Surfside Beach clothing store helped style ‘American Idol’ SC contestant Mariah Faith
Mariah Faith’s voice wasn’t the only standout during her time on “American Idol.” Her bohemian style, largely taken from a Surfside Beach business, also caught the attention of viewers.
The Conway singer won a golden ticket to compete on “American Idol” in March. She made it through to the top 20, but her journey ended Monday night when she didn’t make the TV competition’s top 12.
Throughout the 22-year-old’s performances, Faith could be seen wearing outfits from the Hipsy Gypsy, including her performance in Hawaii and in Hollywood.
Chandra Burgess, the owner of the Surfside Beach shop, said she had no idea that her clothes would appear on the show until Faith came in to buy her first outfit.
It was a pair of pants. After that, Faith and her mother would come in at least once a week to buy clothes for the show.
“I didn’t know what to think,” Burgess said about her clothes appearing on national TV. “It was kind of surreal.”
Faith’s style is “much like my style,” Burgess said.
Burgess, whose youngest son is 23, said she remembers watching “American Idol” more than 20 years ago. However, she never thought one of the contestants would be wearing her clothes.
Most recently, Faith posted a photo of her wearing a yellow skirt that she got from the store.
Many people have come to the store seeking items they have seen Faith wear. However, many of those items, which Burgess handpicks, were no longer available or she couldn’t get. One of those items were a pair of earrings. “I could have sold hundreds of pairs of those earrings,” Burgess said.
Burgess said one day when Faith was in the store shopping, there were people in the business talking about Faith being on “American Idol.” Burgess pointed out that Faith was in there shopping, “and you thought they saw a superstar,” she said.
Burgess started out at the Surfside Beach flea market 13 years ago and has been in her current location for five years.
She said she was honored that Faith chose her shop.
Faith talked about how she was from a small town and the odds were against her, Burgess said.
“For me, it’s definitely a big thing for me too,” she said.
