After seeing the coverage of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Uniquities owner Julie Jennings felt compelled to help.
But instead of writing a check, Jennings decided to get her stores involved, and now they're selling a limited edition Haiti Heart Tee.
"Like everybody else, we really wanted to do something to help," Jennings says. "And we just thought it would be nice to have something that people could wear."
Designer Ellie Meyer agreed to let them use her logo, a heart shaped by the word "Haiti." The shirts, which sell for $20, benefit American Red Cross efforts in Haiti.
"We wanted to make sure every penny goes to the cause, so 100 percent of our proceeds from the shirts go to help Haiti," Jennings says.
The shirts are available at all Uniquities locations and online for the next few weeks. If the demand is great enough, the store may print more.
Uniquities is at 450 Daniels St., in Raleigh's Cameron Village; 4209 Lassiter Mill Road, #127 in Raleigh's North Hills and in Chapel Hill at 452 W. Franklin St. www.uniquities.com
Belk's having a party
Of all the preparations for a wedding, registering for gifts is arguably the most fun - it's like creating a giant Christmas wish list for your life together. And this week, Belk adds to the fun with its Engagement Party event, 6-9 p.m. Thursday. In addition to free food and live entertainment, the store will provide bridal consultants to assist couples in choosing items for their gift registries.
Couples who open a Belk registry or add items to an existing registry will be eligible for a $25 Belk gift card and will be entered to win prizes such as airline or cruise travel vouchers, cash, gift cards and more.
For more information, contact your local store, or visit www.belk.com.
It's an anniversary
ReTails Thrift Shop is celebrating its fifth anniversary Friday with an all-day party that will feature free food and prizes. The store, which benefits the nonprofit group AnimalKind, donates all of its profits to the charity's program to spay and neuter animals for low-income pet owners.
ReTails is at 1608 N. Market Drive, Raleigh. 872-0019, www.animalkind.org.
Guy, it's the right fit
We often hear of the troubles women encounter when searching for the perfect fit in clothing, but sometimes guys have just as much difficulty.
Luckily, menswear brands such as Zegna Made-To-Measure by Ermenegildo Zegna offer men an alternative to off-the-rack shopping.
Offering tailored-to-fit garments, the brand has become a favorite of men who find traditional cuts less than flattering.
Saks will host Ermenegildo Zegna brand director Angel Rosado from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, for an event to debut the line's spring collection.
The event will be at Saks Fifth Avenue in Triangle Town Center, 7700 Old Wake Forest Road, Raleigh. To book an appointment, call 797-9100.
Goodbye to Za Za Zsu
The rough economy has claimed another victim in the Triangle - Za Za Zsu boutique in Durham. The boutique shut its doors Feb. 6 after struggling through the economic downturn.
Owner Lynda Lewis opened the shop in late 2005 after years of working as a buyer for stores such as Neiman Marcus, Barney's and Uniquities.
Lewis adopted the store name from a "Sex and the City episode" in which Carrie Bradshaw used the phrase to describe the feeling you get when you meet someone you really like.
The boutique carried names such as Tracy Reese and Diane Von Furstenberg, as well as indie labels.
Although the brick-and-mortar boutique is gone, it looks as if the shop might find new life online. The Web site has a note saying a new site will be revealed in the coming weeks.