By Nedra Rhone

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

What do you get when you mix one sluggish economy with 48 local retailers? Four days of fashion and events designed to put the fun back in shopping.

"Fashion Over Atlanta," which runs Thursday though Sunday, entices shoppers with a daily schedule of special events such as fashion shows, trunk shows and celebrity appearances. The event is an effort on the part of Atlanta's independent boutique owners to jump start the local shopping scene as well as an opportunity for them to come together at a time when they most need support.

"It has been drilled into shoppers' heads for some time now not to shop," said Melissa Murdock, co-creator of Fashion Over Atlanta and owner of Sandpiper boutiques. "What is going to help the economy even more is for them to get their confidence back and shop and support local retailers. It is not just about us, but it is the alterations shops that we use and the people we buy boxes and ribbons from."

In addition to attending store level events, shoppers can purchase a special "Fashion Over Atlanta" T-shirt, designed by Clint Zeagler, of Pecan Pie Couture. The idea, said event co-creator Kevin Knaus, is to get everyone excited and appreciative of all that the Atlanta retail scene has to offer. "I think it will open people up to see what is here," said Knaus, a fashion and retail industry consultant. "They may not know that some of the stores they like have additional stores in other locations," he said. Or shoppers may find entirely new stores to love.

Planned events run the spectrum. Murdock of Sandpiper will hold a Diane von Furstenberg trunk show Thursday. Moops owner, Carolyn Gordon will offer 15 to 20-minute styling consultations at her Roswell store Saturday. A can of food gets 20 percent off one non-sale item at Jac in Inman Park, as does bringing your own shopping bag to Evolve Boutique in Decatur. G Gilbert in the Westside shopping area offers complimentary nail polish to match new Trove Tkees Flip Flops. And Friday night, Real Housewife Lisa Wu Hartwell helps Fab'rik unveil its newest location at the Shops Around Lenox in Buckhead.

Fashion Over Atlanta has already drawn comparisons to New York City's recent Fashion's Night Out, a single night of citywide events during Fashion Week in September sponsored by Vogue magazine and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, that proved so popular it is now slated to be an annual event.

The weekend could provide a needed jolt to the local retail scene which has lost several independent boutiques in the past year including Blue Genes, Luxe Atlanta and DressCodes. It isn't easy for independents to compete with the discounts that national and online retailers can offer, said Gordon of Moops. "[Customers] have to love coming to your store," she said. And sometimes that means just making sure they know who you are. "I feel like I can't leave this store because when customers come, they are looking for me," said Gordon, who hopes the events this weekend will give her a chance to interact with new customers.

For all the boutiques Atlanta has lost to the economy, others have thrived. Shannon Kitchens, owner of Sage, a 12-year Atlanta fixture, opened two new locations in the past year. K-La, a boutique with locations in Atlantic Station and the Forum at Peachtree Parkway, is unveiling a new location in Phipps Plaza on Thursday.

"‘We saw the recession coming way before it hit so we were able to change our business plan before it got really bad," said Juliana Mesquita, who co-owns four K-La stores, including an outpost in North Carolina, with her siblings.

Organizers hope Fashion Over Atlanta will give all local boutique owners a boost in tough times by showing shoppers just how special these homegrown stores are.

"We are about community and knowing our customers," said Murdock speaking on behalf of Atlanta boutique owners. "We know when babies are born and when divorces are happening. It's not just someone telling you if your butt looks good in a pair of jeans."

Event Preview

Fashion Over Atlanta, Nov. 12-15

For more information, participating stores, and event schedules visit fashionoveratlanta.com .