FOUR Volume N°1 Preview: The Forbidden Issue

FOUR MAGAZINE

N潞1 路 WINTER MMXIII 路 FREE

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Alberto Giacometti Andreas Bechtler Andy Warhol Anish Kapoor Antoni Tapies Damien Hirst David Hockney Del Geist Donald Baechler Donald Sultan Elizabeth Turk Eric Fischl Fernand Léger Helen Frankenthaler Hoss Haley Houben RT Hunt Slonem Joan Miró Maja Godlewska Marc Chagall Marc Quinn Marek Ranis Mattia Biagi Pablo Picasso Patricia Leighton Rainer Lagemann Robert Hodge Robert Mars Salvador Dalí Sandra Muss Shaun Cassidy Shepard Fairey Willie Little

FOUR MAGAZINE VOLUME Nº1 · WINTER MMXIII

nicole camack

editor-in-chief ciara bird

creative director photographic contributors

troy browder, angel butler, jakub gulyás, theo mercado, yiannis mouzakitis, jonathan mullen, dustin peck, ashley sellner, evita smith, andrey yakovlev + lili aleeva editorial contributors

matthew brown, alice welsh doyle, sarah grundle, courtney perkins featured contributors

lavi adkins, camila amortegui, laura archibald, rebecca brooks, jeremy okai davis, ida divine, brooke sloan gibbons, dree harper, greg hart, katharine hidell, eric hurtgen, leeann little, bruna oliveira, elisabeth ouni, scott partridge, meera lee patel, zoë pawlak, fahamu pecou, holly hollingsworth phillips, buff + leila ross, minka sicklinger, franklin sinanan, ruard veltman, gray walker, case warnemunde, chris watts, zack whyel, kelvin wright contact

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four magazine is published quarterly by little bird, llc and distributed online and through fashion boutiques, vintage stores, art galleries and home décor shops. all content produced in this magazine is ©four magazine, 2013. reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. four relies on the talents and hard work of dozens of creatives. show support by advertising, contributing and providing feedback so that we can thrive.

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artwork by chi chi luo

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welcome

photographed by yiannis mouzakitis

f o r a l l t h e w i l y c h a r m s of the world with its alluring influences, there is still nothing like the pleasure induced by pure, unadulterated creativity. We believe in magazines that engross and inspire at the end of a long week, that showcase the uncompromised passion of local creatives in their element. We have no interest in creating throwaway media—we want to make something that is treasured, that ends its days making the bookshelf or coffee table just a little bit prettier and more civilized. And we believe that everyone needs a break from the status quo.

This is our starting point…

Some might call it forbidden territory— the provocative, liberated space where raw creativity and passion feverishly seduce art, design, fashion and culture in the center of the queen’s city. This is where the curious, the creatives, the dreamers and the visionaries explore creative mélanges, audacious interior design, cultural independencies, mindblowing visual stimulation, and locally exclusive fashion finds. We believe in loyalty to fresh, original and creative forms of expression throughout the Charlotte area that will resonate and remain relevant far past our releases.

So leave mainstream at the door, hang up those cloaks of caution, take off those inhibitions, and indulge where we dwell. Welcome to Charlotte’s shelter for the curious and passionate. Welcome to FOUR.

nicole camack and ciara bird, founders of four magazine

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photographed by angel butler

1 8 0 0 C A M DE N ROA D S UI T E 1 0 5 • C HA RLOT TE N C 2 82 03 • 9 80.833.1135 • THEB C B RA N D.C OM

contents volume n째1 t h e f o r b i d d e n i s s u e

no balls, no glory

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c r e at e t h at st y l e

at h o m e i n pa r a d i s e

a polaroid story

dree harper

buff + leila ross

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cold on my feet

peace offering

from mooresville with love

fresh exclusive

the olive branch

L2 boutique

kick. push. coast.

