Top drawer

Planetary alignment

• Who he is: Mercury

• What he’s wearing: Pants with a furry inset that he designed and a friend stitched.

• His style: Mercury is an artist based in San Francisco where he makes jewelry from old and unusual coins. He recently passed through Asheville on his way to visit New Orleans. Keep a look out for a line of clothing Mercury is creating — he hopes to be selling pants (like the ones he’s wearing) and more in the near future.

Try this on

The October issue of Lucky magazine, on stands now, prominently features Asheville in its “Small cities, big shopping” report. The magazine names “five still-under-the-radar spots that keep grabbing our attention” (Oxford, Miss.; Portland, Maine; Santa Barbara, Calf.; and Boulder, Colo. among them). The Asheville write-up includes Wink Heads & Threads, R. Brooke Priddy’s Ship to Shore, Constance Boutique, The Screen Door, HoneyPot, Porter & Prince, Antique Tobacco Barn, Turner & Co. Apothecary and Worthwhile. Not that we didn’t already know Asheville had great shopping, but now it’s looking like these shops aren’t so “under the radar” after all.

Loose threads

Recently featured in the MAC AIDS fundraiser fashion show at the Orange Peel, local designer Liz White is selling four dresses from that event at Wink Heads & Threads (18 Brook St., 277-1205). White started her business four years ago (she works out of an apartment she shares with her two kids), and fashions dresses for all types of women. She describes her designs as “vintage modern,” reflecting her passion for vintage style. “I like to take classic styles and add a modern flare to them,” White notes. “No matter [your] size or age, if you wear one of my dresses you’ll feel sexy and elegant.” Check out her creations at Wink, or contact her at lizwhitedesigns@yahoo.com.

For more Asheville fashion, visit www.topdrawerstreetstyle.blogspot.com.