South Charlotte, NC September 2024

The Thread that Weaves the Tapestry of Our Lives

Dear Reader,

I hope this letter finds you in high spirits and full of creative energy.

Today, I want to take a moment to celebrate and explore the fascinating world of style. Style is not limited to the clothes we wear or the way we adorn ourselves; it encompasses every aspect of our lives. From the way we decorate our homes to the music we listen to, from the books we read to the way we carry ourselves in conversations, style permeates every facet of our existence. It is the thread that weaves together the tapestry of our lives.

Style is deeply personal. And it evolves as we celebrate our quirks, our passions, and our desires. Style is a form of self-expression that communicates who we are, how we perceive the world and what we value. In this way, style becomes a powerful tool for connection, as it enables us to find common ground with others who share our aesthetic sensibilities.

As individuals, we have the freedom to embrace established styles, blend them together, or forge entirely new paths, becoming trendsetters ourselves. We hope this issue inspires you to forge new paths or perhaps explore familiar ones. There is so much here in Charlotte to uplift our spirits, boost your productivity and ignite your creativity.

What I’ve found is that the best style is an authentic expression of who you really are. And that’s something no one on earth can duplicate.

Here’s to being uniquely you!

September 2024

PUBLISHER

Teri A Lenhard | teri.lenhard@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Kylie Brooks | kylie.brooks@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Michelle Parnell, Brooklyn Brown

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brooklyn Brown, Matty Martin, Jordan Rogers

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto

LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley

WHERE SAFETY MEETS STUNNING

Beyond stunning designs, Selina crafts masterpieces that last. Her passion fuels constant innovation, while her commitment to safety shines through every step.

tattoosbyselina@gmail.com

girlytattoos.fan

city scene

business monthly

Alignable on the Road - Relationship Marketing and Networking Summit

Join us for Alignable on the Road - Relationship Marketing and Networking Summit on September 11, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm at VAPA, 700 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC. Connect with professionals, learn about relationship marketing, and expand your network. Don’t miss this opportunity to boost your marketing skills and grow your connections. Go to Linked In to find more details or feel free to just show up for this opportunity!

SDH Insurance

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Brooklyn Brown

Hello! I’m Brooklyn. I’m a sophomore at USC, studying Public Relations. I began contributing to City Lifestyle this summer, and it’s been a pleasure to work under Teri’s guidance. Given my young age, I doubted my own abilities when I initially started working for the magazine, but my supervisors always encouraged me— for this reason, I can honestly say that I am proud of every contribution I’ve made.

CONFIDENTLY BEAUTIFUL

Fashion designer Chanel Scales shares inspirations and details behind the Shingo Label

WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOUR PASSION FOR FASHION AND DESIGNING?

I used to go to my grandmother’s house and would constantly read her Vogue and Bazaar magazines, but I couldn’t understand why I would see my name in those pages. My grandmother would tell me that one day I would do something amazing in the fashion world. At five, I didn’t really know what that meant, but once I got into my 20s and started working in retail, I realized that I have a true passion for fashion and clothes.

WHEN DID YOU LAUNCH YOUR BRAND?

In 2014, I started Shingo Label, which started as a passion project. I wanted to give women the opportunity to wear those designs that sat in the back of their minds based on their size and shape, because sometimes retail has a way of telling you that you don’t get to be fashionable because of your size.

WHAT IS THE BACK STORY ON THE BRAND NAME SHINGO LABEL?

Shingo means neck in Swahili. Shingo, to me, is all about being confident and walking

CONTINUED >

ARTICLE BY MICHELLE W. PARNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JORDAN ROGERS

with your head held high and your neck elongated.  I can tell when a woman is confident by how she carries herself. Shingo is definitely a brand for women who are confident, believe in themselves, and don’t care what the outside world says about their fashionable choices.

WHAT INSPIRES YOUR DESIGNS?

I want to give women the opportunity to be confident in themselves and the clothes that they wear while being confident in their own type and shape. I research constantly and encourage my customers to engage with me and tell me what they want.  I want them to tell me what they need and what colors they feel good in and that make them happy.