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t h e n e w t e sta m e n t o f d e s i g n

t h e g a r d e n o f c r e at i v i t y

whyelfiles

gray walker

bella love

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p l ay l o v e & m e x i c o f o l k

for the love of it

g h o st s o f d e s i g n s pa st

fashion

hidell brooks gallery

my indie charlotte

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b e wa r e o f a r t i st s

a classic redesign

blissful beginnings

artist profiles

laura archibald + ruard veltman

a short story

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queen city

ta st e f u l & t i m e l e s s

camila amortegui

fashion

gray walker

closet & casa

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be the cool

bold & beautiful

ida divine

blank canvas

holly hollingsworth phillips

this or that

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WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OF CREATIVITY?

IS CREATIVITY PART OF HUMAN NATURE OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT MUST BE LEARNED AND NURTURED? IS NOT BEING AFRAID TO FAIL AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF CREATIVITY? How does creativity differ from inspiration? How much is intuition part of how you work? Do you resist following your instincts? Is inspiration irrational?

If s o, h o w c a n yo u b e c o m e m o re i r ra t i o n a l ? Ho w c a n w e f re e o u r m i n d s s o t h a t inspiration can happen? Can inspiration be found in obsession?

What is your obsession? Does inspiration come to you without questioning it?

Is inspiration an ongoing process?

Is imagination more important than knowledge? Is imagination the beginning of creativity? Why do you do what you do? Why is what you do worth doing?

Do you ask enough questions, or do you settle for what you know?

Which is worse: failing or never trying? If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make them? If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? Does the ‘new norm’ of constant change require that we master ‘perpetual transformation’?

I f y o u c o u l d d o i t a l l o v e r a g a i n , w o u l d y o u c h a n g e a n y t h i n g ? W h e n i t ’s a l l said and done, will you have said more than you have done?

ezra petronio

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self service

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y i a n n i s m o u z a k i t i s c o l l e c t i o n e d d i e g a v r i i l i d i s h o l l y r u d g e make up v a s s i l i s t h e o t o k i s

photography hair

yiannismouzakitis.com

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pharrell williams, va$htie kola, d’angelo, tyler the creator, asap rocky, raphael saadiq

You photograph hip-hop, rap, soul, r&b, blues, and jazz artists. How did this love affair begin? Music has been very important throughout my life. I raised myself on 80s MTV videos on one side and Elvis Presley & Nat King Cole on the other. When I started working in a bar at age 16 where the playlist was strictly soul, jazz and funk music, I learned that the music I listened to (80s and 90s hip-hop & r&b) came with a history, which triggered my already-curious and adventurous nature.

Who was the first artist you photographed? Pharrell Williams at The Lokerse Feesten Festival in Belgium.

Why polaroids? I started to experiment with Polaroids after I bought a camera from the thrift store that was right under my apartment. I started to work out a little series of my friends, the beach and the city I live in (Ostend, Belgium) on Polaroid. On my birthday I went to watch N.E.R.D. playing a local festival in Belgium and made it my personal mission (im)possible.

After that one, I tried another festival to portray The Roots. I went home with a Polaroid from Questlove & Black Thought. At one point, I had to tell those stories over and over again so I started a blog so people could read it. The rest is history. I got addicted to chasing moments that are brief and slightly epic at the same time along the way. I’m probably an adrenaline junkie for the rush and contempt you get when you realize you reached your goal and you alone can tell an amazing story.

Anyone you’ve been chasing down for a while now? Kanye West has two failed attempts on his name. D’Angelo one. Wiz Khalifa one. Missy Elliot one. Nas has one. Busta Rhymes. I’m still patiently waiting for artists like Timbaland and Ludacris to come to Europe too. I would love to catch

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NO BALLS,

NO GLORY. Chasing hip-hop, soul and jazz icons around the globe, Elisabeth Ouni captures fleeting moments with musical genius on film. interview ciara bird photography elisabeth ouni

“I AM NOT A JOURNALIST OR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER, NOR AM I A GROUPIE.” 18

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method man, lianne la havas

the remaining Wu-Tang members all in one series. Last time I tried that, Method Man, GhostFace Killah and RZA missed their plane from Moscow to Belgium.

man against a wall and not messing up my shot; because once again, my time was limited and I swore to myself that the Pharrell story ended right then and there and my shot better be good.

