Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Though Pace Farias Collections (Plaza Frontenac, 314-983-0781, pacefariascollections.com) has a store in Athens, Greece, the boutique doesn’t stock snake armbands or Greek key patterns. Instead, the wearable art accessories look south of the border for inspiration. The wares include bikinis patterned with hand-embroidered Mexican masks ($430) and handbags and wallets with Incan-style figures (from $118). The store is full of colorful, artistic scarves (from $95). Owners Suzanne Pace and her husband, Ricardo Farias Nicolopulos, have lived all over the world, and Pace decided to bring a taste of international sophistication back to her hometown.
You grew up here before moving to New York. What brought you back?
When my son was born, I moved to St. Louis and was the director of the Sheldon Art Galleries for two years. Then I moved to Mexico to work in the art community, and lived all over the world. We were back here a year and a half ago to visit family, and my son was looking for a new high school. He said, “Mom, I love St. Louis.” My husband said, “Well, look for a place to live and a school.” We moved here last June.
What’s your connection to Greece?
My husband is Greek-Mexican.
How did you get the idea for the shop?
We love design. We love fashion. We love color. Everything we feature has to be designed by an artist. Our first wearable art collection is by Pineda Covalin. Their designs are done in France and Mexico, and they’re based on historic myths.
Is your store in Athens like this one?
Much of the product is the same, although it’s at the Hilton, so the tourists want to see Greek designs. We are producing a scarf line that is specifically for the Greek market.
What about here in St. Louis—will the store carry any local labels?
Part of our emphasis is to work with St. Louis artists. Our first collection by a St. Louis artist is with Mary Sprague (see sidebar)—she’s designed this beautiful rhinoceros scarf that will come out at the end of August.
I saw that the St. Louis store has a DVD explaining 50 ways to tie a scarf.
Most people have no idea how to wear a scarf. So we teach people how to wear it. You can wear it as a tunic, a jacket…even tie it with another one and make it a shift dress.
What’s new for the St. Louis boutique?
In June, we’re bringing in two new designers: Francesca Evangelista—the top new handbag designer in Milan, Italy—and Eleftheria, who’s based in Athens. We’re bringing her line of traditional Greek goddess sandals.
After living all over the world, does St. Louis bore you?
I’ve seen the transformation of St. Louis, and that is exciting. And it’s a great place to raise a child—I know that for sure.
