by Gina Stephens | Feb 28, 2018 | March 2018, Polish, Stuff
JUST TWO YEARS AGO, you’d be unlikely to catch a corporate vice president pairing a velour hightop with a flash
Wayne Kulkin, former CEO and new creator of shoe brand
y suit, or a CEO sporting a sparkly sneaker with a skirt and blazer. But times have changed, says Wayne Kulkin, the former CEO of luxury shoe brand Stuart Weitzman who launched his own sneaker company, StreetTrend LLC, last year.
“It’s amazing; around the world you see extremely fashionable men and women wearing cool sneakers with [business clothes],” Kulkin says. “It’s quite interesting to see how fast a category so big like sneakers has changed in the past 24 months.”
According to a recent consumer report from Bain & Company, sneakers and casual footwear now comprise 50 percent of all shoe purchases for women and 65 percent for men, due to obvious factors such as comfort, versatility and personal expression. There’s also an element of exclusivity to such shoe buying, where independent sneaker brands produce a limited amount of shoes at different price points, distribute them to retailers and, once they’ve sold, move on to the next design.
“Limited editions and collaboration are the buzzwords,” Kulkin says. “It’s not the easiest thing to do, to come up with the right designs and ways to produce cool shoes in small quantities. But with only 500 pairs available, the odds of bumping into someone else with the same shoes are low.”
In Raleigh, the trend has caught on fast and you can find your very own pairs of unique sneakers at boutiques such Main & Taylor, Uniquities, Madison and Vermillion. It’s a trend that Kulkin says will have quite a bit of staying power; after all, who’d really rather wear 4-inch heels over sneakers every day of the week?
“X amount of women and men still wear dress shoes,” Kulkin says, “but we will not go back to that environment in the future where everything was so formal. The world is fast, communication is flat, and everything is moving at warp speed. It’s influencing peoples’ perceptions about how they should look and feel.
by Gina Stephens | Feb 28, 2018 | March 2018, Retreat, Stuff
Each piece created by Flitch Furniture is built with purpose, longevity and nature in mind. The Raleigh-based company is named for a cut of lumber that comes straight from the tree—something living, and the modular furniture is built from solid maple and walnut. Flitch takes great pride in using lumber from trees grown in our region, and in our time zone, attributing the unique, natural variations in the wood grain to each tree’s growing conditions. flitchfurniture.com
by Gina Stephens | Feb 28, 2018 | March 2018, Stuff
Communal Workouts
Drive past almost any church parking lot or park and you’ll likely see a group of folks suffering in unison through burpees, squats and lunges.
Group activity isn’t a new concept but it has certainly seen a massive up-tick in recent times. “Over the last 20 years we’ve seen rapidly rising numbers in spin, yoga and the emergence of CrossFit and its tribe mentality, “ says Rob McGillivray, a personal trainer and founder of Retrofit. “I believe it to be a key indicator that working out in a motivational pack, or using it as a tool to enhance competitive performance, is fast becoming the preferred form of exercise.”
Research shows that the healthy actions of others rub off on us. A 2016 study published in the journal “Obesity” found that overweight people tend to lose more weight if they spend time with their fit friends — the more time they spend together, the more weight they lose. Whether it’s a group fitness class at the gym or a run in the park with pals, there are lots of health benefits you can glean from working out in a group.
1. Burn Boot Camp
2. 12th State Crossfit
3. Team 24 Boot Camp
4. Iron Tribe Fitness
5. Cyclebar
Rising Stars In Food
• Charcoal: It’s not just for grilling. Activated charcoal has been popping up on menus everywhere, in everything from lattes to froyo, and isn’t showing signs of slowing down.
• Jackfruit: Thank the vegans! Jackfruit, a tree- borne fruit billed as a “healthy and sustainable vegan meat replacement” saw a 131 percent growth in popularity in 2017. This fruit is flowering!
• Koji: The mold that makes miso, sake and soy sauce possible wasn’t on anyone’s radar until April of 2016, when it started popping up on menus and checks. Koji saw a jump in popularity last year and it’s just on the cusp of getting even bigger.
5 (Free) Healthy Living Podcasts
1. Psychology of Eating
It’s all about understanding your eating habits and how to change them for good. Host Marc David has helped million of people change their bad culinary choices.