In that moment of haste, how do you get an artist to take a picture? My pitch is something that I adapt with every artist; my time is so little sometimes that I have to focus on getting the Polaroid rather than keep a conversation going. Mostly, I approach them, ask them if I could take a Polaroid picture and guide them through my Polaroids of artists I captured before them. Mostly that does the trick because they quickly understand they are part of something conceptual and mostly they agree. However, sometimes I don’t have the opportunity to ask nicely and if Snoop Dogg passes by you with a handful of bodyguards and you have been waiting for hours to grab that moment, the only thing you can do is… well, you know.

Method Man took away any ability to speak like a normal person. I stuttered, could not finish a full phrase. It was terrible. Then again, try to act normal when a man the size of Method Man is tearing up a white towel with his teeth while you are trying to explain what you want with your little Polaroid camera.

Where have you traveled? I traveled to New York, Miami, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam for this blog. I’d love to combine a story set in Vegas or Abu Dhabi. I HAVE to go to Texas and LA. I’m so curious what I can bring home from events like SXSW and Coachella. Every time I travel for the blog I try to prepare as much as possible. If I don’t come home with a Polaroid, I probably have a pretty good story to tell about it.

Once I have the agreement, if I have the opportunity, I ask them to give me two different expressions or poses. We wait until the pictures come out and I specifically ask if they are happy with the pictures.

Would you share your favorite story? My favorite story is probably the one with Gil-Scott Heron because it’s so simple and sweet. I saw him walking out of his hotel in Belgium, and while he was crossing the street, I introduced myself and he asked if I could accompany him to get some food because there wasn’t any in the hotel. So we went to get some fries. After Gil-Scott, my encounter with D’Angelo was a pretty amazing experience.

What is one of the most ‘ballsy’ things you’ve done to get a picture? Sneaking into Method Man’s poorly lit backstage; walking in the room and acting all confident – which completely failed – and asking Method Man for a Polaroid while the sweat was still dripping off of his body from the performance he’d just finished.

And, fighting a bouncer who wanted me to leave the backstage, even though I had permission to be there. I was hustling my way to a Rick Ross Polaroid.

Many times when we do things for the love of it, it doesn’t pay off financially. Do you have a day job? Yes; I work as a Digital Media Consultant for a PR company in Belgium specializing in fashion, lifestyle, gastronomy and luxury. I also work as a creative and do freelance production and art direction jobs in fashion and music. From time to time, if I’m interested, I do little writing jobs.

Have you ever been star struck and froze before getting a shot? Pharrell Williams might be a good example. However, after chasing him 3 stories down, by the 4th I was completely over my ‘star struck–ness’ and the only thing I was focused on was putting the

Until this day I have not made shoeboxes full of cash out of this blog,

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but I have broadened my network, started to travel more, learned more and more about music, made new friends, fell in and out of love, etc. When I’m old I probably won’t be counting my money, but I’ll definitely have plenty to reminisce about and entertain my senior girlfriends with my wild stories.

What is your most recent success/failure? My most recent success is definitely D’Angelo who I photographed last summer at the Ghent Jazz Festival in Belgium. My most recent failure or disappointment must be my trip to the MTV EMA Awards. It turned out to be a very popular story though.

Your world is filled with many different roles. In what ways has your multi-faceted life been rewarding? I build up experience and contacts in different fields and worlds. I learned to stay frosty about all things culture, music, technology and fashion.

Don’t be mistaken, it might seem like I do what I want, but you have to work very hard to make a decent living out of the things you love doing the most. Is quoting “you need to crawl before you ball’ lame here? When you start something, you need to finish it too. Being focused and disciplined also comes with the fun stuff. I battle with that every day. With every dream job comes an excel file. You can’t escape the boring tasks.

Do you have any plans for your photos in the future? I just finished my very first A Polaroid Story exposition last October in Belgium, which was a huge success. I hope to get the expo to other countries in Europe and who knows, the States in the course of 2013. That would be amazing. And yes, I’m slowly looking out for a publicist who might be interested in bundling my stories and Polaroids in my first book. However, with the expo, which I completely financed myself, I do realize now that I’ll have to partner up with the right sponsors to support me on this.

What have you learned about yourself from this journey?

