I used to walk past Elyse Walker's storefront every day in LA on my way to our post office, and now that I am in NYC, I miss seeing what she loves and how she styles her outfits. Now I can get my fix of Elyse's taste online – Elyse has just launched her online store and it delivers what the actual store experience does: picks that Elsye loves and we think you will too. I caught up with Elyse recently to talk shopping, clothes and the internet:
What is your first fashion memory? Buying a black silk wrap-around, layered skirt from Charivari on Columbus Avenue in NYC in 1980. It was my first designer piece and although I got it for 75% off, it was still a fortune! I wore that skirt for years, all through high school and college. So it was worth every penny!
If you had to wear only one designer 24/7 who would it be? It would have to be Prada because their classic pieces can go from day to night. Their shoes are extremely comfortable. There is always a crazy fashion bag that I am obsessed with every season. I love their luggage for travel, and I am on a plane every single week. I love their pink perfume. Their cashmere is amazing, and I keep those pieces from year to year. And their techno stretch blouses are timeless, comfortable, flattering and easy to wear. They have also been a huge supporter of my business and really put me on the map when they decided to open Elyse Walker as an account on the West Coast. They are extremely selective as a company, and I have always felt honored to be one of the chosen.
Where are some of your other favorite places to shop? I LOVE to shop and have often been accused of never wearing clothes from my own store! I love MARKET on Avenue Montaigne in Paris. They have a great eclectic mix of designers. I love Barney’s shoe department. I love the Gucci store in Milan on Montenepoleon- make sure you go downstairs. Lately, I have been enjoying Intermix in SoHo on Prince St. And I love top shop for fun silly pieces and shoes that I may only wear once or twice.
Why did you decide to launch your site? All of my customers where asking me to. And my out-of-state/ship-on-approval clientele has really grown into a large part of my business. These deliveries allow us to send a box of goodies to your house and we get to style you without your input. So we really send you what we think will work best for you. And since you get to try on these head-to-toe looks in the privacy of your home, very often our client will take a chance on a look that we sent because no on else is there to judge them. So e-commerce is the obvious way to grow this side of the business. We are really working hard not to just take orders and sell pieces on-line, but to sell whole looks!
Elysewalker.com includes style tips from my staff and myself and will allow customers to not only follow fashion trends, but to also follow their favorite stylist from the store! As our site continues to grow, you will see more and more interaction with my team of buyers, editors, and fashion savvy sales associates. I do believe that this will be our distinguishing feature. Our followers will feel like they have their very own stylist, just like our in-store customers do.
What do you feel is unique about the site? Definitely our on-line magazine! I lauched EW magazine last November as It is a way for me and my team to share what is going on behind the scenes. It tells you what to keep, store and give away. It shows you what is hot even before it hits the sales floor. It offers exclusive merchandise as well as the basics. We include beauty tips, restaurant guides and even music recommendations. It is our way to keep our customers’ fingers on the pulse of what is happening in the fast-paced fashion world.
What do you love about Closet Couture? I love how Closet Couture allows you to see your whole wardrobe at once and build outfits with the pieces you have or have friends suggest outfits for you. It’s also a great tool because it allows you to see the holes in your wardrobe and what you need to buy to fill in the gaps and bring your wardrobe forward each season.
Visit www.elysewalker.com and tell us what you think!
