SIKKY ROGERS: CREATING MAGICAL MOMENTS

Legendary event designer Sikky Rogers in her garden. 

Charlotte native Sikky Rogers has spent 35 years as one of the most sought after event designers in the region. The trust she’s built with her exclusive list of clients plus her exquisite taste, high standards and creativity have earned her the status of a legend. 

She was one of the founding owners of The Buttercup, a popular gift and stationery store, before becoming a self-taught event designer at the urging of family members after spending a year planning her own daughter’s wedding. 

Her original event design company, Entertain The Idea, has now morphed into Rogers & Gala where she works with business partner Angela Gala. “I still love what I do - the creativity and working with people - but I do not like the paperwork,” Sikky says. “Angela does a lot of that for me because she’s good with numbers and figures and budgets.”

At this point in her career, Sikky picks and chooses what she wants to do. “As with everyone who grows into being a more mature person, you figure out what’s important and how you want to spend your time and with whom," she says.

Her favorite events are still weddings and her favorite clients are those who let her do what she does best without any micromanagement. In turn, Sikky applies that same philosophy to the vendors she works with - to let creative people be creative. Among her favorites are John Lupton (“He’s a genius”), The Blossom Shop (“I love them”), Kathryn Meyer at Party Reflections (“She’s so knowledgable about her craft”) and caterer Melodie McAbee (“She has the most cutting edge menus”).

Sikky loves her career but does not describe it as easy or glamorous. “When you’re doing something that’s so important to someone else it’s not to be taken lightly,” she says. “There are always hardships and problems. It’s a wonderful way to make people happy, but you don’t always make them happy. It’s a lot of work, long hours and very stressful.” 

She believes in never acting like a guest at the events she designs, but she still has moments of fun. One of her most recent successful parties involved a bacon bar, a bourbon bar and a palm reader. “I left at 1 a.m. and there were still guests in line for the palm reader,” she says. 

When Sikky isn’t designing events she loves to work in her garden and paint. “Right now I’m doing a series of watercolor birds. I love the details and working with lots of colors. I get lost in it. It’s magical.” 

Sikky graciously took the time to answer our questions about everything ranging from the newest party trends to the best business advice she's ever received and her most treasured article of clothing. 

What's the biggest mistake people make when hosting a party? 

Not having the correct guest list and not having an open bar.

What's your favorite host/hostess gift to bring to a party?

Wine.

Are there any new party trends that you’re excited about?

All really good things eventually come back such as black tie events. People want to dress up again. Also, long dinner tables with floral arrangements that are low down the center of the table, especially succulents; cocktail dinner parties that are less formal with seating around a room; and passed small plates or carts passing food and cocktails. And a little comfort food to give people a chance to indulge themselves.

What inspires you?  

Life and the chance to create.

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?

Give good service.

What would others be surprised to know about you?

I am shy.

What’s your design style? 

Classic.

Sikky and her handsome groom in his uniform at their 1962 Marine Corps wedding at Myers Park Methodist Church.

What are your favorite colors? 

Blue, green and white.

What's your favorite flower?

Lily of the Valley.

Do you have a motto or words that you live by?  

Always be true to yourself.

Which rules do you suggest breaking? 

Anything that does not hurt someone else.

What do you like to do in your downtime?

Paint, read and garden.

How do you like to get your day started? 

A good cup of coffee.

What’s in your glass during Happy Hour?  

Tonic, olives and lime.

What is your biggest guilty pleasure? 

Chocolate and nuts.

Any obsessions?

I work hard not to be obsessed with anything.

Where are your favorite places to travel? 

California, Italy, France and England.  

How do you stay in shape?

Walk, walk, walk.

What’s one of the best beauty tips you’ve learned?

Wear the right colors for your skin tone.

What are your must-have beauty products? 

Retin-A, Airflash Spray Foundation by Dior and Visible Difference moisturizer by Elizabeth Arden.

How do you protect your skin from the sun? 

SkinCeuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 50.

How would you describe your personal style?

Classic.

What are some of your favorite pieces in your wardrobe? 

Skinny jeans, sweaters and short boots.

What are your favorite fashion labels?

I don’t really like fashion labels.

Who's your biggest style influence?  

It was my stepmother-in-law.

Anything you've worn and regretted? 

White boots.

Anything you'll never wear?

Anything revealing.

What’s your must treasured article of clothing?

A pink dress covered in pearls that I wore to my daughter's wedding.

What’s your most treasured accessory?

A Judith Leiber purse my mother-in-law gave me.

What would you like to bring back in style? 

Pretty shoes that don’t draw attention to feet.

What’s your most treasured home decor item?

An antique pitcher I bought in New Orleans.

What's your favorite restaurant for a big night out?

Bonterra. 

What’s your favorite brunch spot? 

Café Monte.

What’s your favorite restaurant for lunch?

 Brio Tuscan Grille.

Any museum exhibits or arts performances you’ve either seen recently, or plan to see soon?

The Louvre in Paris.

What are some of your favorite movies?

Tootsie,  Play Misty for Me and Gone With the Wind.

What are some of your favorite books?

A Woman of Substance, Doctor Zhivago and Jane Eyre.

Is there anything you loved as a child that still influences you today?  

My parents.

What brings you joy?

Family, friends, work, flowers, colors, nature, books, puzzles, art, chocolate and animals.

What do you love about this stage of your life?

That I can just be me.

What are your favorite charitable causes? 

Children and animals. 

Any words of wisdom? 

Own up to any mistakes. Be true to yourself. Trust your instincts. 