That if I focus hard enough I can reach, do and experience many things— some sad, some good, some exciting, some hard, but always interesting enough to keep me going.

You take such big risks. What have you learned from your failures? That they always come with a big learning process, and sometimes I really don’t want to hear that crap when it’s right after I failed in something; but with time, looking back, failures made me wiser.

Follow Ouni’s journey at: apolaroidstory.com

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BEWARE OF ARTISTS—THEY MIX WITH ALL CLASSES OF SOCIETY AND ARE THEREFORE MOST DANGEROUS. QUEEN VICTORIA

minka sicklinger · eric hurtgen · greg hart meera lee patel · zoë pawlak · chris watts · scott partridge jeremy okai davis · franklin sinanan · fahamu pecou

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and.the.moon.knows.the.centre.cannot.hold. pen, ink, paint on paper. 2012

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MINKASICKLINGER What is your present state of mind? — Embodying the chaos theory. — Your motto. — To live is to be willing to die over and over again. — Your age. — 31 — Where are you from and where are you now? — The universe... in New York. — How would you describe your work and creative process? — A whirling brain that never stops, but occasionally slows enough to allow my hands to take a picture. — Apart from creation, what other things do you like to do? — Hunt for treasure and look through illuminated windows at night. — Where will you go for your next vacation? — Russia — Open a nearby book and copy the first line you like. — “These ruffians were going to be taught a lesson by hard and ready minions of the Establishment.” — What would be the title of your memoir? — Sack up no dice. minkasicklinger.com

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left: skull.crown. pen, ink, paint on paper. 2011 right: october 2012

ERIC HURTGEN Who are you and what would you like to be? — Unfortunately, I’ve spent a lot of time wanting to be something or someone else, so now I’m trying to want to be who I am. — Your most marked characteristic? — I can be a talker. — Where are you from and where are you now? — Originally from Louisville, Kentucky and now I live in Charlotte, North Carolina. — How would you describe your work and creative process? — A process of stumbling in the right direction. The work that I plan out meticulously, I typically don’t like nearly as much as the work that just happens in the moment. But the work that just happens would never have existed if I hadn’t already been working on the meticulously planned stuff. — What music are you listening to right now? — I’m really liking this Nigerian artist from the 70’s and 80’s, King Sunny Adé. — Where and when did your parents first meet? — In Louisville, Kentucky. Back in the seventies.

Dad had a killer beard. Mom was a nursing student. — Open a nearby book and copy the first line you like. — “The darkness that art combats is the ultimate one, the conclusion that life is without worth and finally better off ended.” — erichurtgen.com

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GREG HART What is your present state of mind? — Anxiously optimistic. — Your age. — 34 — How would you describe your work and creative process? — I have a studio at Redux Contemporary Art Center in Charleston. I leave the laptop behind, throw on Pandora, and focus completely on one portrait at a time. My preparation is frenetic but the studio time is a single-minded pursuit. I love fast drying paint – acrylic, spray paint, gesso, gouache – when it comes to my art, I have no patience for the slowly emerging image – my portraits quickly develop dimension through layering, sometimes even sped along by a hair dryer. — What music are you listening to right now? — Neko Case, Radiohead, The Band — Apart from creation, what other things do you like to do? — Running is my form of meditation – an 8-mile run on a Saturday morning clears my head. — Open a nearby book and copy the first line you like. — “I thought of him with a vague sadness and with a puckering bitterness too.” — Your favorite artists, writers, musicians? — Philip Guston, Richard Diebenkorn, Alice Neel, Basquiat, David Lynch, PT Anderson, Haruki Murakami, Raymond Chandler, Ron Rash, Ayn Rand, Gillian Flynn, Paddy Chayefsky — What is your best friend like? — Honest, intelligent, driven, quick witted, and loving. Janet and I balance one another – she sharpens my edges, I soften hers. — What is the best present you’ve ever received? — Paul Smith wristwatch from Paris. — What natural gift would you most like to possess? — The charisma of Cary Grant. — greg-hart.com

