skirt! Magazine | Augusta, Columbia, Aiken | May, 2012

Make a mental map of summer.

Mark it with an off-the-grid cabin at the

end of a gravel road. A towel on a beach

without Wi-Fi. The spiral of a labyrinth on

a spiritual journey for one. A souk filled

with spices and silks in a strange city.

M AYAugusta, Aiken & Columbia

Cover copy by Nikki Hardin, art by Ashley Barron

Big black sunglasses

and strappy sandals on the Isle of Capri.

Hiking boots or horseback into the wild.

Sleeping in a tepee under a full moon.

A zip line into a mountain lake or a

cruise line to the Greek Islands. Retail

safaris and urban camping in a hotel with

24-hour room service. The back of beyond

at Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert.

A windows-down, radio-up roadtrip.

Dare it or dream it,

but let your mind wAnder.

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

Henry miller

skirt!isfree!www.skirt.com

Columbia/Augusta/Aiken

2850 Devine St, Columbia South Carolina 803.254.5051 www.shoppout.com

DON’T FORGET MOMMOTHER’S DAY IS MAY 13TH

BUY ANY BOND PRODUCT AND RECEIVE A $45 TRAVEL SPRAY FREE.BON BONS EXCLUDED | WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

VISIT US ONFACEBOOK

FOLLOW US@SHOPPOUT

CHANTECAILLE NARS TARTE FRESH MOLTON BROWN ART OF SHAVING

STILA MARIO BADESCU NATURA BISSE GUINOT FREDERIC FEKKAI LAUNDRESS

4 may 2012 www.skirt.com

skirt.comskirt! is published monthly and

distributed free throughout the greater Augusta/Aiken/

Columbia area. skirt! reserves the right to refuse to sell space for any advertisement the staff

deems inappropriate for the publication. Unsolicited manuscripts

must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Letters to the editor are welcome, but may be edited due to space limitations. Press releases must

be received by the 1st of the month for the following month’s

issue. All content of this magazine, including without limitation the

design, advertisements, art, photos and editorial content, as well as the selection, coordination and

arrangement thereof, is Copyright © 2010, Morris Publishing Group,

LLC. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this magazine may be copied or reprinted without the

express written permission of the publisher. SKIRT!® is a registered

trademark of Morris Publishing Group, LLC.

skirt! is all about women...

their work, play, families,

creativity, style, health and

wealth, bodies and souls.

skirt! is an attitude...spirited,

independent, outspoken,

serious, playful and irreverent,

sometimes controversial,

always passionate.

sheMAILskirt! 127-A 7th Street Augusta, GA 30901 Sales: 706.823.3373Sales Toll-Free: 800.622.6358FAX: 706.823.6083

www.skirt.com

about skirt!Publisher

Nikki Hardin [email protected]

National Art Director Caitilin McPhillips

[email protected]

National EditorMargaret Pilarski

[email protected]

Market Manager

(Augusta/Aiken/Columbia)

Kate Cooper Metts

[email protected]

Contributing Editor Columbia

Jenny Maxwell

[email protected]

Contributing Editor Augusta/Aiken

Gracie Shepherd

[email protected]

Sales Executives Libby Salvador

[email protected]

Graphic Designer

Cher WheelerMeaghan Pafford

PhotographyMolly HarrellChris Thelen

Essays

Double Decker Dreams

Stacy Appel .................................................................................. 11

The In-Between

Cynthia Briggs ............................................................................... 13

Talking Stock

Julie Hammonds.......................................................................... 14

Features

Letter from the Publisher ......................................................... 6

Letter from the Editor ............................................................... 6

Feel Good ...................................................................................... 19

He’s So Original .......................................................................... 24

Skirt of the Month..................................................................... 29

F-Word ............................................................................................. 32

Meet ................................................................................................... 26

Planet Nikki .................................................................................... 34

Women make more than 80% of all purchasing

decisions.

Women control 2/3

of the nation’s disposable income.

Women influence 80%of all car sales.

MA

YThe To-Go Issue

Women spend almost 2 of every 3

healthcare dollars.