YOU HAVE FOUR COLLECTIONS ON THE MARKET WITH A FIFTH COLLECTION COMING OUT THIS FALL. WALK US THROUGH EACH COLLECTION AND WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE.

SAFARI ROMANCE

This was my first collection, and at that point in my life, I wanted romance, but I felt like I was going through a jungle.  So I included my idea of what I would have been wearing on dates or with my guy if I was able to make it through the safari to get to romance. The collection consisted of a few dresses, a jacket, a suit, a sweatshirt, and other tops and bottoms. I chose greens, yellows, and nudes and I designed my own leopard print.

LILY

I wanted this collection to be very soft and feminine. I wanted women to be able to wear the pieces if they were going to work or stepping out with their girls. I included purples in this collection and used sweatshirt material for a few pieces like the balloon style skirt and a high low peplum top. The collection also consisted of a white denim blazer, and I created my statement jacket that a lot of women just like to wear on an ongoing basis. It says ‘Shingo’ on the back and it’s a very bold piece.

Who is a Shingo woman?

The Shingo woman is someone who is very confident and knows that she belongs in any room that she feels that she should be in. She’s not cocky, but she is confident. She wears what she wants based on how she is feeling and I think that that is very important.

“Shingo means neck in Swahili. Shingo, to me, is all about being confident and walking with your head held high and your neck elongated.”

• Bold

• Confident

• Pops of Color

• Sophisticated

• Elegant

• Empowering

• Contemporary

JUNGLE ROMANCE

I feel like we live in this world where everybody is looking for love, but even when everybody is confused about love, somehow, we still always find ourselves shopping for clothes! We might not be going anywhere, but if the opportunity comes, then we’ve got something to wear in our closet! For this collection, I created a lot more animal prints and included a bit more denim. The pieces included jumpsuits and dresses.

INNER LUXXE

I was excited about this collection because I was able to include pieces for curvy and plussize girls. I would honestly say that this collection was probably the most challenging collection for me because when you’re designing in the fashion world, they just label it as women’s sizes, but then you have plus size girls and the body types are different. The silhouettes need to be different patterns because you have some women who want to hide certain parts of their body. I tried to do a lot of research beforehand and I worked to get women to give me feedback on what they felt like they were missing or what they would like to add to their closet.

A NEW COLLECTION, COMING THIS FALL:

For this collection, I focused a lot on fall colors like oranges, yellows, and purples. I also included green, which I always include because women love green. I know that sometimes when people hear darker colors, it’s kind of scary. However, the way that I design, I like to include details that add sex appeal and colors that pop. I also designed an emerald green satin dress and with a purple exposed zipper that goes around the bottom, and then a purple zipper that comes around the back.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU ADD TO YOUR DESIGNS THAT ARE PART OF YOUR SIGNATURE LOOK?

With my designs, I love to add colored zippers to the pieces, but in a totally different color than the garment. Also, all the animal prints in my collections are my original designs that I come up with my illustrator. The first dress that I designed was an animal print and women loved it, so that let me know that women aren’t afraid of animal prints if they are done correctly. So, I always include animal prints in my collections.

Dr. Alicia Brown at Better Brain and Body helps patients

improve self-confidence and quality of life through a holistic approach to physical and mental health.

Positively Impacting Lives

ARTICLE BY MICHELLE W. PARNELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTY MARTIN

Dr. Alicia Brown realized at a young age that she wanted to help people through functional neurology. “My father went to chiropractic college when I was a teenager, and he told me about functional neurology,” she shared. “I was just fascinated by it and immediately knew that’s what I wanted to do.” Dr. Brown went on to get her doctorate in chiropractic and postdoctoral diplomate in neurology with thousands of hours of postdoctoral continuing education in neurology, making her the only board-certified chiropractic neurologist in Charlotte.

Since she began practicing fourteen years ago, Dr. Brown has continued to add modal-

ities to her toolkit and now offers twenty-five different therapies through Better Brain and Body.

“Our tagline under Better Brain & Body is ‘human optimization center’ because that is really what we are trying to do… help people optimize their brain and body,” she explained. “I love helping people, being able to treat patients with these multiple different modalities that we have, and seeing some big changes really quickly. I see people recover from things that they were told that they couldn’t recover from. I love giving people back hope, explaining to them that I

understand what they are going through, and showing them that they can heal.”

