Stylists to the Sandbar
BY MARLI GUZZETTA INDEPENDENT ARTS EDITOR
Cheryl Fudge and Hays Westbrook are the reigning power couple of Nantucket clothing - his and hers stylists to the sandbar - and Fudge's fashion show at the Nantucket Wine Festival will be something of a coming-out party.

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent Cheryl Fudge (left) and Hays Westbrook have formed tight-knit alliance

With over five years of experience in island fashion, Fudge is the veteran designer of the pair. Many islanders are familiar with her "Cheryl Fudge" label - a fun and colorful collection of reminiscent, island-themed and vintage clothing. In addition to selling her wares out of Nantucket Stock Exchange, Fudge creates and styles for a client list that even InStyle could love. Kelly Clarkson and Fergie have both worn her pieces within the last six months. Her clothing will outfit the models at the Stirrings and Bacardi sponsored fashion show at the Harbor House on Saturday.

Several years ago, Westbrook launched "Nantucket Noose" - Nantucket's answer to Vineyard Vines. He may be new to textiles, but not to Nantucket, and he tailored his clothing line accordingly.

"We make it a little more masculine, with bolder colors," Westbrook explained of the difference. "We also use harder edge lines, so the images aren't so cartoony or so busy. … It's not so preppy you're going to get beat up."

Nantucket Noose also sells women's accessories - including Nantucket flip-flops and belts and a line of "Rainbow Fleet" totes (navy totes with handles and edging that come in each color of the Rainbow Fleet).

New for 2007, Nantucket Noose is unfurling a belt patterned with fullbleed and contiguous images of the Oversand Permit.

The two went on their first date in January, and it wasn't long before they took their relationship to the next level: the sewing machine.

One night, Westbrook selected some of Fudge's trademark patches and asked Fudge to personalize a polo shirt.

"The first night he wore it out, people were offering to buy it off him," Fudge said.

The men's polo is an amalgam of their styles, with Fudge's selection of old T-shirt logos, local patches and lettering and her stylized stitching plus Westbrook's sense of what guys on Nantucket want in the way of clothing.

Each shirt bears Fudge's titular logo, with a suitor in tow.

"When she's not looking, I sneak my logo patches onto the shirts," Westbrook said.

The couple is also collaborating on a book anthologizing some of the most memorable and iconic Nantucket Tshirts - "Nantucket Tease." The pair have a publisher already lined up, but they're still in the gathering phase. If you have a vintage and beloved Nantucket T-shirt you'd like to share, and possibly a story to go with it, e-mail

Fudge at cherylfudge@hotmail.com. I CHERYL FUDGE AT THE HARBOR

HOUSE

When: Sat., May 19, 5 - 7 p.m. Where: Harbor House Village,

19 S. Beach

Cost: $60. Tickets will be

sold at Provisions, Nantucket Stock Exchange or through the Nantucket Wine Festival.