out there. Fashion is a really hot field now, so I always encourage my students to stand out and be different. You have to get involved and get out there.

Printable STYLE Version

Robert Krumbine is the man behind the scenes of Charlotte’s fantastic uptown
events. As the Senior Vice President of Events at Charlotte Center City
Partners, he uses his creativity and unique perspective to inspire Charlotte
to grow in a positive way and to bring our community closer together.

Q: What are the goals of your company, Charlotte Center City Partners?

A: The mission Charlotte Center City Partners is to promote the cultural and
economic development of the urban core. It is our job to make sure that we
have a vibrant urban core that provides a place to do great business, to
play hard, and to live. It is important to us that the center of Charlotte
does well, because we believe if the center is thriving, the rest of the
city will follow.

Q: What is your role at Charlotte Center City Partners?

A: I am the senior vice president of events. I handle pretty much the
animation of center city. I do the things that fall under the category of
play. I get to work with other event planners that come in and bring events
like Speedstreet and Taste of Charlotte, and I also get to create new events
like Charlotte Shout and holiday events.

Q: What is a typical day like in your position?

A: My primary job is coordinating fifteen events a year.  I have a small
team of four people. A typical day includes looking ahead to the next event,
always trying to make sure that we’ve got our planning going, and then
putting out small fires as they come along. I do more than just event
planning here. I am involved in a lot of things going on in the community
from the cultural side. We deal with things with venders, signage and
ordinances as well. A typical day is hard to describe because it’s different
every day, but it is always wrapped around this goal of keeping all of the
events on track, especially because we have a lot of really big events that
are close together.

Q: Tell me about your background

A: I am originally from Miami, Florida. I graduated from the University of
Miami, moved several times to Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and then I came
to charlotte in 1988. I have been in the event business for about 25 years.
I have traveled all over the world producing special events. I have done
events for four presidents, corporate theater, and pretty much done
everything from cocktail parties to half time shows. I started off as a
musician and fell into coordinating. I originally came to charlotte to run a
small company that wanted to get into the event business. They were a small
talent agency, and they wanted to add events as a component. The first big
event I ever did in Charlotte was the grand opening of the coliseum on
Tyvola road.

Q: Who or what motivates you to succeed? ?

A: My motivation for success comes from trying to do the most creative
things that I can. Everything I do is based out of the creative world.  I
have these ideas that are just constantly swirling around, and I try to do
things that are really different to stand apart. I think I have been
motivated in Charlotte specifically to just see it grow. I want to try to
leave a legacy. I hope that people can look back and say, “He had something
to do with where we are today.” I believe that large-scale events are very
important to a city to celebrate your community, to celebrate the highs, the
lows, the sports teams, and the successes. What really drives me is to
continue to build community through events and try to touch as many people
as I can and bring them together.

Q: What is the toughest part of the event coordinating business?

A: The toughest part of this business is money. It’s very difficult to put
on these events without enough funding. Ideas require more funding. You have
to reel in the ideas sometimes. You have to put on or produce what you said
you were going to do, but sometimes it becomes a whole different picture
from what you originally planned. Our funding is sponsorship based, so we go
out and raise the money through grants and we look for people who want to
make their mark in this growing city.

Q: What career advice do you have for individuals who aspire to become
involved in the event coordinating business?

A: I got in the industry when I was a college student. Like most, I was
sitting around figuring out what I was I going to do with myself, and I
created my own internship. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to
put together a three-week tour of Europe with a band. I did everything from
raising the money, coordinating the hotels, the food, the travel, the whole
9 yards. That was a pretty big undertaking. I did it all myself, and that
was how I always worked. If there’s something I want to do, I don’t wait on
anything, I just go out and get it. The best advice I can give is to really
seek out opportunities, to apply yourself, and to show the world what you
can do. Be as open to just doing and not always expecting somebody to give
you something.

Q: What does STYLE mean to you? ?

A: For some people, style is about clothing or way you look. For me, Style
is about who you are and how you present yourself to the world. My style is
my sense of humor and the fun nature I have about me. I like to create
things and do really weird and unusual stuff.

Q: What item do you carry everywhere, your STYLISH obsession that you cannot
live without? ?