Using a variety of diagnostic techniques and advanced therapies, Dr. Brown specializes in creating individualized plans to help patients dealing with concerns such as concussions, traumatic brain injury, mild dementia, neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism. Dr. Brown says that some of the most common issues they have seen in these last few years are patients with long covid and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

“A lot of patients who end up here have already seen several other doctors in the traditional medical field that haven’t been able to help them,” she explained.

CONTINUED >

I LOVE G IVING PEOPLEBACK HOPE A   SHOWI N G THEM THATTHEY CAN HE

“Sometimes we need to step outside of that model and look at issues holistically. So, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation for anyone and they can talk directly to me, tell me their story, and then I can let them know if I think I can help them.”

Mental and physical healing increases self-confidence in patients, which positively impacts their lives. One approach Dr. Brown employs to help patients physically is through body contouring treatments using the UltraSlim and UltraSmooth systems.

“The reason I got the body contouring systems is because we see so many patients that, because of their condition, can’t exercise and they start to gain weight. For example, a POTS patient who, if she walks down the hall and her rate jumps up to 180, is not able to exercise,” she said. “I really wanted to have something complementary that really helps these patients to lose that extra fat

that accumulates because it’s not healthy… it’s inflammatory and it holds on to toxins. The body contouring is anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, and helps people regain their confidence because they start to feel better with the treatments and then they get back in the shape that they were before.”

The body contouring systems are also available for people who may not be struggling with specific health issues but who need a little confidence boost when it comes to having a positive body image. “It is really great for patients who are eating well and exercising, but who just can’t lose belly fat or fat in other areas,” said Dr. Brown. “It is also good for moms who need help getting rid of that little extra baby fat or for people who want a little help before a big event like a wedding. FDA studies show that in the very first session of UltraSlim, the average person lost three and a half inches over four measurements.”

For patients who have larger weight loss goals, Better Brain & Body offers a nutrition-based weight loss program. The doctor-supervised program focuses on optimizing the body’s full potential through good nutrition. Those who participate in the program can anticipate losing 20 to 25 pounds in six weeks, in addition to gaining confidence and feeling better physically and mentally.

For more information on optimizing brain and body function, and to set up a free 15 minute phone consultation with Dr. Brown, visit www.betterbrainandbody. com, email frontdesk@betterbrainandbody.com, or call (704) 752-8100. Also follow Better Brain & Body on Facebook and YouTube.

AND EAL .

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 oz- Cucumber & dragon fruit gin

• 3/4oz- Toasted black sesame Velvet Falernum

• 1/2oz- Lime juice

• Topped with ginger beer

• Hawaiian black lava salt & black sesame

GARNISH

• Small paint brush

• Simple syrup

• Hawaiian black lava salt mixed with a pinch of black sesame

INSTRUCTIONS

Infused Gin: Infuse 1 whole peeled and cut cucumber in gin for a week. Strain the cucumbers out. Add 1 tablespoon of organic dragonfruit powder and mix very well with a whisk. To make the syrup, toast 1/2 cup of black sesame at 350 for 10 minutes. Take it out and let it cool. In a mortar and pestle, grind the toasted black sesame, but not too fine. Add the sesame into one bottle of John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum. Let that set for about 2 to 3 days and use cheese cloth to strain out the fine bits of sesame. Juice one fresh lime and strain to remove the pulp.

Cocktail: Paint a strip of simple syrup down a Collins glass. Take a spoon full of Hawaiian black lava salt mixed with black sesame and layer that down where the painted simple syrup was placed. In a shaker tin combine: 1 1/2oz cucumber dragon fruit gin, 3/4oz toasted black sesame Velvet Falernum, and 1/2oz lime juice and shake that up!  Fill the painted glass with ice (I use crushed ice) and strain over the ice. Top with your favorite ginger beer (my choice is fever tree ginger beer).

ARTICLE BY MATSUMOTO MARI  PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

The Magic Dragon

Make a Statement With This Stylish Cocktail

Freecoat Nails Waverly is proud to be your local go-to upscale beauty salon with non-toxic nail products and services. Our location is equipped with medical grade filtration systems, to evacuate fumes and circulate clean air. We use high-end, non-toxic products, no jets, and no fumes!