2.Fat 2 Fit Radio
This one isn’t new; in fact, there’s been no new content since 2013 but it’s still worth listeningto. Host Russ Turley, who lost 60 pounds while host of “The Fat Guy Radio,” Helana Brigman, food writer, chef and personal trainer, and Jeff Ainslie talk about weight loss through lifestyle changes. There are no quick fixes.
3. No Meat Athlete Radio
Matt Frazier, founder of the No Meat Athlete brand, book and blog, shares his enthusiasm and knowledge of all things vegan and vegetarian nutrition. If you aren’t a vegetarian, still give it a try…we all need to increase our veggie intake.
4. Wellness Mama
Wellness Mama Katie talks about real food, stress, fitness and other ways to improve your family’s health by taking baby steps.
5. The Ultimate Health Podcast
Hosts Dr. Jesse Chappus, a chiropractor and holistic health enthusiast, and Marni Wasserman, a nutritionist, discuss everything from nutrition and superfoods to fitness, meditation and spirituality.
New Year New Running Shoes
Hear’s a look at Gear Patrol’s favorites
Best for Gym-Going and Running: Adidas alphaBounce Beyond
Best Budget Pick: Altra Solstice
Best Daily Run: Saucony Liberty ISO
Best Lightweight Around-Town Runner: Puma Ignite Flash EvoKnit
Best Lightweight All-Arounder: New Balance Zante v4
by Gina Stephens | Feb 14, 2018 | February 2018, Retreat, Stuff
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It may be cold outside but there’s nothing like a touch of blue to transport you away to the clear skies and shimmering sea waters of summer—even if it’s only in your mind. Snuggle down under a blue cotton quilt, put your feet up on a luxurious ottoman or simply warm up a room with a funky bowl, an aquamarine bottle or a fishy plate. You’ll be warm again before you know it.
1. Kantha cotton quilt, $75; Form & Function
2. Solar outdoor lantern, $26.95; Form & Function
3. Paddywax Driftwood + Indigo soy wax candle (12 oz.), $25.95; Form & Function
4. Swirl bowl, $68; Zest Café & Home Art
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5. Blenko handcrafted bottle, $48; Zest Café & Home Art
6. Fish plate, $12; Affordable Chic
7. Asian custom pillow, $34; Affordable Chic
8. Handmade pottery coaster set (4), $38.95; Form & Function
9. Hogan ottoman 23.6 x 18.7 x 23.6, $199; Target
Amy Howard’s One Step chalk paint in American Dream is a beautiful, bright shade of royal blue. Pair it with yellows for a mood-boosting color combo!
—Laurie Lebetter, affordablechicshops.com
I love the depth and richness of this provocative, royal blue color. It would be a beautiful, bold choice as a glossy island in a kitchen for a splash of color paired with white perimeter cabinets. Blueblood would have a lovely, reflective quality in lacquer or super high gloss for dining room, living room or
powder room walls.
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—Carole Marcotte, Form & Function, formandfunctionraleigh.com
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Royal Blue can be a strong color that dominates the color palette of a room. Behr’s Deep Royal has a bit more subtle feeling that will still provide a bright pop of color, but will easily complement other neutral colors in your home!
—Beth Bridgers, Beyond Blue Interiors
When I realized how much my client loved Royal Blue I painted her front door with Benjamin Moore’s “Blue #2066-10.” It’s a true royal blue, it’s deep, bold and oh so cozy, it also adds a hint of Americana to any space!
— Tula Summerford, Design by Tula, designbytula.com
This rich, deep shade of blue maintains the blue qualities, even in low light. It is rich, never gaudy, never too dark. This color works in any room where a sense of sophistication and calm is desired.
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—Paula Fullerton, Sew Fine II, sewfine2.com
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by Gina Stephens | Feb 14, 2018 | February 2018, Polish, Stuff
This winter is turning out to be a roller coaster of temps, with days of lows in the 20s to highs in the 60s. This means copious layers are a must! Luckily for us all, layering is a huge trend this year and there are lots of fashionable, but still versatile elements to play with—both to stay warm and to look your best. Here are a few of our favorites:
