Claudine Gumbel’s Caravan was not a store at all, but a unique, store-in-a-van, that roams the streets of the Big Apple, enticing women and men with fashion, fantasy, and fun. All that changed on June 29th, when I and my colleague, Charu Suri (of fashiontribesLA.com) dodged the raindrops to attend the opening of the Caravan boutique on at 2 Great Jones St. near Broadway (212-260-8189). Although the Winnebago was parked right outside the sotre, those who want to buy unique, Barneys-type fashions whenever, can walk right in to 2 Great Jones, and walk out with something, fabulous.
Unlike a Winnebago, this store would look spacious, without the admiring crowd that crammed in to the walls. Greg Finney, a founder of 2Modern (www.2modern.com), helped to make this space a show-stopper by decorating it with items for sale, from the line. Well done!
The beautiful space is modern and sophisticated, spare, and puntuated by racks and shelves of eye candy content–belts, hats, bags, jewelery, and of course, clothes, including some indie lables we couldn’t get enough of, including the absolutely gorgeous (and I mean, truly beautiful) designs by Design Director Natasha Ulyanov. For men there are also unique items, including T-shirts from “hip” brands that are meaningful to men who follow fashion. Although many of the items may not be in the reach of budgets of the beer and peanuts crowd, there were plenty of things within the reach of the average, budding and eager fashionista, including some clever “key” necklaces that I’m planning to go back and get for, well…yours truly!
The food, caterered by Butter Restaurant and Lounge, looked delicious, but we were so buy oogling the fashion booty, and making our way slowly through the very impressed and appreciate crowd, that we didn’t eat a bite.
Reluctantly, actually, I left without a purchase, but I intend to go back. I hope I’ll see you there!
ALISON