The Personally Chic Side of Market
At High Point Market, the same discerning eye that shapes a room finds expression in a vintage skirt, an unexpected pairing or an accessory with a story.
The weather was gorgeous for Fall Market. Cool enough for sweaters and tweeds, but not so cold that heavy outerwear would bury the beauty of those carefully considered, hand-selected outfits that amplify the magic of Market. And as much as I admired Turkish pleats and contrast leather welting on upholstery, I relished the textures, layers and creative combinations that decorated strangers and friends alike. And while it seemed like a lot of people got the memo that green was “it”, the rest of the rainbow showed its breadth too. Y’all did not disappoint!
Here’s a smattering of the style that caught my eye.
When The Design Besties—Lori Johnson, Nikki Watson, Rhobin DelaCruz and Whitney Atkinson—show up at Market, there’s some behind-the-scenes coordination at play. As soon as one of them buys something they’re excited about, a group text alerts the others to look for complementary colors or patterns. On this day, Rhobin’s soft olive embossed leather jacket was the inspiration. From there, each Bestie brought her own flair to the coordinated look: Lori added a hat, Nikki brought the shimmer, and Whitney, who often sports cowboy boots, stayed true to her signature style.
Jaque Bethke of JAQUE rocked a florally fabulous power suit on Sunday, her outfit echoing the lush maximalist style she brings to her interiors. Speaking on a panel about luxury and customization, Bethke wanted to dress the part while staying true to herself. “I just want to show up for what I’m doing,” she said. “I also wanted to represent myself authentically so people could see this is really who I am…a little bit Mad Hatter.” Her suit is by Smith, the blouse by L’Agence, and her necklace, made from vintage charms, was a Nashville find. A testament to investing in quality? The Jimmy Choo hair-on-hide boots, which she’s owned for nearly 20 years.
Valerie Feizy, who represents Feizy in northeast Texas, works with key accounts, and also helps her husband, Cameron, with product development, fell hard for this Zimmermann-inspired dress discovered at Home on Bishop, a Dallas boutique owned by her friend Cody Ellison. Her python Tecovas boots (“I’m obsessed!”) were an anniversary gift. But perhaps her most meaningful accessory is the tiny breast cancer pin, a symbol of a three-year cancer journey that has inspired her to rethink everything from the food she eats to the environment around her.
Gina Auten Hicks of Vivid Interiors is always wearing something worth examining. The designer chronicled her daily Market outfits on Instagram, and we had the pleasure of seeing them in person. Inspired by the Dries Van Noten Spring/Summer 2027 collection, Hicks wears a vintage Chérie Dame dress layered over a leopard-print dress from Target. Ankle boots from Intentionally Blank, socks from Sock Candy and a collection of sparkly brooches and her signature layered jewelry complete the look.
Thirty years ago, while studying bears in La Paz, Bolivia, conservation biologist Susie Paisley of Newton Paisley became smitten with the traditional dress of the indigenous cholitas and brought home this velvet skirt. On opening day of Market at 313 Space, she paired it with a black jacket and one of her new Canopy Collection scarves. Like her wallpapers and fabrics, Paisley’s double-sided silk twill scarves feature scientifically accurate depictions of nature. Her green shoes celebrate her favorite color: “chlorophyll in all its forms.”
When Autumn Pochiro of Autumn Dawn Design and Nicole Culler of House of Culler met in Atlanta in 2019, their shared love of fashion, design and dancing sparked a friendship that grows stronger with every Market. “She’s my ride-or-die,” says Culler. “I have found my equal in the world of fashion and all things beautiful, and I love to see what she is going to pull out of her magnificent wardrobe.”
Pochiro travelled to High Point from Ohio with two suitcases (one devoted entirely to shoes) and a garment bag. Dressing for fall despite the 80-degree weather, she paired a merlot Tahari faux leather pleated skirt and tweed jacket with a blush tank and Dolce Vita shoes. Culler wore the Onassis jacket by Abbey Glass, with an Alemais skirt and Softweave shoes, which she declares are amazing.
Julie Phillips of Phillips Collection has a bold sense of fashion, mixing edgy style with soft femininity. Case in point: puffy down boots with sharp chrome heels paired with a fuzzy sweater and pink flocked skirt, worn in support of Market’s Pink Out day. Bright purple glasses and a fabulous manicure complete the look. An architect by training who also lends her creative eye to Phillips Collection’s product development, Julie is a spirited community cheerleader. Earlier that morning, she accompanied her husband, Mark Phillips—himself one of the snappiest dressers on the High Point circuit—to his Hall of Fame pinning ceremony.
Brand strategist Ginger Hartford is a vision of grace, calling to mind Irving Penn’s iconic fashion photographs of the 1940s and ’50s. Perhaps it’s the perfectly tousled upswept hair, porcelain complexion and signature eyeliner. Arriving at Feizy for a Pulp Design Studios talk, Hartford channeled what she calls a “French Ralph Lauren” sensibility, pairing a tartan coat by Avec Les Filles with an earthy chartreuse silk dress by Jason Wu, accented with delicate lace. A metallic gold handbag and aged teal Frye shoes completed the look. Drawn to autumn’s rich, grounded palette, Hartford felt perfectly in sync with the season and the showrooms. “I feel like I’ve been chasing fall, and I found it.”
Accessory check: Last Market, Duo Home’s store manager Jack May appeared in the fashion round-up sporting a Tweety Bird tote. This October, he made the cut once again. This time on behalf of his happy floral hat. As for me, I tied one on—One Italian Girl to be exact. Making its High Point debut, this made-in-Italy storied scarf brand translates the joie de vivre of daily Neopolitan life into bold designs. I wore La Colazione, a design which celebrates the ritual of Italian breakfast, with imagery that includes artfully depicted coffee rings and cigarettes.
