Raleigh Fashion Week, a celebration of fashion, beauty, music and dance will debut in May 2009. Gleaning the momentum gained from Strut 08, Brian Williams Television will present an expanded fashion showcase, highlighting the work of national fashion designers, many with roots and local connections right in the Triangle, and featuring the latest offerings of area boutiques and stores.

This three–day showcase will also include beauty, talent and healthy living seminars, vendor displays, trunk shows and evening runway fashion shows.

Thursday night will salute Raleigh’s Emerging Artists, including selected North Carolina State University Art to Wear designers. Friday night will be devoted to Women’s and Men’s Formal Wear. The Saturday night grand finale of Raleigh Fashion Week will be Strut 09 where national designers return to their “Carolina roots”! Alexander Julian and Peter Millar Fashions have signed–on and others will be announced soon. This red–carpet affair will air as a 90–minute television special a total of 4 times, twice in primetime on CW22 and MyRDC.

Raleigh Fashion Week will entertain more than 1,000 fashion enthusiasts each night in downtown Raleigh.

Raleigh Fashion Week Schedule
May 2009

Thursday, May 14, 2009
Day: Beauty, Talent and Healthy Living Seminars, Vendor Booths, Trunk Shows
9:00 PM: Runway Show Raleigh’s Emerging Artists (Including selected NC State’s Art to Wear designers)

Friday, May 15, 2009
Day: Beauty, Talent and Healthy Living Seminars, Vendor Booths, Trunk Shows
3:00 PM: Runway Show “High School Talent Showcase, Fashion, Musical Theatre, and Dance”
9:00 PM: Runway Show “Women’s and Men’s Formal and Evening Wear”

Saturday, May 16, 2009
Day: Beauty, Talent and Health. Fashion, Music, Dance…and More Fashion!
Note: Strut 09 will air a total of 4 times as a 90–minute television special, twice in primetime on CW22 and MyRDC.
9:00 PM: Strut 09, Fashion, Music, Dance…and More Fashion! National designers, including Alexander Julian and Peter Millar Fashions, return to their “Carolina Roots”.

For more information go to: www.strut09.com

I am proud to announce that the Amish are now making my beautiful wedding dress raincoats, the “WetKnot”. I have been searching for a new manufacture for several months now. I was extremely picky during this process and I believe God has blessed me with an extremely wonderful and talented Amish manufacture. It would be very easy for me to have my raincoats made outside the USA and save tons of money on the manufacturing, but I am determined and proud to keep my product here in the United States of America, handmade and quality kept to the highest standard.

My recent visit to Ohio to meet my new potential manufacture was amazing. I found the peace and joy of the Amish Country a blessing. The beauty of the land, the long-standing community traditions, and the peoples strong religious commitments all contribute to the special spirit of this place.

 Sincerely,

Christina Wight

Founder and Designer of
WetKnot and RainyDay Bridalwear

On February 26, 2009, I was invited to speak at the 2009 Entrepreneurs Forum at NC State University. Being a former textile student at NC State it was/is an absolute pleasure to give back and help out anyway I can. I really enjoyed meeting and speaking with the students and faculty. I was very flattered and honored to be asked to sit next to such seasoned business men. The event was structured as a forum where we shared about our experiences and then took questions from the moderator and the audience. Panelist included Charles Stewart, owner of dyeing company Tumbling Colors, Stephen Fraser, partner of Spoonflower, Inc.and Tom Dixon, owner of Executive Cutting Edge & East Coast Wear. I would like to thank Erin Powell Smith, Tim Clapp, Nancy L. Cassill, all the faculty members and officers of the NC State Entrepreneurship Club for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing event. I would also like to thank Sarah Ewald for mentioning RainyDay Bridalwear in this lovely article in the Technician (NC State Newspaper). Click on link below to read the full article.

In the College of Textiles, James Spratley, senior in textile and apparel management, is president of the Textile Entrepreneurs Club. The TEC is geared towards students who are interested in entrepreneurship as well as textiles, and was started in fall 2007 by Madison Owen, senior in textile and apparel management.
   
“As a part of the National Entrepreneurship Week, the Textile Entrepreneurship Club hosted the Textile Entrepreneurship Forum to bring together local textile entrepreneurs, students and faculty members,” Spratley said.

The event was structured as a forum where the entrepreneurs shared about their experiences and then took questions from the moderator and the audience. Panelists included Charles Stewart, owner of dyeing company Tumbling Colors, and Christina Wight of Rainyday Bridalwear. Stewart and Wight are alumni of the College of Textiles. 
   
According to Spratley, the event was a great success with over 70 students in attendance. 

-Sarah Ewald, staff writer of the Technician

This collection is truly unique and one of a kind. Each piece is individually designed and hand crafted by Jewelry Artisan Heather Campbell. Mrs. Campbell was born and raised here in North Carolina, she is the manager at Dovecote, a unique and charming gift shop located in Fearrington Village. Heather’s handmade jewelry is inspired by natures simple beauty. Her designs are modern and contemporary but still capture all the grace and artistry of traditional jewelry designs. These small works of art are perfect for a bride to give her bridesmaids, and with a small color swatch of the bridesmaids dress Heather will custom design coordinating jewelry that will hold a cherished memory of the brides special day. Not only is her jewelry beautiful but she is an incredible and talented artist to work with!

Local brides- I have found the spa for you!

Today I had the pleasure to visit the ” Spa at Bell House ” located on Salisbury Street in down town Pittsboro, NC. The Bell House is one of Pittsboro’s historical homes that has been restored, remodeled and converted into a luxurious day spa. Owner Pat Staley and husband Jeff opened the doors to the Spa at Bell House in the fall of 2008.