M AYIll

ustr

atio

n by

Ber

inM

ade

Illus

trat

ed P

aper

Goo

ds. berinmade.com

www.skirt.com may 2012 5

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Jenny [email protected]

FROM THE EDITOR

When friends call me a jetsetter, I have to laugh. True, in the last few months, I’ve gone on safari in

Kenya, squinted up at the world’s tallest building in Dubai, dodged kidnappers in Bogota, and tripped

along the cobbled streets of Florence, Venice and Montreal. Not bad for the girl who grew up on a

dirt road in North Carolina. But rolling my beat-up bag and wedged into cheap seats, jetschlepper is

more like it. Still, I agree with Laura Kissel, one of the jetsetters we pro� le this month. “Not everyone

gets to do this,” she said when we talked about her travel to make a documentary. “When I was in

China, I realized that these factory workers will never come to America. And the farmers I met in

South Carolina will probably never get to go to China. It’s a humbling thing, really. It’s a privilege.” It

is a privilege, a thrill, and sometimes a test of patience, courage, and will. There’s a lot to learn from

traveling the world—including how great we’ve got it at home.

Nikki [email protected]

1STCLASS

THE UNITED SKIRTS OF AMERICA

The United Skirts of

America was founded

on the blood, sweat

and estrogen of our

foremothers, who

won us the freedom

to choose...to break

The Rules, to wear

combat boots or high

heels, to run for of� ce

or run a marathon,

to form our own

rock groups instead

of being groupies, to

shatter Glass Ceilings

and Glass Slippers, to

shoot hoops instead

of settling for hoop

skirts. The ones who

came before us made

it possible for our

daughters to dream

bigger, to have the

chance to grow up to

be President and turn

the Oval Of� ce into

the Ovary Of� ce. In

the United Skirts of

America, every day is

Independence Day!

COVER ARTIST

Ashley Barron

Ashley is a big fan of paper.

She � nds it, paints it, prints

on it, punches it, cuts it out,

arranges it and pastes it down

to compose everything from

pigeons to postal carriers.

Originally from Whitby,

Ontario, Ashley now lives

in Toronto. She graduated

from OCAD in 2007 with a

Bachelor of Design and has

been working as a freelance

illustrator ever since.

ashleybarron.com

VISIT US ON SKIRT.COM

Last month, I had the chance to hear Billie Jean King talk about her journey to

empower women while she was in Charleston for the Family Circle Cup tennis

tournament. I’m the same age as King, and I was just discovering feminism when

she defeated Bobby Riggs in one of the greatest moments in sports history—

the Battle of the Sexes in 1973. It’s hard to overstate what that moment meant

to women then. Ms. Magazine had been launched the year before, and it was

a stirring, optimistic time to be a woman simply because change was in the

air. All of the restrictive assumptions I grew up with about a woman’s role

were being blown apart, and my personal journey was simply a microcosm

of the historic one taking place on the national stage. As inspiring as it was

to celebrate the journey of the women who revolutionized women’s tennis, I

doubt I was the only woman to consider the irony of learning that same week

that Augusta National Golf Club had not awarded membership to Virginia

Rometty, the � rst female CEO of IBM, as was customary for the corporate

sponsor of the Masters Tournament. Four of Ms. Rometty’s predecessors had

been admitted during their tenure with the company, but it was her XX DNA

that barred the door this time. Although Billy Payne, chairman of Augusta

National, insists that because the club is private, their membership is not open

to outside discussion, it was a reminder that although we’ve come a long way,

baby, the journey is far from complete. In Congress, women hold less than 17

percent of the seats—73 of 435 in the House and 17 of 100 in the Senate—and

only a tiny percentage of major American corporations have women CEOs. In

the future, it will be up to our brave daughters and granddaughters to take a

swing at outmoded, exclusionary traditions that are designed to put us back

in our place—a place we left behind decades ago.

The To-Go Issue


For Taylor, breathing out of the left side of her nose was

all she could remember. Years of using Afrin, snoring,

and sinus infections were just a part of life and gradually

getting worse. All that changed after her rhinoplasty.

