Is Charlotte a Fashion City? Four Local Style Experts Weigh In

Photo: Sancho Smalls

As Charlotte continues to grow and attract people from across the country and even the world, conversations about what defines the Queen City have become increasingly common. Among those conversations, one question seems to surface time and time again, sparking debate: Is Charlotte a fashion city?

I don't think the debate is necessarily about what's available to fashion consumers. Charlotte continues to attract major retailers, and the city's luxury shopping scene even recently earned recognition from Vogue. Instead, the conversation tends to focus on whether Charlotte has developed a distinct sense of style. Do people know what to do with the fashion that's available?

For newcomers arriving from fashion capitals like New York City, the looks at Charlotte's social events can sometimes feel underwhelming. Meanwhile, many longtime residents would argue that those newcomers simply haven't been invited into the right rooms yet.

While I certainly have my own opinion, I thought it would be more interesting to ask the people whose style speaks for itself. The individuals who consistently turn heads, set trends, and help define Charlotte's fashion landscape.

So, I reached out to four local style experts and asked them one simple question:

Is Charlotte a fashion city?

Here's what they had to say.

Photo: Sancho Smalls

Darrion Gross│IG: darriongross_
Style Educator, Wardrobe Strategist & Content Creator

When people say Charlotte isn’t a fashion city, I usually ask, “Compared to what?”

If we’re comparing Charlotte to New York, Paris, or Milan, then of course we’re not there, and we don’t have to be. Every city develops its own creative identity in its own time.

What I do believe is that Charlotte has style, talent, and a growing fashion community. We have stylists, photographers, designers, boutique owners, vintage curators, content creators, and people who genuinely appreciate personal style. The difference is that our fashion scene has been more fragmented than visible.

What’s exciting is that we’re beginning to see those pieces come together. More collaborations are happening, local brands are gaining attention, creators are building communities, and people are embracing fashion as a form of self-expression rather than simply following trends.

To me, fashion isn’t defined by the number of luxury stores or runway shows a city has. It’s defined by the people who consistently create culture and inspire others. Charlotte has those people, and I think we’re entering a chapter where the rest of the country will begin to take notice.

Charlotte isn’t trying to become another fashion capital. It’s building its own identity, and I think that’s far more interesting.

Photo: Sancho Smalls

Keyda Austin│IG: keydaaustin
Fashion Creative

When people say Charlotte isn’t a fashion city, I tend to agree with them. Charlotte isn’t fashion-forward. The city lacks culture and identity, for starters, as well as the taste and unity that effortlessly bring tastemakers to the forefront.

I’m not sure whether that is driven by scarcity mindsets or by the fact that the city is still evolving and has yet to properly recognize those with an aspirational point of view and a distinctive personal style. I’ve had people locally tell me, “You’re carrying us all,” as it relates to my fashion sense. That means a lot. I pride myself on individuality, empowering others, and staying in a unique lane of my own.

I’ve seen people blame Charlotte being a financial hub for why the fashion scene is stagnant. But New York is also a financial hub while being regarded as an inspiring window to the world. I’m a financier and can dress well, which is yet another example that dispels that excuse.

There’s also blame placed on transplants. I had never witnessed such disdain for transplants until I moved to Charlotte. Transplants bring different points of view, growth, and opportunity. One could argue that locals never really laid the blueprint. There has to be a collective effort to move the fashion scene forward.

Streetwear, boho chic, and Southern style reign as the core aesthetics in Charlotte. Key style archetypes are missing that typically anchor a fashion city. There are limited shopping options, the same people are often the faces of creator events, fostering uninspired predictability, and there is a lack of style diversity within local publications. From the outside looking in, one would not think there is such a diverse group of talented creatives and global fashionistas living in the city.

There are notable fashion events and exhibits that provide opportunities for education and connection throughout the city. I also admire what Perrine DeShield-Jenkins is doing with Mint to Be, a Met Gala-inspired fashion and art experience that showcases Charlotte’s creativity. I really enjoy seeing original style creatives in the city. Their unique approach to fashion keeps me intrigued. Charlotte is growing, and I’m optimistic that its fashion scene will continue to evolve. I’m also appreciative of Front Row Charlotte for cultivating inclusivity and spotlighting the best of the city.

Photo: Sancho Smalls

Lakeisha Rush│IG: lakeishasrush
Content Creator

As someone from New York, I don’t think Charlotte is a fashion city in the traditional sense. It doesn’t have the same fashion infrastructure, street style culture, retail depth, or industry presence that cities like New York are known for.

But I also think Charlotte is creating its own fashion identity.

Fashion here may not always be as loud or visible, but that does not mean style is not happening. I see it showing up at church, brunch, local events, work functions, art spaces, festivals, and even during everyday errands. For me, part of shaping Charlotte’s fashion scene is bringing fashion into the spaces I naturally enter. I’m wearing designers who are not always sold or widely seen in Charlotte. I’m playing with maximal silhouettes, bold proportions, color, texture, and pieces that make people stop and ask questions.

So no, I would not call Charlotte a fashion city in the traditional sense. But I do think Charlotte has its own fashion language. It is polished, practical, Southern, evolving, aspirational, and deeply personal. And because the city is still growing, there is room for creators, stylists, designers, boutique owners, and everyday stylish women to define what Charlotte fashion becomes.

That is the part that excites me most. Charlotte is not copying another city’s fashion identity. We are building our own.

Photo: Sancho Smalls

Perrine "Professor P" DeShield-Jenkins│IG: perrinedeshield
Creative Marketer, Educator & Curator

Like so many major American cities, Charlotte is a hub and melting pot of different cultures and people. Charlotte's style and fashion sense draw inspiration from both the American South and metropolitan areas. We have Banker Bros and Jersey Girls, and because of this diversity, our specific style may be harder to pinpoint, but it is very much present. I see color, creativity, and vibrancy in the city's style. My perspective on Charlotte's style is heavily influenced by the artists and creatives who bring the city to life. Charlotte's style is about taking pride in wearing your Sunday's best and displaying Southern hospitality every day of the week with a dash of street.

I'm so grateful that I can help others step outside their comfort zones with my event style guides. I've been creating them for multiple creators for more than a year now, and what excites me most is seeing people interpret a concept or trend I've forecasted and completely make it their own. As the founder and creator of Mint to Be, Charlotte's very own Met Gala of the South, I've created a space for high-fashion lovers and art enthusiasts to display their creativity on a grand stage. They don't recreate an image I've curated; instead, they incorporate their own personal style into it and take it to another level.

At the end of the day, we are all human beings evolving, growing, and finding ourselves. Our style is an outward representation of our inner being, and Charlotte's soul is beautiful.