Courtesy of Nicole Benoist
Nicole Benoist knows a thing or two about fashion. She’s handled public relations for Chanel and produced New York Fashion Week shows. (She was even once a fashion editor for SLM.) Now, she’s sharing her finds and inspiration through MiniPinkBook, a website of her curated retail picks.
“Many of the brands I carry are female-founded and socially conscious,” notes Benoist, who also hosts many pop-up shopping events in the region. She carries items sourced from all over the country and is beginning to feature internationally-sourced goods as well, including a shoe line from Milan that creates fashionable sneakers.
Founded in 2018, MiniPinkBook has grown into a one-stop shop for online shopping and lifestyle tips. The site features blog posts about the designers carried in the shop, so customers can read the back story for each brand and know more about how items are made. The store adds new products weekly. Benoist is especially excited about the items the store will offer this fall. Among them? A jewelry line from Kenya, a camel coat, and several staple pieces every closet needs.
“I believe that packaging and presentation are just as important as the product itself,” Benoist says, adding that she ships products directly to customers. “It should feel special, look beautiful, and add a touch of luxury, and, in terms of quality control, it allows me to see and feel each item before it ships out.”
In addition to style picks, MiniPinkBook features “cheat sheets” of under-the-radar or off the beaten path destinations in various cities. “I have always kept a lot of lists, having lived in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco,” says Benoist, when asked how she chooses the travel destinations featured on her site. “I was always giving suggestions to friends. I try to boil it down and stick to keeping the places worth people’s time.”
