Journelle
M-F 10am-8pm; Sa 10am-7pm; Su 11am-7pm
125 Mercer Street; 1266 Third Avenue
Back in 2007, when Claire Chambers opened her flagship boutique on 17th, she knew that she was making a definite decision to be off the beaten path, just a bit, to sell her sophisticated lingerie. At the time, it was a new area for retail, but she was wise in recognizing that it would quickly become the “heartbeat of Manhattan.” While speaking with her adorable Marketing Director, Allison, I learned that Claire herself was a frustrated consumer and sought to create a luxe experience for women who had grown out of Victoria’s Secret. Claire was looking for something beautiful and special, as she calls it, “everyday lovely,” and it was not out there. Thus began her travels around the States and overseas to Turkey, England, France, and Spain to seek out the perfect bras, underwear, chemises, robes, and an assortment of accessories in order to open Journelle. Claire was eager to service her “educated, thoughtful, confident customer who knows herself really well and enjoys beautiful things.” And in just the short amount of time that we spent in her shop, it quickly became apparent that her clients are just that.