Organica Deluxe pop-up @ Poole

Poole Shop and Organica Deluxe recently announced their partnership on a pop-up shop to open Nov. 12 in Phillips Place.

What's a pop-up shop? Comme des Garcons designer Rei Kawakubo is credited with starting the guerrilla retail experience a few years ago -- temporarily setting up shop in an unexpected place.
Organica Deluxe, the Charlotte-based online store for eco-friendly luxe gifts, will set up shop inside Poole's south Charlotte store. On Nov. 12, Organica's entire product line will be in the store.

Through Dec. 24, OD will stock its most popular products in store. And online orders will be available for pickup in the store, with no delivery or shipping charges.

"We are excited to offer Charlotte customers this unique service," Poole Shop owner Laura Vinroot Poole said in a press release. "We love Organica Deluxe's beautiful packaging and especially their delicious ginger cookies. Anyone looking for gorgeous and green gifts will find exactly what they want."

Founded by Jane Hunter and Wendy James in 2008, Organica Deluxe sells home decor, accessories, baby items, flowers, food and wine ($10-$650). The site has been featured on Daily Candy and CNN. Celeb fans include Sigrid Olsen and Constance Zimmer.

Stella McCartney for GapKids in Charlotte?

Is that a real fox he's holding? No matter -- look at that marching band jacket! Too cute!

As the mom of two bebes (well, not really babies anymore -- my son is 6, my daughter 4), I can tell you with authority there is room for improvement when it comes to children's clothing.

There's only so much train/construction theming for boys or pink/purple florals for girls that a stylish mum can take before losing it completely.

Enter Stella McCartney, daughter of Sir Paul, mother of three (Miller, 4, Bailey, 2, and Beckett, 1) and creator of an uber-delicious eponymous line. Now, she's teamed with GapKids for a children's capsule collection that may just send me into fits, in a good way.

Marching band jackets? Tulle skirts? Cozy knits and kid-pleasing boots for stomping around (with trend-perfect neon yellow laces)? I am in.

The collection ($14-$128) should be hitting stores by Nov. 3, and I've been told by a well-placed source the SouthPark location will be one of just a handful of stores in the Southeast to carry the line.

Free Friday: $100 spa gift card

Up for grabs this week is a $100 gift card to Edamame The Maternity Spa at Destination Maternity, which has a location at Sharon Corners in South Charlotte. Edamame The spa offers an extensive menu of luxury treatments for the expectant woman and focuses on the fusion of body, mind and spirit. Treatments include facials, massages and enhancements, all provided by certified massage therapists and estheticians. It's not just for preggos: Many non-pregnant clients return to the spa after pregnancy for post-natal treatments.

• To enter, send an e-mail to style@charlotteobserver.com. Entries sent/posted elsewhere will not be considered.
• Your e-mail must contain SPA in the subject field of the e-mail. Include your name, phone number and mailing address in the text of the email.
• Entries must be received by 4 p.m. Friday. Entries sent after the deadline will not be considered.
• E-mails that meet the stated criteria will be entered into a random drawing. One entry per e-mail address, please.
• Only the winner will be contacted. Please do not post your contact information in the comments section on the blog.

Get ready for Bags & Baubles

Looking for a nearly guilt-free indulgence? Head over to the Assistance League of Charlotte's fourth annual Bags and Baubles sale, 9a-4p Saturday, Oct. 24 at its thrift shop, 3600 S. Tryon St.

The ALC is a nonprofit volunteer organization that assists children in need through its five philanthropic programs: Operation School Bell, Operation Check Hunger, Mecklenburg County Teen Court, Outreach and a college scholarship program.

And they've got some killer style. They've collected gently used handbags, jewelry, shoes and accessories for the sale. The list of designers is impressive. Here's just a handful of the names that will be on the sales floor: Donald J. Pliner, Dooney & Bourke, Coach, Hartmann, Maud Frizon and Lulu Guinness.