LINDA DYER HART: DREAM BIG

Linda Dyer Hart lakeside at her home. She's wearing two of her favorite treasures - a charm bracelet given to her by her mother and a bracelet that belonged to her grandmother. (Photo by Daniel Coston)

Linda Dyer Hart of event planning business Dyer Hart Productions is known for putting her heart into everything she does. That passion, and her Irish ancestry, are behind the success of her company's biggest event of the year - the Charlotte St. Patrick's Day Parade and Charlotte Goes Green Festival. As the parade and festival's founder and president, she developed it from a group of revelers walking down Tryon Street with a bagpiper in 1996 to what has become an all-day celebration that attracts tens of thousands of attendees from Charlotte and beyond. 

For the 2016 parade, Linda's networking skills secured the event's most high profile Grand Marshal yet in its 20-year history: Anne Anderson, the first female Ambassador from Ireland to the United States. "I met her at a luncheon at the Irish Embassy in Washington two years ago," Linda says. "We struck up a conversation and I told her I would like her to be the Grand Marshal of the Charlotte parade. Numerous other cities with St. Patrick's Day parades asked her to be their Grand Marshal but she said yes to Charlotte." It turns out it was a memorable day for Ambassador Anderson, too - it was the first time she was Grand Marshal of any St. Patrick's Day parade.

Linda grew up in Connecticut amid a fascinating family background. Her maternal grandfather was an internationally famous French engineer and was president of U.S. Vanadium Corporation; her Irish great-grandmother was in the State Legislature in Connecticut in the 1940s; her uncle was National Editor for Hearst newspapers and won a Pulitzer Prize for interviewing Khrushchev; and her mother grew up in Paris, New York and Palm Beach.

But especially interesting is Linda's education from age 14 to 18 at a Catholic convent boarding school outside New York City. "Coming of age in a convent in the 1960s sounds dreadful but we had a lot of fun - I loved it," Linda says. "It was an international group of girls. Some of them had fathers who were presidents of (foreign) countries. The nuns were always taking us into New York City for cultural events but also exposed us to people that were living on the margins of society and instilled in us a sense of caring for people and helping those less fortunate. That's where my social conscience was formed." 

In 1970, Linda made her debut at the famous Infirmary ball at the Waldorf-Astoria. That night she had no idea her handsome escort from Bal Harbour would eventually  become her husband. They've been married 40 years and have two children and a grandchild.

In 1970, when Linda was 18, she made her debut at New York City's famous Debutante Cotillion and Christmas Ball (known as the Infirmary Ball) at the Waldorf-Astoria. Her escort was a young man from Bal Harbour, Florida, named Frank, also 18. He was the son of one of Linda's mother's friends. They didn't know it that night but they would soon fall in love. Now married for 40 years, they have two children and a grandchild. 

Linda took a break from her busy schedule to answer questions about everything from her favorite hotel in the world to the best business advice she ever received.

Where is your favorite place to travel?

Italy. Our son had a destination wedding in Rome. We spent several days traveling around Italy and several days at the Cinque Terre. Loved it! Our next adventure is a trip up the west coast of Ireland.

What are your must-have beauty products?

Bold red Lipstick. I can’t leave the house without it. My favorites are Guerlain's Rouge Automatique #123 and Chanel  Rogue Velvet #40. Good cleanser and moisturizer.

What's your favorite restaurant for a big night out?

Fig Tree in Charlotte and Local Dish in Fort Mill, S.C. 

What’s your favorite brunch spot?

RiRa in Charlotte or Toast in Fort Mill.

What’s your favorite restaurant for lunch?

Amelie’s in NoDa or Rock Hill.

Any recent art purchases? 

Original concert posters from the Fillmore East.

What's your favorite hotel in the world?

Hotel Hermitage, Monte Carlo and in the U.S we like the Claremont Hotel, Berkeley, California. We go to New York City in the Fall and always stay at the New York Marriott East Side at Lexington and 49th, a block from Park Avenue. Great location! 

What's your favorite flower?

Gardenia.

Any museum exhibits or arts performances you’ve either seen recently, or plan to see soon?

Recently saw The Book of Morman in Charlotte and also recently visited the National Air & Space Museum in D.C. We spend a lot of time in D.C. so we always visit the museums.

What are some of your favorite movies?

Casablanaca, The Bridge on the River Kwai,  Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis.

What are some of your favorite books?

The Stories of John Cheever, Peter Matthiessen’s Killing Mister Watson, The Moviegoer by Walker Percy, This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Crime & Punishment by Dostoevsky.

What inspires you?

Poetry, Jazz, interesting people.

Is there anything you loved as a child that still influences you today?

Reading, collecting books and going to old bookstores.

What is your favorite color?

Shocking Pink.

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?

Make the calls! Never be afraid to ask for the order and close the deal.

What do you love about this stage of your life?

We have a three-year-old grandson and we are at the stage of our life that we have the freedom to travel and do what we want without anything holding us back - except for our dog and two cats.

Where are your favorite places to shop? 

Nordstrom and Belk.

Who has influenced your style the most? 

My grandmothers and my mother. They were very elegant, sophisticated women and all had a great sense of style.

Was there any beauty or style advice your mother or grandmother gave you that you’re thankful for now?

My grandmother always said arch your eyebrows, stay out of the sun and don’t lift your forehead when showing expression as it will cause wrinkles.

Do you have a motto or words you live by?

Dream Big!

What are your favorite charitable causes?

Homeless, cancer and animal rescue organizations.

What’s your most treasured article of clothing?

I have a beautiful Christian Dior red coat that I bought in New York City years ago. It looks like new and I always get compliments. If you buy quality it will last forever. Fashion always comes back. I have a few Emilio Pucci dresses that I’ve had forever that are back in vogue and of course I always wear Lilly Pulitzer in the summer. She was a good friend of my mother’s in Palm Beach and my mother always wore Lilly Pulitzer dresses.

What’s your most treasured accessory?

A charm bracelet given to me by my mother.