I had an appointment with Janet Frazier, a lovely and extremely talented Esthetician to show me a makeup line called ” Youngblood“. As soon as I walked into this spa- I was taken away with a warm welcome, every need and desire was met with old fashioned southern hospitality and exceptional care. Instantly I felt relaxed and in a small piece of heaven, the owner Pat Staley gave me a tour of the spa, each room is so lovely and very inviting- the decor was subdued and calming, from the soothing music to the running water, trust me-you will not be disappointed! The Spa at Bell House, a serene, southern charm hideaway offers a complete line of services to treat yourself or someone special, from Signature Facials, Massage Therapies and Hand Treatments to the customizable packages you are able to Relax, Restore and Unwind. I really encourage you to visit the ” Spa at Bell House “and check out the menu!

For more information and to check out the March Specials go to:

www.spaatbellhouse.com

74 E.Salisbury Street

Pittsboro, NC 27312

or Call: 919.542.3000

Bridal showers and bridal shower gifts go hand-in-hand, but what exactly do you get the bride to be? If you’re one of those people who always wants to be the one giving the perfect gift, you’ve come to the right place.
What better gift to give a bride at her bridal shower than a WetKnot! Just in case it showers on her wedding day the ‘WetKnot’ was designed to protect the bride and her dress from nature’s unpredictable elements. The WetKnot’s patented design wraps gracefully under and gathers up the gown - the perfect solution to wet grass and walkways on the way to ceremony and reception sites.

The WetKnot is available in 2 sizes and cost $75.00.

Free ground shipping in the US!

• Skinny Minnie (S/M)
• Fully Loaded (M/L)

Order now!

I would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to Randall Rigsbee, editor at ”The Chatham News” and “The Chatham Record” for the wonderful article about the WetKnot in the recent publication “Bride’s Guide”.

This guide is wonderful to help spring into wedding planning for 2009, so go check it out!
Sincerely,

Christina Wight

Founder and Designer of
WetKnot and RainyDay Bridalwear

WetKnot - A Unique and Fun Bridal Gift

The WetKnot is an essential for every bride’s survival kit. Can you afford to “tie the knot” without one?

Despite our current economic condition, the market has an incredible selection of products available for brides this year. At RainyDay BridalWear we are always on the search for new and in vogue rain-wear and this season brings no disappointments. Our list is compiled of items that will have you looking your best despite the conditions surrounding you. So here is our pick of the bridal must haves for 2009.

• Every Bride should have a rockin pair of wellies! Let me introduce you to “DAV”, designed in California by Style West, “DAV” is a new rain-boot and accessory collection that makes wet weather anything but dreary. City bride or country Bride, all girls will love the sassy rain boots with western style. Order yours today! 

• And what pair of wellies would be complete with out the matching umbrella. I love this classic look with the painted handle, it gives just the right amount of style. Lets face it- if you are going to have an umbrella in your wedding pictures it needs to be timeless but have that something fun to make you smile, and that is why “DAV” has our second spot on our bridal must-have list for 2009!

• Kiss Me Mascara. This is must have mascara for every woman. Kiss Me Mascara is the original mascara invented to form tiny water-resistant “tubes” around your lashes rather than painting them like conventional mascaras. Once applied, the tubes bind to your lashes and cannot run, smudge, clump, or flake, even if you cry or rub your eyes. Kiss Me Mascara will add both volume and length to give you a radiant natural look that lasts all day. Only when you are ready for removal, the tubes will effortlessly slide off your lashes into your hand without the use of a harsh makeup remover. Jennifer Lopez, Eva Mendez and Jennifer Garner just to name a few, wear and love this mascara.  For more information click here. And for all my local girls here in the NC-RTP, Aria Skin & Laser Spa always has this fab product in stock!

• Gloss Show by Dior. This is a wonderful lipgloss that will have your lips kissable and picture perfect. Show off with Dior’s backstage beauty secret for glistening, ultra-brilliant lips. A favorite for top runway models all over the world, this high shine gloss looks gorgeous over a favorite lipstick, or alone. Available in many hot shades. For more info click here.

• 
• The WetKnot. So many things in life are unpredictable and as we can try to control everything- the weather is not one. The WetKnot’s design makes it easy to put on and remove while transitioning during a wedding- and it will surely protect the gown you have dreamed of wearing since you were a little girl. The WetKnot not only protects your hair and dress but it completely wraps underneath protecting the bottom from wet grass, walkways and dirty areas like the door-jam of a limo. Slip it on to transition from one site to another and remove it to unveil and spotless and perfectly dry bride and flawless dress. If you are attending a bridal shower and want to give a gift that will be unique and fun, no bride will be disappointed, and you know how the saying goes” If you have one you probably won’t need  it!”. Order one today!

We would like to give a toast to all our brides and visitors, We believe God has an amazing year planed for all of us in 2009! So cheers to Love and Marriage in 2009! 

I wish all my customers and visitors a wonderful and Merry Christmas! During this time of year my creative spirit is stirred with how to decorate my house and cookies and my favorite thing to do is read to my kids Christmas story’s at night while the tree is twinkling. My goal is to instill in my children that Christmas is more than Santa and gifts- but it is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Here is one of my favorite children’s Christmas story’s given to me by my mother. The illustrations in this book are so amazing! 

Merry Christmas! 

Love,

Christina Joannou Wight

President and Owner of RainyDay BridalWear