Every year, visitors return to New Orleans with plans to stroll the six-mile stretch of shopping that is Magazine Street. Playing host to clothing institutions that span generations of customers as well as to brand-new boutiques with unique concepts and designs, Magazine Street continues to offer a collection of stores and businesses that residents, too, loyally frequent. From clothing and accessories, to jewelry, antiques and gifts, the popular street offers a shopper’s dream.
Located on the downtown end of Magazine Street in the CBD, Haute is a women’s clothing boutique specializing in contemporary designers who make high quality, expertly tailored pieces – designers such as Mason, Haute Hippie, ICB, Clover Canyon and Mara Hoffman. Haute shoppers can expect these designs in a size range of 0 to 10 and XS to L. Haute owner Sanja Alickovic enjoys engaging Haute fans and shoppers through activity on social media. Special events and sales information can be found on Haute’s Facebook page (search “Haute Women’s Boutique”) and on Instagram (@hautenola).
Haute’s Friends and Family Event will happen this month and offer shoppers a 25 percent discount. The event will be announced via social media, so follow the store online and on your phone for the latest information.
When heading a few blocks into the Lower Garden District, shoppers encounter local company Trashy Diva, famous for its vintage flair and classic style. The 18-year-old company’s original dresses, shoes, lingerie and accessories have been featured everywhere from blogs and magazines to feature films and celebrity appearances.
“Spring’s true colors are showing in our newest collections: Geisha Fan, Jade Watercolor and Irish Polka,” says Candace Gwinn, Owner and Designer. “From floral fascinators and lingerie to spring sandals, our clothing, lingerie and shoe boutiques are stocked with trendy florals and polka dots.”
Gwinn’s pieces are vintage-inspired, original designs with a timeless and ageless look in sizes ranging from 2 through 20, with styles available in 0 and 24. The company also makes New Orleans-inspired clothing from their French Quarter prints to a vintage-inspired Seersucker collection.
“We stock all the lingerie and shapewear needed to give you a perfect hourglass,” says Gwinn. They also hand-select shoes and accessories to match their clothing collections, including retro swimwear.
Spring is also wedding season, and future brides can consider a bachelorette party at Trashy Diva Lingerie Boutique for a memorable night of fun and entertainment.
Two blocks farther Uptown, Clover greets shoppers with a brand new store. Clover’s focus is on items that people covet and emphasizes a neutral palette.
“You’ll see a lot of classic, elegant, wearable pieces from exclusive designers to Clover in whites, blush, black, navy, gray and camel,” says Owner Melissa Coleman. “Customers can expect a strong presence in our store from Frame Denim, skin by Susan Beischel, Ramy Brook, IRO, L’Agence and Milly,” she says.
Clover is excited to announce the arrival of two new lines for the spring season: Grace, a cocktail and dressier line by the designers of Frame Denim, and Timo Weiland. Both lines will be exclusive to Clover and, according to Coleman, are highly anticipated in the fashion world.
As you near the intersection of Magazine Street and Louisiana Avenue, one store you’ll meet along the way is Cella’s, a boutique with a second location in the French Quarter at 514 St. Peter St. Cella’s Boutique is a fashion-forward women’s boutique specializing in well-priced, high-quality clothing, along with unique, intricate jewelry. Rich in accessories, Cella’s offers colorful scarves, hats and fashionable footwear as well.
“For spring, we’ll have brightly colored silk tops and dresses, fun prints for festival season, lace, gladiator sandals, fringe and mirrored sunglasses,” says Marcella Peraza, highlighting some of the season’s most demanded styles. According to Peraza, each store carries a unique assortment of designers including Amanda Uprichard, GiGi New York handbags, Yosi Samra footwear and 7 For All Mankind jeans, along with local designers, including Brantley Cecilia jewelry.
Cella’s is active on social media and recommends shoppers follow on Instagram (@shopcellasboutique) and Facebook (facebook.com/cellasboutique).
