Co-founders Camilla Gale and Rand Niederhoffer opened Brooklyn boutique Thistle & Clover in March of 2008, and have since been outfitting New Yorkers (note: they sell online too) with unique and approachable style ever since. Their dedication to indie designers such as Dace and Mociun caught my eye quickly, and I’ve grown to love their warm, feminine aesthetic more and more each season. I knew the store was operated by two adorable women who met while at University in Scotland, but I had to learn more! I caught up with Rand and Camilla for our six questions interview series. Turns out their personalities are just as inviting as their boutique.
Here’s what they had to say:
SB: Which designers are you most excited about for Fall?
T&C: Iro (we’re bringing the must-have label back from a fourth season hiatus), Dusen Dusen (her star scape prints are to die for), and of course, Trovata (a label we live for and in). [READ MORE...]
by Tina on March 10, 2010
Rati Sahi, the remarkably stylish owner/buyer behind San Francisco boutique Anica just got back from fall 2010 market and she’s sharing her favorite pieces of the season — and why she’s loving them! All styles featured will be available for purchase online and in store this coming fall.
AESA STUDS
“I love how understated these earrings are. But they’ll still get you attention. They’re great to mix match. Mix the gold w/ the silver and/or pyrite, w/ or w/ out diamonds — I love the countless options. I’m fascinated by the Aesa’s entire collection. Her gem work is amazing and there is a story behind each piece”
BROWSE ANICA’S CURRENT JEWELRY SELECTION…
MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA COTTON SWEATER
“I’m so happy we finally have Margiela in the store, it’s hands-down one of my favorite new additions. This sweater is my top pick of the season. The material is so cozy and soft to the touch. I guarantee that once you put this on you won’t want to take it off! And you can pair it with anything and it’ll look great”
SHOP MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA’S SPRING ’10 COLLECTION…
A DÉTACHER SWEATER VEST
“A Détacher is another new addition to Anica that I can’t get enough of. This vest is great because it’s heavy like a jacket w/ out being bulky, and I love the harness detail that comes down the back. All her pieces are truly elegant, and beautifully constructed. The designer understands craftsmanship and you can tell in the most simple pieces.”
A DÉTACHER WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ANICA IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
Anica is currently stocked full of spring goodies. Visit them online at
AnicaBoutique.com, or in person at 2418 Polk Street in San Francisco.
by Tina on February 16, 2010
Saying I love Brooklyn based boutique jumelle is an understatement. Their mix of classic staples, Parisian-cool wares, and a grown-up girly vibe sets my heart aflutter every season and it’s reassuring to know that there is such a nice woman behind the boutique. Owner Candice Waldron took time out of her very busy schedule to answer a few of my questions about the boutique, her favorites this spring, and some other stuff:
S.B.: Do you have any favorite new designers for spring?
C.W.: Ostwald Hegalson: I was instantly taken with this line when I came across it last year in Paris. There was no doubt that I would be ordering this collection for the shop. Based in London, Susanne Ostwald and Ingvar Hegalson create narrative prints and employ a kaleidoscope of colors in their designs.
Standard Finery is designed by Williamsburg local Caron Callahan. Prior to starting her own collection Callahan worked at Barneys, Derek Lam and Steven Alan. She has created a collection “for women who love beautiful clothes but don’t need to make a fuss about them.”
Anntian: I have had my eye on this Berlin-based line for a couple of years now and it will finally be available at jumelle this Spring. Anntian is designed by Anne Hilken and Christian Kurt, one of the sweetest couples I’ve met. Their line is artistic, geometric, offbeat and modern.
by Tina on January 25, 2010
In the world of e-commerce, some online-only boutiques do it well…and others do it really well. I Dont Like Mondays does it really well, so well their online presence is all you need — you won’t miss trying on the goods, because they offer free shipping and returns! Ever since their semi-recent debut, this New York based online retailer born from a warehouse loft dishes out a cool mix of inspiring wares for him and her…and their selection improves dramatically each season. With a combo of up-and-coming labels like Savant and Stolen Girlfriends Club and more established names like Melissa shoes and Cheap Monday, IDLM is gaining some serious recognition, deservedly so. One of the creative forces behind the shop, part owner/buyer Colin Talbot was up for participating in my Six Questions behind the boutique series. He dishes on some best-selling labels, the best part about owning a boutique, and the shop’s exciting future:
1.) S.B.: Favorite new designers? 
C.T.: They’re not technically “new” but Stolen Girlfriends Club is definitely a new favorite of mine. The line has had a great response from the media and the bloggers and it’s one of our top selling lines. Not to mention, the guys behind the line are kick ass.
Another collection to look out for is Savant. It’s a label from NY designer and dear friend Feng-Feng Yeh. Her first collection in Spring was hugely successful and she’s really upped the ante this Fall, so I’m expecting this collection to be an even bigger hit.
2.) S.B.: Five must-have items from the shop you’ve been wearing?
C.T.: Unfortunately I’m not stocking much in the way of menswear as of yet. HOWEVER I’ve placed a lot of orders on men’s collections for Spring 10, so male customers will have much more to choose from on the website.
As for Fall ’09 hits:
Obesity and Speed – Black Shredded Cobweb Tee, Melissa Shoes – Ashanti Bootie (sold out) , Ground Zero – Madonna Tee, 5Preview – Y5L Tank, April 77 – Mountain Spring Cardigan
3.) S.B.: What is the best selling item or designer in the store?
C.T.: 5Preview, Obesity and Speed, and Ground-Zero killed it this fall.
4.) S.B.: Other than I Dont Like Mondays, where are you shopping online? How about locally?
C.T.: I shop a lot of vintage and consignment. The East Village has some pretty amazing stores. And eBay is always good for some rare finds.
5.) S.B.: What is your favorite thing about owning your own boutique?
C.T.: Fashion retail is incredibly fun and it’s one of those things that anyone can do. This all started as a pipe dream when I was living in Bed-Stuy two years ago struggling to make ends meet. I was able to scrape what little money I had to create a simple website to sell some t-shirts I made. Since then it’s snowballed into what it is today and it seems to keep on growing. I’ve been really fortunate to have such an amazing response and I hope this ride continues for a while because this really is the most fun I’ve had working EVER.
6. ) S.B.: What’s up next for I Dont Like Mondays? Any plans, trunk shows or collaborations in the works?
C.T.: The new Gallery project for Spring is out of this world. I can’t say who and what it is as we’re keeping that a secret for now, but it really is stunning. We’re also considering having an event in the near future, sort of a dance party/pop-up shop extravaganza. Still figuring out timing and logistics so stay tuned!
editorial note: make sure to check out I Dont Like Mondays’ blog for regular posts on art, events and more…not to missed. And if you’re into Twitter and Facebook you can follow them there too!
