Good news for avid fans of fashion designer Tracy Feith (and there are many) who may be spending a lot of time on the East end this summer. And no, I’m not referring to the Manhattan’s upper or lower east side, but rather, the East End of New York, as in the Hamptons and beyond.
This past weekend, on a trip out to Amagansett, I couldn’t help but notice that a small, charming beach shack of a store, located along the long stretch of highway connecting Amagansett to Montauk (2101 Montauk Highway, 631 267-6897), which had previously been a bathing suit shop, now bore the name, Tracy Feith. Instead of bikinis, the windows featured several of the feminine, somewhat bohemian style dresses (accessorized with very of the moment chucky beads) that bear the unmistakable stamp of this Texas born ‘30 something’ designer who is a favorite of legions of fashionable celebrities and scene makers.
Curious (and much in need of a fashion fix at that moment), I stepped inside and was greeted by Claudja, a tall lanky woman who was wearing a green jersey Tracy Feith dress and seemed to be the perfect walking advertisement for Tracy’s clothes. She said she has been with Tracy for years, acknowledging that she does “everything” for the company, and has a summer house nearby.
Claudja told me that the shop just opened this past season (in addition to their Mulberry Street store in Manhattan at 209 Mulberry Street, 212 334 3097 they are also located in Easthampton) and offered that they have been doing very well. When I asked what bold faced names have stopped by to snag the delectable items, she smiled and said she wouldn’t name names, only saying that “everyone comes”. Asked how she would sum up Tracy’s designs and overall philosophy, she said, “individual, personal sexiness”.
That certainly describes the feminine, floaty, colorful, and slightly bohemian dresses that are both long and short and range in price from about $250 to $1500. Her best seller, and my favorite, was a floor length silk chiffon patchwork dress bearing a full and graceful skirt, offered in two different colorations, which sells for $950.
Also grabbing my eye were the statement making, highly individual, and somewhat eccentric accessories which are perfect accompaniments to these clothes (and would be perfect with anything else by the way). In addition to the chunky necklaces, beads, bracelets, cuffs, belts, and earrings which come from Mexico, Brazil, and France, the store also has an arresting display of whimsical straw bags (from $60 to $300), in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes. (My personal favorite is the $65 rainbow striped barrel bag).
By the way, Tracy is also selling a small well edited group of menswear pieces, in the form of highly appealing and vacation perfect brightly hued polos and tailored shirts in the best cottons, as well as bold floral patterned board shorts. The store will be closed in October and will reopen again in April.
Marilyn Kirschner
