If the Duchess of Cambridge came to town, she’d have no problem picking up a few pair of shoes. Walin & Woolf, which opened at 62 Purchase Street last weekend, sells the L.K.Bennett brand the young Duchess likes.
By Robin Jovanovich
If the Duchess of Cambridge came to town, she’d have no problem picking up a few pair of shoes. Walin & Woolf, which opened at 62 Purchase Street last weekend, sells the L.K.Bennett brand the young Duchess likes, along with Valentino, Ferragamo, Splenda, Jimmy Choo, Diane von Furstenberg, Loeffler Randall, and Stuart Weissman.
Co-owners and friends Tina Johnson-Wolff, former CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue, and Kim Walin, a former hedge fund partner, have “an established and consistent merchandising strategy.” They offer a sophisticated mix of 100 percent branded product at all different price points.
The duo opened a store in New Canaan in March and if all goes according to plan they envision a ten to 15 store opportunity in the tri-state area.
“The formula for us to be successful is local,” said Walin.
Johnson-Wolff added, “Women enjoy the ease of shopping locally and more and more want an alternative to the malls. There are a number of towns like Rye and New Canaan in the Northeast, towns with a real downtown and character.”
Their well-appointed Rye boutique was designed by Michelle Morgan Harrison, who also used to work for Saks Fifth Avenue. The shelves hold everything from colorful Hunter Boots rainwear to Botkier snakeskin clutches to Tory Burch sunglasses to Monica Rich Kosann jewelry (“heirlooms for our generation”).
Merlot is the color this fall, and you can find pumps, ballet flats or high heels in every vintage at Walin & Wolff.
Their shop fits right in with all the recently-opened businesses — Angela’s, The Open House, Hampton Whites, and Nest Inspired Home — owned by designing women who know what women want.
