Sherri McMullen’s namesake boutique has built quite a following of fashion insiders. Since launching in 2007 in Oakland, the luxury concept boutique has become a staple in California, stocking brands like Christopher John Rogers, Diotima, Khaite, and Ferragamo. With her focus on her newly opened flagship in San Francisco, she spends most of her time on the West Coast, but she still makes time to head to New York, especially for New York Fashion Week, where she scouts new, buzzy designers for her store. Here’s how she spends her time in the city.
Where do you go to people-watch?
Soho. That intersection between Mercer and Spring. There are great shops there, of course, but the energy, the people on the street, shopping, having a coffee or a glass of wine. There’s a lot of great energy, especially right now. Every time I go to New York I feel it.
What’s your go-to place for dinner?
My go-to is Sant Ambroeus. The one I go to is in Soho. I go every time I’m there with my best friend from college. We always make a point to go there for Sunday brunch.
Are there any galleries or museums that you love in NYC?
I love going to the Whitney, the Brooklyn Museum, the Studio Museum in Harlem, which just reopened recently.
Where do you like to shop? Do you have any favorite luxury or concept stores in the city?
Dover Street Market is always worth a stop, because I admire its fearless approach to merchandising and storytelling.
Photo: Ryan Futura
What bag are you wearing daily?
For a work bag, I’m carrying The Row Margaux — that’s my everyday. I also love this brand we can’t keep it in stock, