The concept of the Shop-in-Shop is one you might perhaps be familiar with if you frequent Bendel’s, Bergdorf’s & Barney’s better known as The Three B’s. Stacy Smallwood owner and curator at Hampden Clothing knows this concept all to well. Smallwood who worked as a Buyer for the High-end Department Chain Neiman Marcus has seen her fair share of stores.The Shop-in Shop is basically a store within a store that is totally independent of the store which it can be found. In most cases employes a seperate staff,as well as houses fixtures found in their freestanding stores. Brands like Chanel,and especially Louis Vuitton are known for this as they rarely leave their brand identity up for interpretation.Smallwood, wanted to do something special for Charleston Fashion Week (CFW) with Personal apperances, and trunk shows already a standard at her shop. The addition of  something fresh and new provides a reason for customers to come in and shop. Smallwood says, “Sometimes the designers vision for the brand does not always translate.” Stores are really the opportunity to create a space for the person wearing the clothes to inhabit in a sense. The selection of the brands for the Shop-in-Shop was made based on what her clients might be looking to wear. Rag and Bone has a very vintage, out into the wilderness earthy feel Helmut Lang has a chic, minimalistic,  and crisp graphic quality. A.L.C. is more modern with an added sense of femineity and Marysia SWIM started on the local level and has sense gained in popularity nationally. They collective will provide something for every woman looking to outfit herself for CFW. The shop-in-shop will be up from March 14-26, the store as you know it will be quite different. Each shop will take concepts from the overall esthetics of each brand. When you see clothes hanging on a rack its one thing but to see the designers idea of what the and environment for the collection is helps to fully explain an ultimately shape perceptions.During the Fall 2011 Collections in New York I was able to attend several shows with Smallwood. It was interesting to watch her watch each show. I may have responded to pieces that would tell a story on a page. But for her she needs to create a story on a rack and what her clients maybe looking for. Smallwood says, “When looking at a show I am looking for something new! Something that will sell, without being safe.” She goes on to say, “It’s all about your instinct and rather you want to support a brand and take the risk and perhaps even wear it yourself if it does not sell!”. It’s also important that Hampden carries the brands that it does because they would otherwise be unavailable to our region. Alexander Wang already has a huge presence in NYC but even more so now with him opening a flagship store. You could simply walk into his shop there and fully realize his brand but, here that is not possible. Smallwood, who finds trends while at the collections edits for each season and buys accordingly knowing what the client can expect to see next season. The Shop-in-Shop is called Awaken, Go Fashion is now happening a stores all around Charleston so GO! gather  your looks for CFW and we hope to see you this Wednesday night at Hampden Clothing for the Official Go Fashion launch party from 6-10pm. Najee Wilson Style Director



The concept of the Shop-in-Shop is one you might perhaps be familiar with if you frequent Bendel’s, Bergdorf’s & Barney’s better known as The Three B’s. Stacy Smallwood owner and curator at Hampden Clothing knows this concept all to well. Smallwood who worked as a Buyer for the High-end Department Chain Neiman Marcus has seen her fair share of stores.

The Shop-in Shop is basically a store within a store that is totally independent of the store which it can be found. In most cases employes a seperate staff,as well as houses fixtures found in their freestanding stores. Brands like Chanel,and especially Louis Vuitton are known for this as they rarely leave their brand identity up for interpretation.

Smallwood, wanted to do something special for Charleston Fashion Week (CFW) with Personal apperances, and trunk shows already a standard at her shop. The addition of  something fresh and new provides a reason for customers to come in and shop. Smallwood says, “Sometimes the designers vision for the brand does not always translate.” Stores are really the opportunity to create a space for the person wearing the clothes to inhabit in a sense. The selection of the brands for the Shop-in-Shop was made based on what her clients might be looking to wear. Rag and Bone has a very vintage, out into the wilderness earthy feel Helmut Lang has a chic, minimalistic,  and crisp graphic quality. A.L.C. is more modern with an added sense of femineity and Marysia SWIM started on the local level and has sense gained in popularity nationally. They collective will provide something for every woman looking to outfit herself for CFW. The shop-in-shop will be up from March 14-26, the store as you know it will be quite different. Each shop will take concepts from the overall esthetics of each brand. When you see clothes hanging on a rack its one thing but to see the designers idea of what the and environment for the collection is helps to fully explain an ultimately shape perceptions.

During the Fall 2011 Collections in New York I was able to attend several shows with Smallwood. It was interesting to watch her watch each show. I may have responded to pieces that would tell a story on a page. But for her she needs to create a story on a rack and what her clients maybe looking for. Smallwood says, “When looking at a show I am looking for something new! Something that will sell, without being safe.” She goes on to say, “It’s all about your instinct and rather you want to support a brand and take the risk and perhaps even wear it yourself if it does not sell!”. It’s also important that Hampden carries the brands that it does because they would otherwise be unavailable to our region. Alexander Wang already has a huge presence in NYC but even more so now with him opening a flagship store. You could simply walk into his shop there and fully realize his brand but, here that is not possible. Smallwood, who finds trends while at the collections edits for each season and buys accordingly knowing what the client can expect to see next season. The Shop-in-Shop is called Awaken, Go Fashion is now happening a stores all around Charleston so GO! gather  your looks for CFW and we hope to see you this Wednesday night at Hampden Clothing for the Official Go Fashion launch party from 6-10pm.
 
Najee Wilson Style Director


Posted: Monday March 14th, 2011 at 9:22pm
HighRes: view
Tagged: Shopping Hampden Clothing Shop-in-Shop A.L.C. Helmut Lang Rag and Bone Marysia SWIM
Notes: 2
  1. theshoptart reblogged this from ventdiary and added:
    love najee. love stacy. love hampden. love vent.
  2. ventdiary posted this