The Mill House Inn Guide to Shopping The Hamptons, Part Three

‘Retail Therapy’ may well be worth a million dollars, but in certain locations just to walk down the avenue is the value of a lifetime. Bordered by sleek sandy beaches, preserved green land, and Shingle Style mansions, the shopping streets of East Hampton Village might be called the ‘Out East’ version of Madison and Fifth Avenues in NYC.

Call me old – maybe my memory just serves me well. Back in the late ’60s there was an acoustic pop group that for almost a year held their own on the charts with the very best of the British Invasion – The Beatles and The Stones included. The Seekers‘ jazz singer turned folk singer, Judith Durham, sang the words: ‘You’re always window shopping, but never stopping to buy.’ Of course, she was singing about Georgy Girl!

We are talking about shop windows – portals to the desires of the heart. They inspire the feelings that dictate what we must have; not just what we purchase, but what matters most to us. We buy from those curated, warm and wonderful boutiques that have a story to tell. And their windows are the visions that attract our interest; those windows cause the door to swing open. Sometimes we wander inside in a shopper’s trance, not quite knowing why we are in this special new place. Is that possibly due to the magic of a window? I think you will agree; it is certainly possible.

I have been lucky to see the ‘behind the scenes’ of retail and set design. Many years back, some friends owned a company that specialized in NYC store design. Another friend does TV set design; you have seen the shows! In our twenty years in East Hampton, we have hosted many of the teams that design the local store windows and interiors.

A few words about these special groups of artisans:

They are teams accustomed to working as such – they are truly friends
Their camaraderie extends beyond the workday – which can often be quite long
They take great pride in their work – often discussing it after hours over cocktails
They appreciate the design of their accommodations – from furnishings to colors
They see the art in hospitality – as well as in food and beverage
They care deeply about the magic they design and build – and about how it affects you

I guess the secret is out of the box, they use real gold at OROGOLD! Founded in 2008 this anti-aging extravaganza of Facial Enzymes, Scrubs, Hydroxy Masks makes a difference and online press agrees. Cleopatra slept in gold masks every night. Romans used gold salves for skincare. During the Qing Dynasty, gold massage rollers were used for facials nightly.

Gold was believed to be the “Elixir of Life” – a potent remedy for aging skin. Harness the power of the knowledge of the ancients and pamper your skin with gold for a flawless and glowing complexion. OROGOLD’s formulas will give your skin an incandescent glow that will not be dimmed with age!

A few words from OROGOLD . . . ‘We believe that the best skincare routines are born out of knowledgeable choices. This is why OROGOLD not only tries to offer its customers the most advanced skincare products but also helps them to understand how to best deal with their skin. Apart from acquainting our customers with ingredient information, product descriptions, and how-to-use instructions; we also provide them with the best tips and tricks to deal with beauty and skincare. You can navigate through various OROGOLD locations online to learn about the hottest trends, latest fashions, best ingredients, newest formulas and insider information about all things to do with beauty and skincare.’

Jimmy Choo
33 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937 347-584-8826

I think the Spotted page on the Jimmy Choo website is magic. Just click on the designs you fall in love with, learn who is wearing what and talk to a personal shopper before you venture to a Jimmy Choo store. The product line is varied beyond footwear and accessories with a new for ’19 Diamond Sneaker line that begins at $5,000 a pair. My thought is that these are not finding their way to SoulCycle. If you are looking for the perfect pair of shoes to accompany your newest acquisition, they can be custom made for you in eight weeks, straight from Italy. Their Collections page tells the whole Jimmy Choo Story! Today, Jimmy Choo encompasses a complete luxury accessories brand. Women’s shoes remain the core of the product offer, alongside handbags, small leather goods, scarves, sunglasses, eyewear, belts, fragrance, and men’s shoes

“Corporate social responsibility has always been integral to Jimmy Choo and is embedded in our company values. To reinforce this commitment, The Jimmy Choo Foundation was established in 2011 to focus on the empowerment of women and improving their quality of life through education and enterprise. There is a growing recognition that economic, moral and social progress is achieved by giving women the means to contribute to and be included in the global economy. According to the UN Development Program (UNDP), there is clear evidence that bringing women into the economy helps to raise economic productivity, reduce infant mortality, contribute to improved health and increases the chances of education for the next generation. Simply put, progress is achieved through women.”

Devi Kroell
23 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937 631-604-5050

Architects, photographers, artists, retail designers and those who design such things are in agreement that the stores that retail Devi Kroell are a study in design excellence. And their line of luxury leather handbags made in Italy are also a thing of beauty. They bring with their acquisition a pride in ownership that says ‘I have the very best and will look better for it.’ Perhaps the best look at Devi Kroell is to look at them on Getty Images.