“I finally decided to do something about It,” says Taylor.

“The main thing I wanted was to be able to sleep better

but I also had a small hump that I inherited from my dad

that I also wanted fixed.”

In 2011, over 125,000 people had rhinoplasty in the

United States and it is the 2nd most common cosmetic

surgical procedure for men. Although rhinoplasty is

often thought of as a cosmetic procedure, there are

many times in which insurance will cover some or even

all of the procedure if medically necessary, such as those

people with previous fractures or trauma to the nose.

“A rhinoplasty is a procedure that requires an artistic eye

and experienced hands to achieve a great result,” says Dr.

Randy Smith, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who has

performed hundreds of rhinoplasties over the years.

“Wow, I can breathe again,”or, “I haven’t slept this good in years,”

are frequent responses fromreturning patients.

Taylor was one of those success stories. Her only regret

was that she hadn’t done something sooner. “I feel more

alert because my quality of sleep has improved and

although the hump was not my main concern, I feel more

confident as well. Side photos…no worries,” says Taylor.

Q&A...with Augusta Plastic Surgery

So youwant anose job?

L to R: Christopher J. Ewart, M.D.,Randolph R. Smith,M.D. | Billy P. Lynn,M.D.

Mommy MakeOvers

BreastAugmentations

Tummy Tucks

Face LiftsBotox/Fillers

www.augplastic.comAugusta Plastic Surgery • 1348 Walton Way, Suite 6300 • University Hospital Women’s Center • Augusta, GA 30901

Call 706.724.5611 today toschedule a quick, convenient appointment or

a complimentary consultation forcosmetic procedures.

The Swank Co.351 Highland AveAugusta706.364.3421

Petal743 Saluda Ave.Columbia803.252.7100

To Pack

Folly116 Laurens St. SWAiken803.226.0550

Slim Sonic ToothbrushViolight

violight.com

Slim Sonic ToothbrushViolight

violight.com


CORPORATE COACHCorporate Coaching involvesdevelopmental services to align staffwith the overall vision, mission, andculture of the Organization.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:• Customized Seminars• Team and Organizational Assessments• Team Building• Leadership DevelopmentLIFE STRATEGISTLife Strategists assist individuals inobtaining their goals and partners withclients to design attainable strategiesthat create balance and ease as theywork through transition.

Next Event:“Imperative Endings”Putting an end to what hasn’t worked for a long timeMay 12, 2012 – 4-7pmTicket price $40 (can purchase tickets via my website or viahttp://imperativeendings.eventbrite.com)Augusta Hilton1065 Stevens Creek Road, Augusta, GAVisit the website for detail information orcall 888-458-7995 ext 207

EXECUTIVE COACHAn Executive coach focuses on increasingwork performance, self-managementskills, and the ability to effectivelymanage other people.

LEARN HOWTO:• Improve Interpersonal Skills• Manage Staff through IncreasedPersonal Effectiveness• Increase Communication Skills• Develop your Team Building Capabilities• Develop a Flexible Management Style• Balance Work and Life Priorities

More Information:Phone: 888-458-7995Fax: [email protected]



Surrey Center

443 Highland Avenue • Augusta, GA • 738-8386www.sweetbrierfair.com

Monday - Friday10:00am - 5:30pm

Saturday10:00am - 5:00pm

Happiness..simply statedDesigns are inspired by the celebration of life.



14 april 2012 www.skirt.com


16 april 2012 www.skirt.com

Choose from Designer Fabrics,Exclusive Furniture & Accessories

Exclusive dealer of Highland House Furniture

320 Baston Road Augusta, GA 30907 | 706.868.5757www.CurtainCallFabrics.com

Your life Your style Your home868.5757

Augusta’s Showcase Dealer


409 Hayne Avenue (at Pendleton) Aiken, SC803.642.9524 [email protected]

A Garden Party!

5 1 6 0 Wo o d s i d e E x e c u t i v e C t . • A i k e n , S C8 0 3 - 6 4 2 - 9 3 6 0 • c a t t f o o d @ b e l l s o u t h . n e t

Nutrition Therapy• menopause issues• blood sugar management• cholesterol lowering• weight reduction• IBS

Lisa CloydREALTOR®

Professional,Flexible &Available

to help you.803-240-8247CALL/TEXT ME TODAY!email: [email protected]

Search Now...www.lisa.scexit.com

Find a Home inGreater Columbia and Lake Murray, SC.

MIDLANDS REALTY

345 HAYNE AVE. SW | AIKEN, SC | 803.644.0990MON-FRI 11-5 , SAT 11-3

WWW. B A R B A R A S U E B R O D I E . C O M

Come in during themonth of May and diveinto our discontinued,limited availability, orsingle skein yarnwading pool for

savings of up to 60%.

The sun is out and the “pool” is open!


“I have been advertising with skirt! since October 2009. Skirt! hasreally helped me tap into my niche market (intelligent women who are in-terested in taking very good care of themselves). Skirt! speaks to womenabout real issues. It is educational without being boring; often cuttingedge, always exciting and fashionable. It is a beautiful publication.

When I see my ad in skirt! I am always delighted because it’s an adthat I would pay attention to. It’s pretty, informative and I

know it gets my message across.”

Cynthia Catts, Owner

Advertising in

an investment that works.

5160Woodside Executive Ct. • Aiken, SC803.522.3907 • [email protected]

To see how skirt! can work for you contact Libby SalvadorA/E-August/Aiken/Columbia803.522.3907

FE

EL

GO

OD

MAY

Feel Good and Bee Healthy.

Active Manuka Honey from New Zealand

is known as “healing honey” and is believed to be one of nature’s wonder drugs

by its fans (including Dr. Oz), who cite its antibiotic and antiseptic properties.

Enthusiasts claim that it can effectively treat peptic ulcers and be used topically and

internally on wounds and skin problems like acne to speed the healing process.

To be considered beneficial for its antibacterial properties, Active Manuka Honey must

have a UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) rating of at least 10 or higher.

As a bonus, the taste has been described as smooth, creamy and caramel-like. Yum!

Manuka honey is available through Whole Foods, Amazon and various health food stores,

but make sure you’re getting the real deal by checking

the UMF rating of the brand you buy.

UMF 15


“Nothing makes a woman more beautiful, than the belief that she is beautiful.”

We are dedicated to providing quality services to

women worldwide who suffer from mild to severe

hair loss. At Mirror Image we offer the most in-

novative advancements in hair replacement. We

can make you back to a better you, with our dis-

creet purchases for your hair care needs.

We realize that there are many

medical diseases that are common factors

contributed to hair loss: Age, Allergies, Alopecia,

Chemotherapy, Chemical Burns, Thyroid Disease,

Female Pattern Baldness and Medications.

“Lace Wigs”, “Cranial Hair Prosthetic”, or “Hair

System “, are hair extensions that create the

illusion that hair is growing out of one’s scalp,

and therefore is one of the most natural looking

extensions on the market.

A fine lace material is used as the base where

individual hairs are meticulously hand tied through

the lace. Two types for lace; Swiss- Lace is very

fine and delicate and is the most undetectable

choice. Though French lace is not as undetectable

(but is also a suitable choice), the advantage is

that it is more durable over time.

We also offer Frontals or Closures for those with

hair thinning or mild hair loss. The Lace Wigs

are the best hair replacement solution because

they create a hairline, making a more natural hair

line allowing you to wear styles such as: up dos,

ponytails and other styles that expose one’s nape

areas. Traditional wigs usually preclude these

styling options.

Hair textures we also use are:

• Chinese Remy (virgin hair)

• Indian Remy (virgin hair)

• Russian Remy (virgin hair)

• Malaysian Remy (virgin hair)

• European Remy (virgin hair)

Our goal at Mirror Image Hair Replacement and

Transformation is to offer solutions to a perfect

you and to look your best at every age! We are

a trained staff, energetic and educated on the

services that we provide.

Mirror ImageHair Replacement and Transformation, LLC

Please contact Wanda James to schedule your Consultation at

(843) 206-8606 or email at [email protected]

www.wjmirrorimage.com



GIFT REGISTRY

CalaisioPickard • Skyros Designs • Julia Knight

Le Cadeaux • Anna WeatherleyMatch Pewter • Michael Aram • Spode

Simon Pearce

141 Laurens Street, SW | Aiken, SC 803.648.7592Natural elegance, extraordinary durability




• BARRE

• EXPRESS BARRE (45-MINUTES)

• SPIN

• CIRCUIT CITY

• SPIN CIRCUIT FUSION

• ZUMBA

• COREFUSION

• YOGA

• HOTYOGA

• RIPPED RIDE

• SPECIALTY BOOT CAMPS

• TOTALTRX



1 1 8 L a u r e n s S t r e e t SW | A i k e n , S C

GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE!

STYLING | COLOR BAR | HAIR SPA

1202 Town Park Lane | Suite 103 | Evans, GA 30809

706.922.HAIR (4247) tanglesofevans.com

Our goal is to provide a superior experience for every client;with brilliant color services, distinguished cutting techniques,

stunning styling results, and luxurious hair treatments.[ ]

Book yourappointments

online

2009Salon

oftheYear



Hardwood Floors & More2 Locations:

(706) 868-7030 | 4696 Washington Road | Evans

(803) 642-3232 | 550 Silver Bluff Road | Aiken

Skirt of the MonthVinya’s

118 Laurens St. SWAiken

803.642.9684

Illus

trat

ion

by M

onke

y M

ind

Des

ign,

Uni

que

Pape

r Exp

ress

ions

. monkeym

indesign.etsy.com


150 Davis Road(LOOK FOR THE GREEN AND WHITE TENT!)

Augusta, GA 30907 • 706-550-0227Mon-Sat 8 to 8 • Sun 10 to 8

Spring Plants • Hanging BasketsTropical Plants • Annuals • Fresh Produce

Don’t forget Mom thisMother’s Day!Ladies Apparel

Like us on

Located in HistoricSummerville

1502 Monte Sano Ave.Augusta, GA

706.738.4888

Mon–Fri 10–5:30

Sat 11–4

SPRING2012 Luii



SKIRT! SAYS: It doesn’t matter if you wade in or

jump in as long as you get your feet wet. Try something new.

f-word[ Feminism Free-For-All ]

Federal Crime

Ashley Fiolek, profoundly deaf since birth, has overcome great ob-

stacles to become a three-time winner and youngest (22) Women’s

Motocross Association (WMA) champion in history. She is also

the first-ever female factory winner for Red Bull Racing. Weigh-

ing less than half of the 200-pound plus bike she rides, Fiolek is a

daredevil on the track, setting new standards in the sport.

“When you educate a girl in Africa, everything changes. She’ll be three times less likely to get HIV/AIDS, earn 25 percent more income and have a smaller, healthier family.” Since 1993, CAMFED has provided scholarships for 47,810 girls to go to high school, trained 4,878 teacher mentors and helped 1,027 young women go to college. Donate at camfed.org.

Fiolek

“Once again, for some reason in this 112th Congress, there has been a preoccupation with putting women in their place,” Representative Gwen Moore, D-Wis., on opposition in Congress to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Fund Her

Recently, a pregnant South Carolina woman who had two

prior cesarean surgeries wished to give birth naturally rath-

er than having a scheduled cesarean surgery. However, the

mother’s doctors—physicians working in a public hospital—

forced her to schedule a C-section, called her “stupid” for

wanting to do otherwise, and threatened to withhold medi-

cal care if she refused the surgery and went into labor natu-

rally. As a result of ACLU intervention, the doctors cancelled

the scheduled cesarean and respected the mother’s wish to

go into labor spontaneously. She labored naturally and ulti-

mately gave birth to a healthy baby girl. In a national survey,

a quarter of women who underwent cesarean surgeries said

they had felt pressured to do so.