A: My style is very eclectic, so I like all types of things. I like things
that tend to be bright, edgy, colorful, and catch your eye. My office is
just full of toys. I’m a huge Disney fan so I’ve got all kinds of Disney
paraphernalia. I’ve got a shelf full of knick-knacks - you name it - it’s
there. My surroundings tend to be rather loud even though the way I look
isn’t. My office is very busy. For most people it would be a difficult
office to work in because I have so much stuff. I’ve got a giant Icee cup
sitting on my desk, and on the other corner I have Kermit the frog sitting
on a pedestal. I like crazy, fun toys.

Q: What do you like about living in Charlotte? ???

A: I have raised two children in Charlotte and I think it is a great city to
raise a family. There are wonderful attributes that you really can’t find as
regularly in other places. There are a lot of green spaces, it’s a warm
city, and it feels like a place that you can be yourself. I feel like the
restaurant scene is still growing - I’d like to see more in that, but there
are a lot of good offerings there. Cultural activities are important to my
family and I, so we like to attend different events and shows. I think
Charlotte is a really great city for trying to be who you want to be.
There’s a lot of opportunity and there’s something here for everyone. You
really don’t feel like you would be excluded.

Scott Cooper 

Discovering your inner style and personal expression are very important tasks to Scott Cooper, Agency Director at the WIlhelmina Evolution in Charlotte. Scott’s artistic background helps him on a day to day basis as he accomplishes his goal: help, hone and enhance talent in the Charlotte area as they discover and achieve their ultimate dream.

Scott Cooper Interview

Full Interview Ayoka Lucas

Q: How did you end up in Charleston? 

A: When I was in Atlanta I was doing styling and I wanted to move to Charleston because of my family is here. When I first came, I complained because it’s not Atlanta and there wasn’t that fast city aspect. But, instead of complaining I thought about what needs to happen. My mother (Linda Lucas) said to me this is where you need to pioneer. She said “Make it happen, be a pioneer and create it.”

Q: How did the concept of Charleston Fashion Week come about? The green light, per se…

A: First thing I did was pick up a Charleston City paper and I pitched some stuff where it says letter to the editor. Months and months later I met her and ended up writing a gossipy nightlife column for 2 years from that one letter. From there I ended up going to a Charleston Magazine party because that is what I did (social nightlife). So, long story short they brought me on as a freelance wardrobe stylist and when they expanded (they added two more magazines). They said we want you to come on full time as a stylist. It really it just was pioneering the effort and I really wanted to see fashion grow. I knew there was somewhat of a fashion community, but I wanted to spotlight it in the media and make it something that could be seen nationally. After about two years with Charleston Magazine… I was doing fashion features every other month and literally dreamt about this. In my dreams, I saw that concept (NY’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week) in Charleston. So I pitched it to my publisher and now it’s a Charleston Magazine event!

Printable STYLE Version

“Rising star and couture connoisseur, Foster Fox is one fashion designer who lives up to his name. Fox’s ‘Casino Chic’ collection debuted at Charleston Fashion Week leaving attendees and industry insiders alike buzzing about what is to come for this young and promising talent. IN this month’s Stylish Careers, Fox shares with STYLE his insight on his art, his ambitions and his achievements.

Full Interview Jocelyn Ellis

What’s Your Style? 
It’s like a free bird, an urban bohemian. I like being really comfortable but I love the urban flair with the hoodies,kicks and Converses. With ”bohemian” you can have a sexy bohemian but then you can have a chill day bohemian. I’m a soul that likes to travel, a free spirit. That’s what expresses my style the most. 

Tell Us About Your Musical Style? 

Urban Folk is my sound. It’s not Neo Soul, its not R & B. It’s the way that I express my music which is a combination of R & B, Jazz, Neo Soul, Rock, Folk and House. It’s ancestral music but I throw in some things listeners are familiar with from an Urban standpoint. 

Who’s your favorite musical artist? 

The artist that inspired me the most is Alicia Keys. I was 12 when I (first) heard Fallen and I thought it was a throw back. [When] I realized [she] was a new artist I was so excited because she was so different and so raw with it.. I also love Prince because he’s just so dynamic and he uses different instruments in ways you never thought instruments could be used before. He takes it to another level with his voice. 

What instruments do you play? 

I play the piano. I’m trying to take up the drums right now (laughs) so we’ll see how that goes. I only know a couple of beats right now. I used to play guitar so I’m going to pick that back up.