Under the black awning at 7 W. York St., the new Carlisle of York boutique offers an upgrade to your wardrobe with a touch of the unusual.
“We want to do it all: shoes, clothes, accessories,” owner Mindy Carlisle said. “Something unusual—that’s what you come here for.”
Carlisle used to work for Shoe Be Do! New Orleans, where she became friends with Andre Noujaim, owner of the shoe company. When he sold the Savannah location to Carlisle earlier this year, she made a point of keeping her products in the same vein.
“It’s exactly what you’d expect,” she said, “if not a little more wild.”
At first glance, the boutique may seem exclusively upscale. But if you look beyond the splurge-worthy shoes handmade in Mexico, Turkey or Spain, you’ll find plenty of style available for the everyday shopper. Even the simple staples of any wardrobe—such as a plain black blazer—have just enough added flair to help you stand out from the crowd.
“I’ll have a white blouse, but it will have a detail you won’t find somewhere else,” Carlisle explained. “You can’t get it at a chain store.”
Each product is available in limited quantities to ensure customers don’t have that awkward experience of walking by someone wearing the same outfit. In addition, Carlisle is working to expand her collection of larger-sized clothing.
It’s not just the products that make Carlisle of York a store locals keep coming back to; the whole atmosphere is friendly, fun and inviting. Linus, the store’s Yorkshire Terrier mascot, may be the most-photographed dog in Savannah. There’s always good music playing and, if it’s later in the afternoon, they might just bring out a bottle of wine to make sure customers are having fun.
“It’s whatever the customer needs,” Carlisle said. “Whatever makes them feel good.”
They even offer free gift wrapping and delivery to hotels in the downtown area by 6 p.m. As an added convenience, the boutique offers private shopping after hours by appointment. Whether it’s a bridal party or a working woman who can’t make it over during regular hours, Carlisle of York is more than happy to accommodate.
Carlisle doesn’t ignore the need to be comfortable while looking fabulous. Even the most comfortable shoes “show that you have style and spunk.”
“The unexpected is what you should expect here,” she said.
Carlisle of York, located at 7 W. York St., is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon- 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (912) 495-5076 or visit carlisleofyork.com.