Finances The Daily Beast reported that

a study of census data revealed

that more than half of older

women in America are unable

to pay for their basic needs. A

study of census data showed

that the majority of older

women in America are unable

to cover their basic living

expenses, and the percentage of

those in distress is 50 per-

cent higher than that of men.

“Three out of five women over

65 have incomes that won’t

cover their most basic daily

needs, whereas among men

it’s 40 percent,” said Donna

Addkison, president and CEO

of Wider Opportunities for

Women. “Older women are at

much greater risk of economic

insecurity than older men.”


Nikki Hardin is the founder and publisher of skirt! magazine. She blogs at fridaville.com.

planetnikki[ a v i s u a l j o u r n a l ]

I found this reproduction Buddha head on a weekendtrip to Beaufort, SC. It was one of those love-at-� rst-sight purchases, the kind I never regret.

I love our skirt! luggage tags and the little design our Art Director, Caitilin McPhillips, came up with for them. We’re giving them away at events—be on the lookout.

My Skirt the Rules bracelet from Kate Spade reminds me not to become too middle-of-the-road.

that many of the items on my wish list

while I dig into my well-worn pedestrian path

for the future are things I could do right now.

I realized recently

There’s always a leak in the roof,

day after day after day.

I need to pack a bag, lock the door behind me

Instead, I postpone, proscrastinate and put off pleasure

like the usually sensible Mole in my favorite book,

a bill to pay, a reason to be cautious.

and set off into into the unknown,

Wind in the Willows.

My Skirt the Rules bracelet from Kate Spade reminds

I didn’t notice that the detail on the side

of my new Prada sunglasses matches my tattoo until someone pointed it out. Now I love hiding

behind them even more.

On Constant Replay:I’ve been watching

Let’s Get Lost, the Bruce Weber � lm about Chet Baker, in

sections on YouTube and his jazz masterpiece just won’t

let me go.

Nikki Hardin is the founder and publisher of skirt! magazine. She blogs at fridaville.com.

planetnikki[ a v i s u a l j o u r n a l ]

I found this reproduction Buddha head on a weekendtrip to Beaufort, SC. It was one of those love-at-� rst-sight purchases, the kind I never regret.

I love our skirt! luggage tags and the little design our Art Director, Caitilin McPhillips, came up with for them. We’re giving them away at events—be on the lookout.

My Skirt the Rules bracelet from Kate Spade reminds me not to become too middle-of-the-road.

that many of the items on my wish list

while I dig into my well-worn pedestrian path

for the future are things I could do right now.

I realized recently

There’s always a leak in the roof,

day after day after day.

I need to pack a bag, lock the door behind me

Instead, I postpone, proscrastinate and put off pleasure

like the usually sensible Mole in my favorite book,

a bill to pay, a reason to be cautious.

and set off into into the unknown,

Wind in the Willows.

My Skirt the Rules bracelet from Kate Spade reminds

I didn’t notice that the detail on the side

of my new Prada sunglasses matches my tattoo until someone pointed it out. Now I love hiding

behind them even more.

On Constant Replay:I’ve been watching

Let’s Get Lost, the Bruce Weber � lm about Chet Baker, in

sections on YouTube and his jazz masterpiece just won’t

let me go.


Loeffler Randall Waverly Grey Belle by Sigerson Morrison Theodosia Jewelry

Envi Dannijo Jewelry Tucker Vince Helmut Lang Tory Burch

Milly Rag & Bone Hunter Dixon Tibi 3.1 Phillip Lim

White + Warren Notte by Marchesa J Brand Rebecca Taylor

2734 Devine Street, Columbia, South Carolina 803.252.4339 www.shopvanjean.com

MA

Y2

01

2

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

VISIT US ONFACEBOOK

FOLLOW US@SHOPVANJEAN

S H O P O U R WH I T E S A ND B R I G H T S

skirt! Magazine | Augusta, Columbia, Aiken | May, 2012

Documents

art director caitilin

editor columbiajenny

editor augustaaikengracie

publishernikki hardin

cruise line

zip line

editorial content

space limitations