Those selected will be invited to a second round of casting in March and be notified by Feb. 20. Only those who are selected to go on in the process will be contacted.

Memphis Fashion Weekend 2013 will be held April 5-6. All models selected must be available full days for both dates.  Models will receive $50/day payment for the work with MFW.  Those traveling from out of town will be expected to secure their own accommodations and meals.  Models under 18 will receive 1 guardian ticket for the shows.

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

I'm Leah, owner of Etniq Mineral Cosmetics, natural beauty enthusiast, and neighbor to Memphis heralding from Little Rock.  I write and teach extensively about natural beauty and wellness and Elle and I thought that these might be great additions to the awesomeness that already is Beale Street Chic.  I'm excited to share with you all my expertise and passion!  

A little more about me, I began my journey into the world of wellness, holistic living, and natural beauty while working as a chemical engineer and realizing that I was disillusioned with the inadequacy of the work I was doing.  This led me on a quest to learn more about holistic living and natural health, which led me to study herbal medicine and eventually enroll in esthetics school so that I could work with people on an individual basis.  I started Etniq Mineral Cosmetics to provide active women (professional dancers like I am for instance) with a sweat-proof, all-natural mineral makeup line they could wear doing anything.  

Again, I'm looking forward to sharing with you all!  Best and brightest!  

~Leah

On Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the Local Fashion Meets Fashion Blogger event at K'Presha, 323 S. Main.

I got to meet some cool folks in town who are developing fashion lines, as well as say hi to some fashionistas that I have featured here in the past.

Here's a few photos I took. For more, check out the album on Facebook.

Check back with Beale Street Chic to see features on some of these new lines and more.

You can support Memphis rapper Skewby with a purchase of one of his "humble" hoodies.

$45.00 and only size extra large is left.

The Mayor's Innovation Delivery Team brings MEMshop Overton Square to the midtown district beginning 4 p.m.

All those cute, empty buildings will be filled with local artisans (including many fashion and beauty folks) until Dec. 23.

This will be a great place to do holiday shopping, support local entrepreneurship, and a newly thriving district in the city of Memphis.

There will be food, music, events, and even workshops.

Here are some of the offerings from sponsor Indie Style Market:

On a personal note, Overton Square is absolutely my favorite place in Memphis and my view of what the city is all about. I definitely will be shopping there and will share my updates (photos and more) here.

Are any of you planning to attend this event?

This event is designed as a meet and greet for local fashion bloggers and local fashion designers (clothes, accessories, and shoes).

Designers are asked to bring a press kit/information and samples of their product.

I am definitely looking forward to this!

Will you be attending?

On Wednesday, Memphian and NBA (and Memphis Tiger) legend Penny Hardaway posted a series of photos of his sneakers on his Instagram account:

If you are a sneakerhead, you definitely should be following him. You probably already are.

Which are your favorite pair?

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Memphis-based handbag designer Katie Kalsi and visiting her warehouse. Here's her story.

By Elle Perry

From a barn behind her childhood home in Germantown, to tens of dozens of Belk department stores around the country.

Such is the journey of Katie Kalsi and her eponymous line of handbags.

Kalsi has been artistic ever since she was a child, though several of her relatives (including her father and sister) went a decidedly different route, becoming doctors.

“We’re very colorful,” she said of artistic people. “We’re very happy.  When you’re an artist, you’re born different.”

She remembered taking lessons at Arts East on Quince Road and later working on art projects through middle and high school at Briarcrest. She would go on to continue her education in art at Ole Miss. She would make jewelry, enter art competitions, and sell art at shows.

Kalsi came up the idea for her handbags after being a painter; she wanted to figure out a way for everyone to have a painting.

“Why not put art from the wall onto a strap on a handbag?” she wondered.

From there the idea grew: leather and suede handbags with painted straps.The bags are named for real people that Kalsi knows. The very first two bags were named for her daughters Sophie and Sadie.

The bags were immediately a hit. Within six weeks of Kalsi making her first 24 bags, she found a manufacturer so that they could be mass-produced.

And within two weeks, she sold over 100 bags, all on backorder.

Kalsi admits that she got to a point where she was overwhelmed, and quit making handbags for a year to make jewelry.

She said that she ended up missing making handbags, so she resumed. The handbags eventually were spotted by a Belk executive at a Las Vegas Magic Show.

The executive told Kalsi that she needed to meet with buyers in Charlotte, N.C. who subsequently loved the bags and placed an order.

Kalsi’s bags were placed in 69 Belk locations and on their web site. 

To this day, each Katie Kalsi bag features a strap that has been lovingly painted by hand.

Today the Hutchinson student that shadowed Kalsi at age 16, Perry Patterson, now works by her side in the company. The bags are produced in a huge warehouse off of E. Raines Road.

Kalsi shared that the keys to her success are passion, the experience of learning things first-hand, and teamwork.

The official Katie Kalsi website just launched and there is a special discount going on right now:

Get your favorite Katie Kalsi handbag at katiekalsi.com. Use promo code GIFT12 at checkout to receive 10% off your purchase.

*Code valid 11/23/12 - midnight CST 11/30/12.