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What is your present state of mind? — A bubble. — Who are you and what would you like to be? — Ordinary, exhilarating and exhausting, shaken up. I would rather be a stirred old fashion— strong, yet vulnerable. — Your most marked characteristic? — From a distance, my hair. — Your motto. — Good is dead. — Your age. — Twenty something. — Where are you from and where are you now? — From the southeast with ties to the southwest; currently in the northeast. — How would you describe your work and creative process? — More viscerally optical than verbal. My process is expansive. — What music are you listening to right now? — I’m A King Bee. — iamchriswatts.com

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left: Soul 101 (A lesson on soul from the Godfather) acrylic, transfer, ink and graphite on paper. 23 x 30. 2011 right: Ice cream love (to all the kids who are high on dreams) acrylic, transfer, graphite on unprimed canvas. 60 x 42. 2012

CHRIS WATTS

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FRANKLIN SINANAN Your motto. — Be free, and live by your own rules, and always make sure that you have your own identity — Where are you from and where are you now? — I was born in Trinidad, near Saparia, was raised in Montreal, and Hamilton, Ontario, and I now live in Miami Beach; but I feel like my soul has always been from someplace else. — Open a nearby book and copy the first line you like. — “Your conscience will not prevent sin – it exists to prevent you from enjoying it.” — What would be the title of your memoir? — From Hell and Back: the Life of an Artist. — Your age. — 48 — How would you describe your work and creative process? — I attack the work physically, emotionally and leave it in a pile and when I look at it later on, I still don’t know what it is. It’s like going into a trance. I don’t think about it, I just do it. — Where will you go for your next vacation? — A retreat in the jungle. — What natural gift would you most like to possess? — To have an even deeper connection to the psychic plane. — franklinsinanan.com

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FAHAMU PECOU What is your present state of mind? — Grind — Who are you and what would you like to be? — I am a visual and performing artist, an academic, a father and a man, becoming. I would like to be more than I ever thought I could be. — Your most marked characteristic? — My “gumby” hairstyle — Your motto. — Create like a god.

Command like a king. Work like a slave. Love like a mother. — Your age. — 37 — Where are you from and where are you now? — I am from the planet of Brooklyn, N.Y., but now I’m an ATLien. — How would you describe your work and creative process? — My work is critical observations on the performance and representation of black masculinity. My creative process is to look at the extremities of those representations and performances and poke holes in them. — What is your favorite movie without naming it? — You can find Mr. MacDowell and his two lovely daughters at MacDowell’s Restaurant. — Apart from creation, what other things do you like to do? — What else is there? — Your favorite artists, writers, musicians? — David Hammons, Kanye West, Octavia Butler.

— What would be the title of your memoir? — FAHAMENON — fahamupecouart.com

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previous spread left/right: Untitled. mix media on paper // far left: Corps perdu, l’ame se retrouve oil on canvas. left: All Dat Glitters Aint Goals right: Eye Con

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QUEEN CITY A n d r e y Ya k o v l e v a r t - d i r e c t i o n + h a m u L i l i A l e e v a El e n O m a c c e s s o r i e s Na t a l i a S h a u l o v a f e a t u r i n g S a s h a S i l v e r, K a t y a U h a n o v a , M a r i y a K a l i n i n a , Wa s i u O a n d G e r a S h e n g e l a y a

photography

fashion designer

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TASTEFUL & TIMELESS A family seeking comfort and practicality turned to interior designer Gray Walker to renovate and design a home that was traditional, inviting and reflected their love of things both old and new for their growing children.

Interior Design G R A Y W A L K E R

Interview C I A R A B I R D

Photography D U S T I N P E C K

The living room evolved around the Aubusson rug.

The room had always been yellow, but the new rug moved it towards a softer palette. A collection of fine antiques give the room a feeling the couple gravitates to for their formal spaces.

Pieces from Niermann Weeks and Nancy Corzine help bridge the centuries with grace and continuity.

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Featuring Pecky Cypress ceilings and double slab marble surfaces— the kitchen and breakfast room evolved into open, inviting spaces with the help of Don Duffy, AIA Architecture and Hubert Whitlock Builders. Gray Walker worked with Niermann Weeks to custom design the chandelier above the island.

