Spoleto—the beloved performing arts festival that lights up Charleston every spring—kicked off yesterday. And there to take it in were two of our Draper James Ambassadors: Margaret Ward Rogers and Brooke Kiernan McCallion. Dressed in their DJ best, the pals and colleagues at Cobble Hill, a Charleston-based web design and marketing agency, hit up a happy hour event for the young patrons group Spoleto SCENE and then followed it up by catching the final dress rehearsal of Porgy and Bess, one of the most anticipated shows of this year’s Spoleto lineup.
Scroll on down to catch how Margaret and Brooke styled Draper James and to see Spoleto through the eyes of two in-the-know locals.
Draper James Ambassadors Margaret Ward Rogers in our Lemon Orchard Love Circle Dress and Brooke Kiernan McCallion in our Honeycomb Panel Dress hit the town for Spoleto’s opening night festivities.
Spoleto SCENE, a young patrons group, hosted a happy hour at Eleve at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, a popular contemporary restaurant with a gorgeous rooftop bar.
Margaret and Brooke paired their Draper James dresses with our Perforated Pinewood Envelope Clutch and Straw Lemon Eva Bag, respectively.
Photos: Anne Jervey Rhett
What drew you to the Draper James pieces you chose for the evening?
Margaret: I love a good fit-and-flare, so the flattering cut of the Lemon Orchard Love Circle Dress is what first caught my eye! The pops of color and open back sealed the deal. I paired the dress with the white Perforated Pinewood Envelope Clutch and my favorite wedges—a must (over heels) when walking through downtown Charleston’s historic cobblestone streets!
Brooke: I love wearing white in the summer, so I was immediately drawn to the Honeycomb Panel Dress. The navy bands and gold hardware are such pretty details! I paired the dress with the Straw Lemon Eva Bag, simple wedges, and a classic charm bracelet.
The events or performances you are most looking forward to?
Margaret: It is hard to pick just my top three! If I had to choose, I would say Old Crow Medicine Show as well as Brandi Carlile, both playing in College of Charleston’s Cistern Yard. The Cistern is a beautiful, historic venue, and I also went to grad school at CofC, so it holds a special place in my heart. I also love the dance performances each year and am very excited to see Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company.
Brooke: I’m interested in The Porgy Houses [The Porgy and Bess Walking Tour], where you see sites made famous by the original novel and show and also visit places that inspired the Spoleto production. The Spoleto Finale at Middleton Place [featuring Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats] is always a great time! I’m excited to go with a group of friends, have a picnic, and enjoy the music and fireworks!
