by Michelle Boudin
Chantal DePraeter was practically born into fashion. Raised in Quebec, Canada, she grew up speaking French and moved often as a result of her father’s job as CEO of an international textile firm. The family’s last stop was Greenville, South Carolina, during her senior year of high school. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, she landed in Charlotte 22 years ago and began moving her way up in retail, eventually working for a custom clothier.
“My clients would ask me if I could help them find special-occasion outfits, and then I started getting into my customers’ closets,” DePraeter says. Covid was a big turning point for her career, as people wanted to purge and get organized. “I started working with some of the Panthers players and other high-profile people in town, and I formed my own company, Chantilly Style.” DePraeter also worked at Sloan, ran social media for several local boutiques, and was the fashion director for Fashion Breathes Life, an annual benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Last summer, she decided to leave retail behind and go all in on styling. “This business isn’t just about dressing people. It’s about how people feel about themselves. It’s really more about psychology than clothing. At the end of the day, I just want people to feel good.”
Comments have been edited for length and clarity.
Rooster’s and Albertine
Eat + drink: For fun and casual I love Superica — the food is always fresh, and they have the best skinny-spicy margarita. Rooster’s has the best barbecue chicken around. For more upscale, Albertine and Toscana for Italian and a great girls’ night out.
Getaway: Being from Montreal, I love it and my family is still there. I went for the F1 race last June and it was amazing. Banff & Lake Louise is one of the most serene places for a family vacation. For a couples’ getaway, I love Banyan Tree Mayakoba (in Riviera Maya), and Montage Los Cabos. For skiing out west, Deer Valley and Big Sky.
Banyan Tree Mayakoba Beach and BK Pilates
Shopping: Obviously Sloan is near and dear to me — they carry some great brands, from Ramy Brook to Karina Grimaldi, and unique styles. Boem — I love to get fun going-out tops and good jeans there. Also KK Bloom, Vestique and Chosen. Local jewelry designers Noelle Muñoz and Kristin Hayes are absolutely fab humans, and their talent and creativity is unbelievable.
Wellness: I go to Infinity MedSpa and Wellness for everything — hormone replacement, Botox and facials.
Fitness: Meredith at BK Pilates — I’ve been doing Pilates there for the last two years and it has absolutely changed my body.
Salon: Salon 8 for blowouts and extensions. New Creations in uptown for color — Nat has been doing my color for 14 years. SP
Photographs courtesy The Plaid Penguin, Albertine, Banyan Tree Mayakoba, BK Pilates
