As a child, Duke grad Sarah McIlroy always had a flair for style. So much so, that with the help of her mother's sewing, she designed and made her own clothing. Now a mom, McIlroy wanted to share that experience with her young daughter. Unfortunately, she lacked her mother's sewing prowess.
"Like many other parents today, I didn't have the time or skills to sew," she says. "And upon doing some research, I realized that there weren't many affordable options out there to combine design and custom clothing for girls."
So, McIlroy created Fashion Playtes ( www.fashion playtes .com ), a website that allows girls to design their own looks and then have them made to order. Using style templates, girls can choose colors, fabrics and extras, such as ribbons and appliques, to create distinctive pieces.
"For as long as we can remember, girls have been expressing themselves through fashion, whether it's playing dress up with their moms' clothes, dressing up dolls, or in today's environment, outfitting an avatar in virtual 'dress-up' games," McIlroy says. "We combine the fun gaming elements with a physical product, which evokes pride in a girl when she can say she's wearing something she designed, right down to the custom label."
McIlroy's daughter plays an important role in the business, too, offering input on the designs and helping her mother choose new styles to add to the site. She plans to invite more of her young customers to join her daughter in influencing the designs.
"We're starting to involve a lot more girls in that process," she says. "But it's been especially rewarding to see the thrill and excitement in my daughter's face when she sees new clothing available on the site that is based on her feedback and reactions."
McIlroy will make the site even more interactive in the coming months, adding community and gaming elements, as well as creating a Fashion Advisory Board that will allow young girls to give feedback on designs, and help influence the site's content.
The trunks are full
The holiday trunk show season is in full swing. Here's the lineup for this week:
Bailey's Fine Jewelry in Cameron Village has plenty of holiday sparkle this week with two trunk shows. On Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Ippolita will bring their newest designs to the store. The collection includes delicate gold bracelets and dangling earrings accented with iridescent stones. The Christopher Designs show, all day Friday and Saturday, sparkles with glittering diamond rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Bailey's is at 415 Daniels St., Raleigh. 829-7337, www.bailey box.com .
Beanie+Cecil Baby hosts Knightdale designers Fleming and Kirk Samuels of Fleming Clothing for a trunk show 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday. Through the label's website ( www.flemingclothing.com), parents can custom-order their children's clothes, choosing from an array of patterns and fabrics. The pieces are handmade in Knightdale.
During the trunk show, shoppers can see samples of new fabrics, including limited edition holiday prints. Fleming will also be on hand for a brief tutorial on designing custom looks through their website. Beanie+Cecil Baby is at 121 Seaboard Ave., Raleigh. 821-7985, www.beanieandcecil baby.com
A perfect day?
Downtown Raleigh gets a little taste of New York City during Shop, Sip and Cinema on Saturday. Downtown boutiques such as Epona & Oak, Dapper Style House and Revolver Consignment Boutique will have trunk shows, entertainment and refreshments and more from 2 to 5 p.m. At 5 p.m., the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences will host a mini-reception with champagne, wine and sweets, followed by a screening of "Sex and the City 2" at 5:30 p.m. The reception and screening are free, but RSVP is encouraged.E-mail ellenfragola@downtownraleigh.org with the total number of guests by Thursday. www.shopdowntownraleigh .com
A benefit sale
After losing her 9-year-old daughter to cancer in 2008, Raleigh mom Diane Moore wanted to do something to support other families dealing with cancer-stricken children. So she created Striving for More, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families dealing with cancer find the emotional and psychological support they need. ADORE Designer Resale Boutique in Cary will host a benefit for Striving for More from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
During the event, 10 percent of sales will go to Striving for More, and shoppers will get 20 percent off all jackets, coats and shoes. Santa, Mrs. Claus and carolers will be on hand to keep the kids amused while parents shop. ADORE is at 4226 NW Cary Parkway, Cary. 481-3400, http://adore boutiques.com .
Time to party!
On Thursday, Gena Chandler is throwing its fifth annual holiday party, featuring two hard-to-find, celebrity-favored lines Nation Ltd. and Halston Heritage. Nation Ltd., focuses on comfort, inspired by the founder's love of her father's white T-shirts. Sarah Jessica Parker is president and chief creative officer Halston Heritage, a line that evokes the legendary designer's vintage looks and gives them a modern feel.
Along with the fashion, the party will feature a DJ, champagne, and 20 percent off the entire store. it goes from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., so there's plenty of time to party.
Gena Chandler is at 4209-106 Lassiter Mill Road at The Alexan in North Hills, Raleigh. 881-9480, www.gena chandler.com .