One of Magazine Street’s newest additions is Hope Goldman Meyer Fine Jewelry, which opened in December inside of the well-known Empire Antiques. Though the store is young, Meyer isn’t new to fashion; she has been in business for 18 years. Meyer sells antique, estate, signed pieces (Cartier and Buccelatti, for example) and new fine jewelry in the store.
“I only buy what I love – mine is a curated collection,” says Meyer, who also sells loose diamonds, diamond stud earrings and handmade engagement rings by appointment. Meyer recommends pearls for spring because they’re always wearable, day or night.
“I carry a very nice selection of cultured South Sea Pearls in different natural colors such as gold, silver, black with peacock green overtones – necklaces of course, but also earrings and rings,” she says. The store usually offers a diverse array of jewelry, earrings, necklaces, rings and brooches. Keeping such an array adds uniqueness to each piece, ensuring clients will never see their jewelry on someone else, which is important to Meyer.
Another relative newcomer to Magazine Street, Art & Eyes arrived serendipitously four years ago on Magazine Street between Louisiana and Napoleon avenues, exactly where co-owner Starr Hagenbring envisioned having a shop years prior. Along with Paul Wilcox, Hagenbring shares a passion for bringing art to the eye quite literally, specializing in independent eyewear. A one-of-a-kind store, Art & Eyes works exclusively with independent brands such as Francois Pinton, Anne et Valentin and Francis Klein from France, theo from Belgium and Barton Perreira from California.
“A neat thing about Francis Klein is that we receive and see mock-ups for the glasses, and then they make them for us. We wait two to three months for them to be handmade, hand-jeweled and finished,” says Hagenbring. “Buyers could have one of only two pairs ever made of those glasses.”
The Art & Eyes store is as much an attraction as its frames and lenses, which are arranged by style, not by designer. The store is well known among neighbors and customers for its whimsical window displays and chandeliers made from eyewear and stemware.
“One customer of ours grew up needing eyewear and compared it to going to the dentist. He said, ‘I hated going to pick out glasses, but you guys make it so much fun and make me look good,’” says Hagenbring.
Four blocks into the Garden District, Feet First is an independent retailer of women’s shoes, handbags, jewelry, accessories and local New Orleans artists and designers. Celebrating 39 years this summer, Feet First has expanded its footprint to include three locations: Uptown, Downtown, and on Metairie Road. The family-owned and operated store for women has been voted “Best Shoe Store in New Orleans” by Gambit Weekly readers for the last six years in a row.
This spring, Co-Owner Evie Poitevent plans to feature Bernardo Italian leather sandals, Sam Edelman fashion-forward sandals and wedges, Kork-Ease comfort-fashion wedges and sandals, Fit Flop & Olu Kai comfort flip flops, Keds slip-on tennis shoes and much more.
According to Poitevent, customers can always expect a large selection of – and a variety of price points for – sandals, wedges, flip flops and heels. Other accessories include tons of straw hats and bags perfect for the festival season, spring and summer scarves, tunics, pullovers and locally designed Krewe du Optic sunglasses.
A variety of trunk shows and events are scheduled for April and May, along with the Magazine Street Champagne Stroll set for May 9.
Offering everything from cosmetics and fragrances to the perfect weekend wardrobe, MIMI is a one-stop-shop modern emporium complete with beauty, apparel, shoes and accessories from designers Roland Mouret, Derek Lam, Rag & Bone, Frame Denim, Aquazzura, Loeffler Randall, Trish McEvoy and Maison Francis Kurkdjian. According to Creative Director Kathryn Bullock Joyner, “MIMI blends a freshly edited range of classic designer apparel with progressive contemporary sportswear and accessories to suit the lifestyle of a modern woman.”
MIMI’s customers count on an individualized shopping experience and expert opinions in meeting style needs. To help meet those needs, CeCe Shoe, an upscale shoe boutique, is housed inside MIMI New Orleans and specializes in European and American designer footwear. This spring, MIMI is excited to introduce Anndra Neen, Elena Ghilsellini and Tome among other designers.