The foyer features an elegant wallpaper by Tyler Hall. A Niermann Weeks mirror hangs boldy over a serious Georgian antique in the dining room.

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The soft blue walls and hints of lavender create a soothing retreat in the master. An antique Italian mirror hangs above the bed with modern nightstands topped by Christopher Spitzmiller lamps and pieces of antique porcelain placed throughout. The sitting room with its iridescent beaded wall covering and custom sectional, is like the inside of an oyster shell.

The Stark carpet, high gloss wall and cabinetry finish, custom lucite and matte gold hardware, custom designed by Gray Walker, and the antique bronze dore chandelier hung in the master closet, create a feeling of Hollywood drama.

The sunroom, an elegant extension of the living room that overlooks the pool and gardens, features a blue and amethyst color palette, custom carpets by Stark, Niermann Weeks floor lamps, a John Rosselli chandelier and custom sit-upons

by Gray Walker. The living room walls are upholstered in a fern green velvet, while an antique Oushak rug adds textural coziness.

Tribal elegance rings throughout the poorhouse entry, which features shades of electric blue, faux obis wallpaper and a beaded stone light fixture. The side entry is covered in Manuel Canovas wallpaper, with a lucite console and antique Italian mirror. It also features a chevron honed marble floor and Pecky Cypress ceiling.

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FROM MOORESVILLE WITH LOVE As you walk into L Squared Boutique you can almost hear the Cheers theme song urging you along. This mother-daughter duo makes every customer feel like a celebrity, with catered shopping experiences, star-studded style, and unforgettable charm.

Interview C O U R T N E Y P E R K I N S

Photography A S H L E Y S E L L N E R 56

LeeAnn Little and her mother Susan Little can be found among

more room. I knew it was the next step, and in three weeks I was opening a new store in my dream space.

the copper racks of clothing, tall ceilings, dark hardwood floors and vintage accessories at L Squared boutique in historic downtown Mooresville. The product of two generations who have distinct talent for styling women, the moment you walk into the impeccably decorated and cozy shop, this duo is ready to offer a customized shopping and styling strategy to transform you into your best self.

Can you tell us about the name of the boutique? How has it changed over the years? Of all places, L Squared initially came about from a high school marketing class. I was asked to create a business plan and came up with a boutique with my friend Lindsay.

I remember our marketing teacher disliked and questioned our name choice. Years later on a trip to California, I saw a sign hanging titled L Squared Salon. I took it as a sign and knew I was ready to change the name from Dot’s to reflect the exciting changes that had happened over the last five years. I feel it fits because originally it was born out of LeeAnn and Lindsay, and now reflects LeeAnn Little – a long line of ‘L’ last names.

Tell us about the journey of L Squared Boutique. Most young girls enjoy playing dress up as a child – it so happens I spent my childhood in my grandmother’s store Dot’s in Maiden, N.C. I donned the sequin tube tops during dress up and admired the stylish women who came to shop. Dot’s thrived in Maiden for 40 years. When it came time for my grandmother to retire, my mother Susan Little moved Dot’s to Hickory in an exciting new venture with plans to expand our offerings to our clientele. I worked part-time there while solidifying my plans to study Fashion Merchandising in Atlanta. With my education under my belt and back in North Carolina, I drove through downtown Mooresville and one month later had a 500-square-foot store. In January of 2011, this wonderful space across the street became available. My mother had just closed our Hickory store, and we needed

How do you select your pieces? What are some of the qualities you look for? I like to see high-end fashion and watch how it transforms into ready to wear, affordable pieces. Couture runway shows inspire fabric choice and patterns that always make their way into the trade shows in Atlanta for buyers. That’s the fun part – shopping for the next season and knowing I’m bringing the best

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current styles to L Squared. Routinely I can be found scouring magazines, online fashion sites and European websites to keep up to date and find new clothing and accessory lines.

Discovering quality lines that are different from most shops is very important to me – that’s what makes a boutique special!

Finding those pieces that aren’t mainstream, that are out of someone’s usual “style box”, yet create compliment after compliment. Women enjoy the exclusivity of select pieces and I love bringing that to L Squared.

