Helen’s Guide to Charleston

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The best recommendation is by word of mouth…

So yesterday we chatted with Helen about her life, business, and home as part of a very special series on inspiring women across the United States in partnership with Pandora…but today she’s taking us on the town! She gave us a list of her Charleston favorites – “I’m listing a lot of food because it’s so good!” – and we headed out to see what Charleston, South Carolina was all about…

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First I made her take me to her pop-up shop, Pretend Store, where we chatted with the current designer in house, Proud Mary’s Harper Poe.

“We used to have our office in the little building that is now Pretend Store. We bought the building and renovated it a few years ago and when it was time to move out we didn’t know what we wanted to do with it so Pretend Store happened. It started as a way to bide our time while we figured out then longer plan for the building and turned into a way for us to connect with people that we’ve kind of had design crushes on. We rent the building to each participant for the month and then they do with it whatever they want. It’s been really fun seeing the space transformed time and time again. “

  

 

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Above: Jumper by In God We Trust / shoes by No.6 / peacestrengthbalanceprosperitylove, and positivity charms by Pandora Jewelry

Then we stopped by a few of Helen’s favorites:

Sugar Bake Shop, because really, who can resist such delectable sweets?

“The natural environment is so beautiful here. The best way to experience Charleston is on foot or by bike.”

Worthwhile, a store with all sorts of incredible knick-knacks, designer clothing, and home accessories… by the time I was done shopping I wanted to live in this store!

The rest of Helen’s favorites list:

Two Boroughs Larder 

The Ordinary

Xiao Bao Biscuit

The Rarebit

Hominy Grill

Brown’s Court Bakery

Indigo and Cotton

The Aquarium 

Middleton Place

+ Any plantation, park, beach or forest

What are you favorite places in Charleston?! Leave a comment and let me know, I’d love to add them to my growing list!

  • Tarragona IN

    Beautiful town and shops. Thank you for your recomendations
    http://tarragonain.blogspot.com.es

  • Guest

    Just a few more to add to the list!
    Lavendar Latte: Black Tap

  • The shrimp corn dogs at Amen Street Fish and Rawbar are to die for! 🙂

  • Buki of James1542

    This is a beautiful series of city shots Jaime. I visited Charleston a month ago I really enjoyed the strolling along waterfront park and poking around the shops on Kings Street. I especially enjoyed visiting the Anthopologie on Kings Street because it was a former theatre and still has the features of the original architecture as well as some incredibly beautiful chandeliers! I actually wrote about it on my blog this week. xx

  • Lindsay Lambert

    Love this post! Charleston is (newly) one of my favorite places in the world after having made my first – and second – trip there in 2013. Lunch at Palmetto Cafe inside Charleston Place hotel is fabulous. Breakfast at Low Country Bistro (massive biscuits!) is a treat, and dinner at McCrady’s, which is owned by the chef at Husk, was a discovery I’ll always treasure. We had dinner reservations for Husk the night we got engaged in CHS, and because of a power outage at the restaurant the team sent us to McCrady’s instead. It was true serendipity. Sweet grass baskets at the city’s market are a must. The vendors are so genuine, and talented! In addition to Anthropologie, the Urban Outfitters store also offers a great glimpse into the city’s past. The chandelier – wow.

    Here’s a story I wrote about my trip for Ocean Home magazine, and the corresponding blog post:

    http://oceanhomemag.com/charleston-south-carolina-2/

    http://infinitelindsay.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/charleston-a-love-story/

    Thanks for sharing your story about CHS!

  • montauknellie

    LOVE