Sophisticated with a dash of swagger—these North Shore trendsetters prove that style is indeed a state of mind.
Having made a pandemic-inspired move from the Big Apple to Winnetka, style maven Melissa Carter has made a Manhattan-sized splash on the North Shore fashion scene with her chic boutique Kameo Vintage (874 Green Bay Road, Winnetka). The first Black female business owner in Winnetka, Carter is using her charismatic influence to help make local women and men look fabulous in her chic “preloved” garments from all eras—including her in-house Kameo Collection brand, which features upcycled vintage pieces bearing her iconic Afro woman logo—all while promoting diversity and inclusion. Here, the striking entrepreneur shares some of her personal inspirations and favorite things.
NS Women Of Style 2022: Melissa Carter, Liz Prior, Emily Hikade, Katie Brickman
WAKE-UP TIME: SLEEP DOESN’T EXIST FOR ME.
DOPPELGÄNGER: THERE IS ONLY ONE ME.
NEMESIS: PEOPLE WITH BAD ENERGY
ESCAPE: COSTA RICA
WEAKNESS: VINTAGE CLOTHING
MY AESTHETIC: HIGH AND LOW FASHION AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
UNIFORM: I AM ALLERGIC.
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: KARA BIKE CHAIN WALLET
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: VINTAGE CLOTHING AND KIDS FROM Y2K
WORKOUT: HIIT CLASSES, CYCLE CLASSES—ANYTHING THAT PUSHES MY BODY TO THE LIMITS
LAST MEAL: BEECHER’S GRILLED CHEESE
MOVIE: THE WIZ
MENTOR: ANNETTE PECORA
STYLE ICON: DIANA ROSS
SHOES: GUCCI
LIPSTICK: EMILIE HEATHE, THE BEST RED
BEST ADVICE: FIND A WAY OR MAKE ONE.
PHILANTHROPY: ALL THINGS THAT PAY IT FORWARD TO THE NEXT GENERATION
MANTRA: I KNOW THAT I LIKE ME, AND I KNOW NO ONE THAT’S LIKE ME, NOT EVEN SLIGHTLY, JUST TAKE A LOOK AT HOW MY AURA’S SHINING BRIGHTLY.
CURRENT OBSESSION: THE 60S BEAUTY LASH
APP: INSTAGRAM
COCKTAIL: MEZCAL MULE
SOULMATE: GABBY CONRAD
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: CHARCOAL SOAP BY LUSH
ZODIAC: PISCES/ARIES
BEDSIDE READING: THE MISADVENTURES OF AWKWARD BLACK GIRL BY ISSA RAE
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “THE KING’S AFFIRMATION” BY INIKO
BAG: VINTAGE COACH BAGS DESIGNED BY BONNIE CASHIN
SIGNATURE SCENT: ANGEL BY THIERRY MUGLER
Photography by: PHOTO BY NATE BRIEVA
