beauty call

We were talking about boutiques at the office which got me to thinking about good boutiques.

Q:What makes a good boutique? What makes us go back to the same stores over and over again? 
A: It’s a place where you feel at home, a place where you feel as though they ‘get’ you.

Upon further thought, boutiques are generally curated through 2 visions: 1. Founder’s vision 2. Theme 

3 examples of boutiques curated through the lens of the founder’s vision:

 1. Calypso
Opened in 1995 in St. Barts by Christiane Celle, a former fashion stylist. While vacationing in St. Barts in 1992, Celle saw an opportunity to create a store that would offer island-inspired chic where every piece is easy, chic and versatile – a mix of uptown glamour with island comfort. Everything from the clothes to the fragrances to the store decor is about looking and feeling great while on that perfect island vacation. 

 2. 10 Corso Como
Founded in 1990 by gallerist and publisher Carla Sozzani – sister to the editor in chief of Italian Vogue – the store was conceived as a virtual narrative of a magazine layout. It was one of the first stores to combine an international selection of fashion, art, books, music and home design. Located in Milan, Tokyo and Seoul, this is considered one of the best boutiques in the world and a ‘must see’ by fashion insiders. 

 
3. Scoop
Stefani Greenfield’s inspiration for Scoop was to create the ‘ultimate’ closet’ that houses all the best fashion under one roof. She organized the latest fashion must-haves not by designer label, but by color, classification and trend – just like her own closet. 
 

3 examples of boutiques curated through the lens of a theme:

1. Moss
Opened in 1994 by former fashion entrepreneur Murray Moss, Moss is about upscale industrial product design.

2. Oak
It’s white, black and grey. Super cool but always wearable clothes.

3. Space NK
Apothecary that offers the latest cult products in facial skin care, fragrance, cosmetics and body.

So, what’s your favorite boutique and why?