OLD NEWS is what’s new

VINTAGE APPAREL IS BOOMING IN NODA; WHY TO SHOP SECOND-HAND.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BROOKLYN BROWN

We are using and discarding our clothes at alarming rates.  Used clothes are the majority of textiles found in landfills (epa.gov). To put the effect of discarded textiles into perspective, The Environmental Protection Agency found that, in 2018, Landfills received 11.3 million tons of textiles. This was 7.7 percent of all waste landfilled in the United States (epa.gov).

As an almost 20-something myself, I am guilty of falling into the trap of fast fashion. It’s easy to buy cheap, poorly-made, unethically produced garments when you’re working with a tight budget. The thought and value behind my clothes get lost, and so I am able to thoughtlessly discard them as soon as they are no longer “à la mode”.

Luckily, this is changing as people, like myself, are becoming aware of their overconsumption. The best part is that you can dress even more stylish while simultaneously giving up fast fashion.   Second-hand apparel businesses are booming. When I asked Brennan Tarra, Manager at Old News Vintage, if he was interested in the industry he works in, he quickly responded, “Of course.” Tarra is one of the many workers who can be found adorning vintage apparel and accessories in the shop. Like his coworkers, the modish way in which he throws it all together makes the outfit look fashionable and intentional. I would have guessed every piece was new if he hadn’t told me otherwise.

“We want to make the shopping experience as easy for people as possible,”.

“I think the primary reason I am so infatuated with it would be because I love hunting for things that I would potentially be the only person owning,” Tarra said.

The treasure hunt for that unique piece is appealing to vintage fashion enthusiasts, but Old News aims to make the search easier. The atmosphere of the artistic and eclectic shop differs vastly from general thrift stores. Shoppers will find items organized by sizes, colors, and styles— this makes shopping second-hand a lot less intimidating and more reminiscent of traditional retail stores.

“We want to make the shopping experience as easy for people as possible,” Tarra said.

Vintage apparel stores are not a new concept, but a recent spike in their popularity can be attributed to a movement among younger shoppers.

“Second hand is a very big trend going on for the past couple of years,” Tarra said.

Old News, located in the North Davidson Art District (NoDa) has watched their business grow exponentially over the past eight years of operation. Tarra describes this growth as, “very surprising” and “very beneficial”.

“I think the main thing that sets us apart is that we have something for every single individual out there,” Tarra said. “If you want a certain college, odds are we probably have it— whether it’s a hat, or a t-shirt, a sweatshirt, etc.”

- Brennan Tarra

Although Tarra guesses that customers tend to range in ages 16 to 27, he encourages the older generation to join the demographic.

“For an older generation it’s going to be more sentimental and nostalgic for them,” Tarra said. He recalls times when older customers were able to find band t-shirts from shows they had actually attended when they were younger in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s.

“I think that type of interaction means something to them more so than the younger crowd,” Tarra said.

In hopes of more instances like this, he believes that stigmas around shopping second-hand must change.

“They’re not used to or comfortable with wearing someone else’s clothes,” Tarra said. “Just because the clothing item has been worn by probably numerous people; it doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily dirty.”

With the largest amount of inventory of any vintage apparel shop in the state, and high-quality items on the floor— a trip to Old News Vintage is worth it.

“I think shopping second-hand is pretty important, not just environmentally, but conscious-wise on the over-production and consumption that is very evident in these times,” Tarra said. “Either way, shopping second-hand is just– fun.”

hacks HAIR

Braids to Keep You Chic All Year Long

Braids are a great way to add style and uniqueness to your hair style rotation and have been a staple in hair styles dating back to the 3500 B.C. This historical hairstyle is here to stay, so we wanted to share some go-to impressive looks.

ARTICLE

BY

ABBI SULASKI

PHOTOGRAPHY BY POPPY & CO. BY KELSEY HUFFER

reverse fishtail braids

Part the top half of the hair in two sections. Create fishtail braids (or braids of choice) and tie them together in the back of the hair. Add a fashion accessory around a ponytail for a little extra fun!