Word on the street is there's some David Yurman and vintage Eisenberg Ice jewelry in the mix too.

Perry's of SouthPark will be on hand for appraisals and gold/silver buybacks. ALC is still accepting donations of gently used jewelry, accessories and handbags for the sale. Click here for more information.

Having shopped the sale before, here are a few things I think you should consider before you go:

• Get there early. Don't arrive at 9a on the nose and expect to walk right in.


• Be courteous. It's just plain rude to sweep up an entire rack of bags on to your arm and cart them off, only to weed through and put the castoffs back. Manners, please.


• Remember it's for charity.

Bob Ellis to close at SouthPark

Sadly, the economy is claiming another Charlotte retail fatality.

The luxe Bob Ellis Shoes in SouthPark mall will close, says store manager Joel Prystowsky. Employees began telling customers late last week. The King Street location in Charleston will remain open.

Christian Louboutin Charme Black suede ankle boot

Bob Ellis has been in Charlotte for more than 11 years, opening first inside Coplon's Phillips Place space, then moving to a spot near Nordstrom inside SouthPark about five years ago.

It is a chic spot to find some of the most fab footwear: Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent are just a few of the lines in the store.

The decision to close was made by owner Barry Kalinsky, Prystowsky says, and came as a surprise to employees.

The timeline for closure (and clearance markdowns) has yet to be determined, he says.

Free Friday: VIP package for Simon Fashion Shows

Today's giveaway is a two-fer. Up for grabs are two VIP packages to Simon Fashion Now, a celebration of style and fashion scheduled for Oct. 23-24 at SouthPark mall. Included in each package: One $150 Simon gift card; two reserved seats for a runway show on Friday or Saturday and dinner for two at McCormick & Schmick's ($50 value, alcohol and gratuity not included).

• To enter, send an e-mail to style@charlotteobserver.com. Entries sent/posted elsewhere will not be considered.
• Your e-mail must contain SIMON in the subject field of the e-mail. Include your name, phone number and mailing address in the text of the email.
• Entries must be received by 4 p.m. Friday. Entries sent after the deadline will not be considered.
• E-mails that meet the stated criteria will be entered into a random drawing. One entry per e-mail address, please.
• Only the winner will be contacted. Please do not post your contact information in the comments section on the blog.

No sleep for fashion in CLT

ooooohhhhhh.... a pretty Cordani boot.

Fashion and style never sleep in Charlotte. Witness:

DESIGNER VISIT/TRUNK SHOW: Cordani designer and owner Michael Ciccia will be part of a Cordani trunk show 10a-6p Friday, Oct. 16 at Step by Sloan on East Boulevard. If you think fashion means giving up comfort for style, than you need to check out Cordani footwear, which for fall means boots, pumps, flats and clogs.

MAKEUP ARTIST VISIT: Susan Posnick Cosmetics national makeup artist Brandy Nolen will be doing complimentary makeovers at Jeffre Scott Apothecary on Friday and Saturday. Nolen will be at the Myers Park store 11a-4p on Friday, Oct. 16, and the Piper Glen store 11a-4p on Saturday, Oct. 17. Spend $35 or more and receive a free lipstick. Call 704.339.0010 to reserve a spot.

SMILE! The Flock Apparel is holding a public photo shoot project on the corner of Trade and Tryon streets, 5-9p Friday, Oct. 16. The event is an effort to "bring art and life to the city of Charlotte," says founder/designer CiGi.

TRUNK SHOW: Paul Simon for Women will host an Audrey Talbott Fall Sportswear Trunk Show 9:30a-6p Wednesday, Oct. 21 and Thursday, Oct. 22. Details: 704-333-6139.

FASHION NOW: SouthPark mall celebrates fall fashion and trends with this series of fashion shows and interactive entertainment, 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 and noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Friday's “Trends & Friends Night” will feature runway shows and more. Details: 704-364-4411.