Take a look inside her fabulous closet in Eastover and find out where this Charlotte style maven likes to shop locally and beyond.

by Whitley Adkins | photographs by Amy Kolo

Connecticut native Amy Hines delights in Charlotte’s small-town charm. After stints in New York and Chicago, her husband Johnny’s finance job brought them here 20 years ago.

“Because of its size and the area of the community where we live, anyone can be influential,” Hines says, noting Charlotte’s active philanthropic scene. 

“People here want to step up and do things. I think we get spoiled here because it is a thriving city with a nice small-town feel. In a bigger city, those opportunities can get lost.”

With the couple’s four children, ages 19 to 25, now grown and flown, Hines spends much of her time traveling to visit them. So appropriately, travel and family are perhaps the greatest influences on her unique and fashion-forward style. 

Hines invited us for a peek inside the chic-and-sophisticated closet in her Eastover home, where she’s lived since moving to the Queen City two decades ago. 

Comments have been edited for length and clarity.

THE STYLE

Personal style: Casual — street style is a good way to describe it. It’s usually neutrals, or all in the same color or tone. I am in a very big strapless phase right now. I’m a little tomboyish — a more tailored, street tomboy, though I love a pretty dress, too.  

Inspiration: Mainly travel and my girls, because they don’t live here. You just see different things in different places, and then you put them
all together. 

Wardrobe staples: Jean jacket, leather jacket, loafers, clogs, tank tops, workout clothes. I have a collection of stacked jewelry from my husband that I wear all the time.

Style icons: The Row and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Victoria Beckham. Right now I love Zendaya — everything she wears. Locally, you and Whitney Whitlock at Five One Five — she looks great in everything. 

THE SHOPPING

Where she shops: New York and LA — that whole Santa Monica and Malibu area. You can find the cool collaborations there. I love a collab — two great creative minds coming together. I love Cherry LA and Madhappy. Selfridges in London. Scott Antique Markets in Atlanta. Online, I love Revolve, Net-A-Porter, Moda Operandi, Farfetch, Ssense and Cettire. Locally, I like Capitol, Five One Five, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. I got some great Nike Air Jordans, a special release, from Request Boutique in Midtown. I buy and sell at The Edit Sale and on The Real Real and Poshmark — and I still love eBay.

Favorite brands and designers: Right now, Rick Owens, Sandy Liang and Ganni. Also, SIR., The Frankie Shop, Proenza Schouler, Paloma Wool, Adidas x Wales Bonner, Emi Jay hair accessories and Courreges. Juliet Johnstone in LA — she does beach blankets, bikinis, and she paints on old-school jeans. EB Denim and RE/DONE. Consigned resale is a great way to find vintage treasures. Even Free People carries [the LA flea market] Rose Bowl line — what you can find there is amazing. J.Crew, and even American Eagle. No stone left unturned. 

Pro tips: You can always recreate an outfit — things can be altered. I got a great piece from The Rose Bowl and a poolside dress from [Raleigh vintage shop] House of Landor that I reinvented. I also enjoy using Google’s image search for an item to find it online. It’s not always the same price, which is kinda fun. It’s like fishing for the right price. 

THE CLOSET

The evolution: My husband and I used to share one closet. Then we came up with the design for this new bathroom and closet. We used to get ready together — we didn’t want to break up. But it’s good — he’ll come down and visit me on my side, and I still go in his closet.  

The design: Andrew Roby did the design and build. Holly Phillips at The English Room did the interior design. My favorite part is the step down. I love the lights underneath the cabinets, the French oak heated floors and my mirror with a TV in it. Johnny will sit in here and watch TV and hang out with me while I get ready. The Ritz uptown has TV’s in their bathrooms — that’s where I saw it and said, I definitely need one in my bathroom.  SP

THIS OR THAT

Sneaker or clog: That’s a 50-50. A clog is a good dress-up shoe that you can still walk in, so it’s great when you’re traveling. It gives you height but is casual.

Tank top or tube top: I’ve worn a tank top forever. It’s always a basic. Tube top is right now — I think they are very flattering, especially if it’s one color.

Jeans or jean shorts: Jeans, but that’s pretty even, too.

Patterns or solids: Solids

Shiny or matte: Matte