On the heels ofCharleston being voted “Top City in the U.S.” in the 2011 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, we have been bestowed with another equally impressive award, “The Most Attractive Tourists in America”. Voted by the readers of Beautiful People Illustrated, Charleston edged out numerous fashionable cities including Omaha, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Myrtle Beach.
Long regarded as one of the South’s most cosmopolitan cities, Charlestonians have always taken pride in how they look. Apparently, our guests share this pride when they vacation in Charleston.
We caught up with Charleston native and celebrity fashion designer, Robert Pilch, that commented, “Our guests are redefining the meaning of ‘travel wardrobes’ and they are just looking fab-u-lous. We are just lovin’ all the folks with perfectly symmetrical facial features, high cheekbones, spectacular hair, darling accessories, all paired with the latest in haute couture fashion. Nothing like a beautiful man on vacation with tailored clothes, swimmer’s build, bronzed skin, and . . . Please excuse me, I’m feeling a little woozy and need to get a glass of water“.
This highly coveted award has been a yearly source of frustration for Myrtle Beach, our neighbor just 100 miles up the coast. Their 2011 ranking dropped to # 739 from last years’ # 688 (out of 740 mentioned U.S. vacation spots). Fashion insiders believe the Grand Strand’s downfall was due to their recent marketing campaign, “Visit Myrtle Beach, Where Half Shirts and Cut-Offs are Still Cool”.
Myrtle Beach’s Convention and Visitors Bureau could not be reached for comment.
Fantastic shot of Myrtle. Captures it all!!
As a former resident of both cities, I am torn with feelings of pride for Charleston’s clearly fab-u-ous ‘fashion-tude’, and an oddly protective sentiment towards Myrtle Beach’s clearly undeserved near-last ranking… I mean, who DOSEN’T secretly love and even cherish their ‘half shirts’ (more appropriately named ‘midriff tees’) and ‘daisy dukes’? And don’t forget the ever classic and comfy ‘socks with sandals’… I, for one, never miss a chance when in Myrtle to break out these beloved icons of 80′s fashion and proudly wear them in the one place that is forward thinking enough with fashion to recognize a classic when they see it (or don’t see, I guess in the case of the midriff…). We can only hope that one day people like Robert Pilch will join our ranks and give Myrtle Beach Tourist fashion the recognition it deserves.