Kevin A. Roberts
This story appears in our 2020 A-List feature.
A GIFT SHOP LIKE NO OTHER
CLR-MNSTR
Tricia Thurman’s CLR-MNSTR (pronounced “color monster”) opened this year as a gift shop to Midtown’s Angad Arts Hotel, though we can’t imagine anyone strolling in to purchase Advil. Instead, the shopper’s attention would go to the store’s original art, array of cheeky paper goods, racks of vintage threads, and numerous celebrity-themed candles. It’s Thurman’s second CLR-MNSTR; the first iteration opened on Washington in 2012 and closed in 2015. Five years later, CLR-MNSTR beckons even the Fox Theatre and Powell Hall crowds with its color, vibrancy, and playfulness. 636 N. Grand.
EMBROIDERY STUDIO
Daily Disco
If you wanted to personalize your favorite jean jacket, you called Abbey Eilermann and set up an appointment at her embroidery studio. Now, you can shop chain-stitch patches, personalized berets, rhinestone hair clips, and more cutesy gifts at her brick-and-mortar on The Hill, where Eilermann pays homage to the neighborhood with “Holy Cannoli” mugs and “Hot Salami” pins. 2103 Marconi.
WORKOUT HAVEN
Onelife Fitness
After following virtual workouts at home, fitness fanatics might just run to this two-story gym. Part of the second phase of Ballpark Village, the fitness center is Onelife Fitness’ second Midwest location. Around its 31,000 square feet, members have their pick of barre, yoga, spin, and Zumba classes, as well as turf and strength training areas. Goodbye, at-home gym. 3 Cardinal Way.
Kevin A. Roberts
FASHIONISTA TO FOLLOW
Psyche Southwell
Economy of Style, Southwell’s Instagram and website, is a lookbook of color, trends, and some serious #ootd. (That’s “outfit of the day,” in case you’re not already following.) Southwell has covered fashion for local publications. Nationally, she’s graced a 2015 cover of Redbook. Southwell also showcases what St. Louis has to offer and even shared the city’s best in last August’s issue of Good Housekeeping. But her mission goes beyond trends: Southwell shares affordable outfits so fashionistas can wear what they want without breaking the bank. Cheers to that. @economyofstyle.
RISING RETAIL STAR
Avery Callan
She first became a business owner at age 14, when she opened a Depop shop to sell vintage clothing. Callan, 18, has since made a name for herself with her handmade clay jewelry business, Nova Vita Co. Callan’s pastel earrings and necklaces are sold at Honeycomb, the Contemporary Art Museum, and May’s Place. And she just graduated from Lindbergh High School.
ECO-FRIENDLY OFFERINGS
Sustainable Products
The products in Daphne Benzaquen’s leather-goods label, daph., are made of llama leather and baby alpaca fur, sourced from Peru. To get the most out of her materials, many of her purses have a cross-stitch, alternating between both the smooth and rough side of the leather. Self-care brand Dharma + Dwell’s items are bought in reusable containers, which customers can refill to purchase product by the ounce. Try Bonboni Mercantile Co.’s Be Bright Candles, bespoke creations poured into vintage vessels. And Olivia Jondle’s label, The Rusty Bolt, reuses otherwise wasted fabric and is helping the ’70s make a comeback.
A MINIMALIST’S DREAM
Descendant
The couple behind the Midcentury Modern shop Future Ancestor have ventured into fashion and accessories. Descendant, which opened in Webster Groves earlier this year, offers a neutral-toned collection of independent, designer, and vintage clothes, fragrances, and skincare products. There’s an emphasis on natural goods, sustainability, and the beauty of simplicity. 8715 Big Bend.
Kevin A. Roberts
POSITIVE PIVOTS
Face Masks
Filling a vital need, local boutique owners began producing masks for purchase and donating some to medical professionals. For every mask sold, Daily Disco donated one to an essential worker or health care professional. Hello Dobson debuted a collection in its recognizable fabrics (pictured). St. Louis–themed brand Arch Apparel launched a one-size-fits-all design in a T-shirt fabric and sold packs of eight; the first release’s proceeds benefited Lunches for Clinicians–St. Louis and the second’s the Gateway Resilience Fund. STL-Style, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, began selling “Flatten the Curve STL” T-shirts and created a mask featuring the city flag’s design. The company’s website puts it aptly: “We live and breathe St. Louis, and now you can, too.”
NEWISH GIFT SHOP
Holliday
In 2019, the McPheeters family opened another endeavor across the street from Bowood Farms and Café Osage in the Central West End: Holliday. The market delights with thoughtfully curated items, including home décor, clothing, paper goods, soaps, and pottery. All of the items focus on comfort and making home feel even cozier. 4600 Olive.
courtesy of Summersault
COMPANY TO WATCH
Summersalt
The likes of Vogue, InStyle, and Cosmopolitan have praised St. Louis–based swimwear line Summersalt, which takes a modern and sophisticated approach peppered with vibrant color. Since the brand launched in 2017, it’s expanded from swimsuits to loungewear, dresses, jackets, and sweaters. This year, the label launched a swimwear collab with designer Tanta Taylor to create comfortable and cute suits for all bodies.
SMART SHIFTS
Salons at Home
When hair and nail salons closed during the pandemic, stylists and owners got creative. Colorist Amanda Lux Wissman started “Just a Tip Tuesday” to teach customers how to style and color their hair at home. The Glam Room’s Lauren Billen, who also hosted tutorials on Facebook and Instagram, offered porch drop-off of products. Local loc stylist Savis Davis offered at-home gypsy loc tutorial kits with 75 locs inside. And PAINT Nail Bar St. Louis launched an at-home “nail rescue” gel manicure kit, with six polishes in spring shades.