Does L Squared cater to a particular clientele? What does L Squared offer that makes it one-of-a-kind?

I believe L Squared caters to a variety of ages. In the store, I can show a 50-something customer how they can style pieces that a 20-something would wear. It’s all about the versatility. We have clothing and accessories specific to a younger crowd, but many options can work for everyone when styled. Most importantly my goal is to have L Squared offer wearable, cool, flattering clothing that make my customers look good. I want to see that confidence with their new purchase when they walk out that door. What separates L Squared from other boutiques is myself and my mother, Susan – we are the only two people in here on a day-to-day basis. We give the best attention and care that you could ask for in a store. We are also brutally honest. If something doesn’t work, I will tell you and give you something else that will be better.

A lot of people will sell you things just to sell – we aren’t like that. If we don’t have what you’re looking for, our sense of camaraderie in downtown Mooresville will kick in and I will direct them to other local shops that may be able to help.

L Squared’s styling services go beyond the boutique walls. What else do you offer? To create a perfect fit with ease, we have in-house alterations available just upstairs provided by Tatyana James of TVT Tailoring. We can also deliver outfits if someone is too busy. I’m proud of our overthe-top customer service and personal shopping component.

When I get calls like, “I have an event tonight; I need a great cocktail dress,” I ask questions such as what size, is there something already in mind, shoes, accessories? Something that you’re trying to base the whole look around? We come to you and bring options – even if that’s at the nail salon where you only have 15 minutes.

We also offer a closet service where you call us to set up an appointment. My mother and myself can sort through your closet and really help you identify which items are past their prime, which items define your personal style, how to maximize your wardrobe, and what is consignable. L Squared has a small section of consigned items. We are happy to take particular items off your hands if we feel they are a good fit.

Could you describe your personal style? Laid-back, boho-chic. There are also times when I like to throw a girly, rock-n-roll twist. I love dresses. I’m always layered with different pieces, from tanks and sweaters and wearing at least 10 bracelets. I tend to sport the same armload of bracelets for about three months and then change it up.

What advice would you give to people who are trying to get into the fashion industry? First and foremost, understand what you want to do. Understand where you’re going. If you’re looking to open up a store, understand what it’s really all about. Get involved in internships – production, styling, working markets. It’s the best way to figure out what it all really entails and what area you enjoy. You can also pick a storeowner’s brain to understand all aspects. It can look very fun but it’s very hard work – nitty and gritty, sometimes even mean. I encourage people who want to get into the fashion business to have their own personality. Don’t piggyback on something that’s already been done.

Be different because there are so many small boutique stores; it’s a challenge to stay up, current and changing. Don’t follow; lead.

casual dresser who needs very few dressy things and more stylish basics.

In what ways would you like to see L Squared evolve? For people to come in and shop local, and for those people to spread the word about their experience. I’d love to be more branded – not to open five locations, but make L Squared’s current location a shopping destination in North Carolina.

It seems like there are often events at L Squared boutique – what are some of the fun ways you like to stay involved in the community of Mooresville? We love to host late night shopping events where we bring in outside businesses – wine vendors, bakery items, jewelry vendors, and spa vendors with discounted material that evening. We do corporate shopping days and deals: show us your badge for a discount. Twice a year, L Squared and surrounding stores and boutiques in Mooresville, Cornelius, and Huntersville gather in one big location and have a warehouse sale – keep your eyes out for it. We enjoy throwing in-home parties where we will take 2-3 racks of clothing and set up shop in your home and you can invite a few girlfriends over. We’ll bring the wine and you can shop right there.

What is the most important thing you have learned over the course of starting and running your own business? Creating great relationships with not only your customers but your surrounding businesses as well. We can work together. If I don’t have it, I can send them somewhere else locally instead of a department store. You can’t just cater to yourself, you must think about every buyer, every age. Learn who your customer is: what are their limits, where does their comfort zone end? What is their lifestyle? Get to know your customer and what they truly need. We find out a lot about them when we go into their closet. A mother of two who is busy all the time may be a much more

148 N. Main St, Downtown Mooresville, North Carolina Facebook.com/ L2DowntownMville

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