“Andra Neen’s cutting-edge accessories and directional jewelry are the perfect take on modern minimalism,” says Joyner. “Tome mixes strong shapes with beautifully feminine colors and fabrics to create a powerful and uniquely modern look,” she says. Meanwhile, former Givenchy accessory designer Elena Ghilsellini makes finding the quintessential handbag with an edgy timeless appeal a much easier feat.
Across the street, Pelican Coast provides high-end apparel and accessories for men and boys, ranging from coastal casual to upscale business casual in sizes boys small to XXXL for men. The majority of their clothing, including button-down shirts, belts, pants, shorts and bags, is handmade locally in New Orleans. In addition to the Pelican Coast brand, the store also carries accessories from other iconic American brands such as Filson and J.W. Hulme.
“For spring we’re adding men’s shorts, men’s polo shirts, new men’s T-shirt designs, boy’s polos, boy’s T-shirts, boy’s seersucker shorts and pants, as well as locally made pet collars and leases,” says Owner Allison Maxwell. In addition to bringing in new seasonal items, Pelican Coast is also bringing in an in-house graphics team.
“We have been receiving lots of requests for custom neckwear and other items for events such as weddings, conventions and festivals, so to accommodate that demand we now have a graphics team that can work directly with customers to meet their needs in a timely, cost effective manner,” says Maxwell.
Five blocks closer to Audubon Park and near the end of Magazine Street’s long stretch is a third-generation specialty apparel shop known by many for its trademarked crawfish brand. Perlis outfits men, women and children with a variety of designs.
“For spring, seersucker and linen are big sellers – the fabrics we’re known for – in boys, men or ladies,” says President David W. Perlis. “We’ll have a big seersucker celebration weekend, March 5-6, when we’ll kick off the season. March is also big for men’s made-to-measure custom clothing,” says Perlis. Seersucker ties, shorts, suits, dresses and jackets are available at Perlis now.
“People like to accessorize with color in spring, so we work hard to have lots of seasonal accessories,” says Perlis, who mentions scarves, ties, pens and belts. “We’re excited to bring in the Bonobos line in spring as well.”
On the same block is another shop popular during spring. Betty Hunley Designs specializes in invitations, stationery and gifts, items needed for the plethora of festivities and events – weddings, parties and graduations – that happen during spring. According to Betty Hunley, shoppers can look forward to new lines of candles, fresh paper products and party table accessories.
“We have a great selection of stationery and invitations and are eager to do custom designs as well,” says Hunley. “We have expanded our gift line to include candles, paper products for kids’ parties and fabulous handmade and painted door decorations.” In March, she anticipates new spring invitation designs.
Paper invitations are always a nice touch, but no invitation is required to visit Magazine Street. These retailers and more are ready to put some spring in your step with a new seasonal outfit, accessory or gift from one of New Orleans’ most famous city streets.
Art & Eyes 3708 Magazine St., 891-4494, ArtAndEyesNola.com • Betty Hunley Designs 6056 Magazine St., 895-2870, BettyHunley.com • Cella’s 3013 Magazine St., 592-7510 • Clover 2240 Magazine St., #101, 272-0792, BoutiqueClover.com • Feet First 4122 Magazine St., 899-6800, FeetFirstStores.com • Haute 725 Magazine St., 522-8687, HauteNola.com • Hope Goldman Meyer Jewelry (within Empire Antiques) 3617 Magazine St., 957-3409, HGMJewelry.com • MIMI & CeCe Shoe 5500 Magazine St., 269-6464, MIMINola.com • Pelican Coast 5509 Magazine St., 309-2314, PelicanCoastClothing.com • Perlis 6070 Magazine St., 891-2073, Perlis.com • Trashy Diva Clothing Boutique: 2048 Magazine St; Lingerie Boutique: 2044 Magazine St.; Shoe Boutique: 2050 Magazine St.; 299-3939, TrashyDiva.com