CONTINUED >

simple

updo

Part the hair down the center or side part, if preferred. Create braid(s) on the side of the head and secure with elastic. Twist the hair with braids into a simple bun, securing it with hair pins. Add an accessory for a classy touch.

simple bandana braid in a braids pony-tail

Place a bandana on the forehead and tie it in the back. Create as many braids as desired in the back of the head, teasing the ends to avoid using elastics.

CONTINUED >

Part a mohawk section of hair down the center of the head. Create a French braid down the middle. For a thicker-looking braid, gently pull on the strands working your way up and down the braid. Pull it back into a ponytail for a simple and trendy look.

pull through braid with space buns

Part hair down the center. Create pullthrough braids on each side of the head. Tie elastic at the end of the braids to create a ponytail at the nape of the neck. For extra volume in the buns, tease the hair in the ponytail before twisting it into a bun. Secure with hair pins and... Voilà!

events

SEPTEMBER 11TH

Alignable: Relationship Marketing and Network Summit

700 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC | 1:00 PM

Join Libby Grier and Jennifer Drumm, Alignable Alliance Ambassadors, at this awesome networking event! Enjoy special guest speakers and expand your network!

SEPTEMBER 14TH

Charlotte Color Run

Charlotte, NC | 9:00 AM

Grab your friends and join Color Craze’s Color Run, coming to Charlotte this month! Be sure to register in advance to secure your spot!

SEPTEMBER 14TH

Life Surge Event

Bojangles Coliseum | 9:30 AM

Grab your tickets to this Christian based, motivational networking event! Hearing from some of the best in various industries, including Willie Robertson, Tim Tebow and Ed Mylett!  Discounted tickets available on our Instagram feed.

SEPTEMBER 14TH

NOMADNESS Fest

Charlotte, NC | 10:00 AM

NOMADNESS Fest is a weekend for travelers of color & their allies! Bringing their stories, leaders, resources & community together in one place!

SEPTEMBER 14TH

Lowcountry Culture Festival

Ballantyne’s Backyard | 1:00 PM

This cultural extravaganza will feature a fusion of Lowcountry cuisine, soulful music, vibrant art, and the craftsmanship of local makers!

SEPTEMBER 14TH

Turnpike Troubadours

The Amp Ballantyne | 7:00 PM

Head into town and check out the Turnpike Troubadours at the new amphitheater located right in the heart of Ballantyne!

SEPTEMBER 14TH

80s & 90s Retro Fundraiser Party

GWR Waxhaw | 7:00 PM

Join us for a totally Rad 80s & 90s Retro Fundraiser Party Sponsored by Primum Non Nocere Charitable Foundation

SEPTEMBER 15TH

Downtown Monroe Historical Walking Tour

The Courthouse | 3:00 PM

Walk from The Courthouse Self-Pour around the downtown to learn about the history of Monroe and the buildings in the center of town!

SEPTEMBER 21ST

Jewel

Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre | 7:30 PM

Put on your cowboy boots and head over to Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre to enjoy some country tunes under the Carolina sky

SEPTEMBER 21ST

Luke Bryan Farm Tour

5401 Lansford Rd | 6:00 PM

Join us at Cox Brothers Farm located in Marshville, NC! Listen to country tunes and support a local farm at the same time!

SEPTEMBER 27TH

Wednesday Night Trivia at Rhino Market and Deli

Rhino Market and Deli | 7:00 PM

Brush up on your facts and get on over to Rhino Market and Deli for trivia every Wednesday night!

SEPTEMBER 28TH

Charlotte Oktoberfest Bar Crawl

Slingshot Social Game Club | 4:00 PM

Join us for a night of bar-hopping around Charlotte to celebrate the kick off of Oktoberfest 2024!

Want to be featured?

6842 Carnegie Blvd., Ste. 200 Charlotte, NC 28211

(980) 423-1272

endodonticsofsouthpark.com

info@endodonticsofsouthpark.com

KATIE KICKERTZ

As a local, female, and board-certified endodontist, Dr. Kickertz provides more than just treatment; she offers empathy and expertise. Whether you’re a patient in need or a doctor seeking a reliable referral, Premier Endodontics is your go-to source for dental pain and root canal emergencies.