COLORFUL WORDS OF WISDOM

SHEPHERD MCMILLAN POOLE, LEFT, WITH ROBERTA FREYMANN AT THE ROBERTA ROLLER RABBIT TRUNK SHOW IN CHARLOTTE

Roberta Freymann, the designer behind the Roberta Roller Rabbit label, made an appearance in Charlotte recently. She was here for a trunk show of her summer collection that included her signature women's tunics and dresses made of superfine cotton and handcrafted by artisans in India. It was hosted by Shepherd McMillan Poole, the exclusive sales representative for the brand in Charlotte. (Shepherd hosts two trunk show a year - one in the spring and one in the fall; for updates contact her at 704-578-0226 or smpoole@me.com.)

a look from the roberta roller rabbit collection

The designer launched Roberta Roller Rabbit in 2003 after sensing women were craving more relaxed, bohemian-inspired clothing that was chic and looked good on a variety of body types. It's no wonder she hit the kurta on the head. A look into her past success at predicting fashion's next big thing is pretty amazing.

A New York Times article from 2010 credits her with being a "pashmina pioneer" in the mid-1990s and more recently for popularizing the jeweled bib necklace trend by creating a sensation with her bold necklaces made of multicolored stones.

Roberta is a native of London whose mother was a famous model and muse for Balenciaga and Jaques Fath. During the trunk show, she shared some musings of her own about Charlotte women and the one color you should keep away from your face.

Why do you think Roberta Roller Rabbit has been such a success?

"Because it's comfortable and it's very feminine, but it's not frumpy."

You've lived and traveled all over the world. What do you think about women in Charlotte?

"I love Charlotte women. They are so charming and like me, they love color."

What's one of the main things you learned about fashion from your mother?

"My mother was extremely elegant. She died at 101. She told me to never wear black - it's no good for the face."