The weekend review: Dockside, Stilettos and Beerfest

Dockside Fashion Show

When local designer Sarah Maxwell wanted to show her line, she had only to step out of her apartment for the perfect location.

The Dockside Apartments resident teamed with Troubador's Lindsay Carter and One Love's Rachel Gordon to turn her picturesque pier dock into one fierce runway. Guests were seated on either side of the superbly long catwalk (everyone was front row!), to critique the newest looks from each line. As the sun set, seasoned models from Charleston Fashion Week took the stage, styled with accessories from Dee Ruel, Add Libb, Theodosia, Cavortress and Library. Troubador didn't show the entire Spring collection as pieces were recently sampled by WWD, a television series and a well known fashion magazine. The shapes were modern, yet softer than collections past.

Red lips, huge bows worn on the side of the head, florals, and cut out details were notable trends. One Love focused on long, flowing silhouettes in earthy neutrals. Maxwell showed draped skirts and ruffled, backless tops in vintage inspired fabrics. Denim accents, key chain necklaces and feather head pieces added nice accents to her aesthetic. The backstage environment, hair and makeup and the show's coordination were seamless. Here's to a show well done.

7th annual Beerfest Riley Stadium

The Mellow Mushroom hosted the 7th Annual Beer Festival last Saturday at the Joe Riley Stadium. Thousands of beer aficionados piled into the brightly lit outfield of the downtown stadium to sample 100 local and internationally known craft beers.

Lined snaked through the grass as festival goers patiently waited to fill up commemorative sample glasses. While Coast, Charleston's local brewery wasn't in attendance, the Palmetto Brewery and T-Bones served up a variety of South Carolinian brews. For those needing entertainment outside of the beer tasting mania, other entertainment was provided. A "Rock Band" tent was set up, allowing tipsy guests to release their inner rock star by playing drums, guitar and singing. Football was shown on the large stadium screens and an ice luge was on hand for drinkers requiring an additional chill. Guests camped out on the lawn or sat in seats to enjoy the sounds of The Larry David Project.

The Mellow Mushroom and Home Team BBQ kept guests satiated with pizza slices and BBQ, while the stadium provided hotdogs and concession food. While a few fraternity guys were spotted trying to fulfill pledging obligations, the overall vibe was surprisingly calm.

First Mojitos and Stilettos at Shine

It's fall. Which for women, hopefully means lots of fantastic shopping. To get into the season, Shine hosted its first Mojitos and Stilettos event last Thursday. Mojitos and Stilettos is a weekly ladies night featuring items on sale from varying local boutiques. The premiere night showcased colorful frocks and accessories from I Heart. Jewelry by Penny & Lulu was also available for sale. Guests mingled amidst shutter flashes from Carolina Nightlife, a co-host in the event. We were delighted to find free champagne on hand for those with larger table reservations. Girly cocktails and $5 Mojitos were served along with fun little appetizers (think spiffed up corn dogs). Guests were encouraged to enter in a raffle to win gifts from I Heart. The trendy boutique gave away a fantastic BCBG clutch and two gift certificates to three lucky winners. If you missed the first night don't fret. The event will continue each Thursday from 5-10 pm.