Ralph Lauren
31 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937 631-324-1222
32 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937 631-907-0960
57 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937 631-907-9201

At Ralph Lauren ‘Storefront Windows & Interior Design’ are quite apparently the first priority. Three or four times a year, a team of designers and builders arrive in East Hampton for a week and sometimes longer. Store windows are stripped barren and rebuilt, interiors rearranged with new furniture, colors, products … just about anything and everything becomes new and inviting. If you look at the RL Magazine I am sure you will get a peek at the Hamptons stores. Enjoy the looking and buying in our three RL stores right on Main Street.

The RL brand is as vast as America itself, and that is appropriate considering the first and continuing influences to Ralph Lauren himself is the splendor and diversity of the USA. From Colorado’s San Juan Mountains to New York’s Madison Avenue, and the people who tell their stories – the RL Brand creates their magic. If you want the whole story, have a look at RL50; it is simply stunning and a wonderful way to celebrate fifty years of excellence.

Lagniappe – If you are lucky enough to be staying at MHI when the RL redesign is taking place, it is a pleasure to watch. You may just meet a few members of the team; it’s possible Ralph will be sitting down for a breakfast meeting!

Eres
55 Main Street, East Hampton NY 631-604-5544

Eres is a natural look inspired by simplicity. Replacing the stodgy swimsuits of the early 1960s, the design of the Eres swimsuits (both historically and currently) is as meticulous as the sculpting of a piece of artwork.

While keeping things natural was the priority and basis for the line, it was also important to push the boundaries of ingenuity to achieve a good fit. A revolutionary fabric made it possible – developing a form of body architecture, allowing the modeling of fabric against the skin and delicately and gently reshaping the contours of a silhouette. These suits were available year-round and allowed for the purchase of tops and bottoms separately, obliterating the status quo in swimsuit design and sale.

Twenty years later Eres again revolutionized the design of bathing suits. Their focus was minimalism and the understatedness of styles. The aim was to offer clean, uncluttered lines bordering on austere – the ultimate in elegance. Soon followed by their knitwear collection . . . The rest of the Eres story is told within The Eres Spirit.

Restoration Hardware
69 Main St, East Hampton, NY 11937 631-907-1300

Visiting the RH store in East Hampton Village is like going to a friend’s home. That is, assuming your friend has impeccable taste. Have a seat and relax a bit, begin the conversation that will design a single room or your new home. RH is a curator of design, taste, and style in the luxury lifestyle market, offering furniture, lighting, textiles, rugs, bathware, décor and outdoor, as well as baby & child and teen products. Their collections of timeless, updated classics and authentic reproductions provide a unique point of view and an unmatched combination of inspired design and unparalleled quality. Each season brings a wealth of new ideas culled from partnerships with the world’s most renowned artisans, creating a showcase for their unique products, passion, and vision.

ST Frank
78 Main Street, East Hampton NY 631-527-7281

A book or two, art objects including surfboards, tabletop & accent items, fabric, and gifts – almost all feeling like the one-of-a-kind stuff you found in that little store in the alley on your last trip a continent or two away. That is not too far from the truth – St Frank supports small local Artisan Workshops and Collectives, organizations that are Fair Trade certified and represent the best of their geographic regions.

One thing is for sure, this San Francisco based company will help you decorate your favorite spaces while assuring that everything has a unique socially responsible provenance.

Alice and Olivia By Stacey Bendet
79 Main Street, East Hampton NY 631-702-7155

A&O was born from Stacey Bendet’s personal quest to create the perfect pair of pants and has since grown into a full lifestyle collection including ready-to-wear gowns, shoes, handbags accessories, and eyewear. The brand is a Hollywood favorite, with celebrity fans including Gwyneth Paltrow, Gigi Hadid, Amal Clooney, Jessica Alba, and Kourtney Kardashian. Stacey Bendet is the Full-time CEO and Creative Director who makes supporting charity endeavors a priority in her personal and professional activities.

Blue and Cream
60 The Circle, East Hampton NY 11937 631-329-1392
83 Main Street, East Hampton NY 11937

Blue & Cream is a store that is unique in this mix of Hamptons shops. It is truly a Hamptons based business that has expanded from East to West rather than finding their way to the Hamptons for the summer.

B&C came to the Hamptons in 2004 as a new player in the Out East market. Their clients are devoted to a unique product mix, excellent shopping experience, and of course the celebrity clientele. B&C has some of everything: designer T-Shirts, workout clothing – their designs often feature denim and down. As well as that LBD you need for dinner tonight!

Steph’s Stuff
62 The Circle, East Hampton NY 11937 631-329-2943

From the newest line of childrens’ toys to vintage toys, Steph’s has a bit of everything. There is even a selection for the the child in all of us. A varied selection of games are also available – vintage games can be found as well as specialty items on request.

For more in this series . . .
Shopping the Hamptons: East Hampton Village Shops – The List
Shopping The Hamptons, Part I
Shopping The Hamptons, Part II – East Hampton
6 Days of Christmas Shopping in The Hamptons

Enjoy your adventure!

Gary

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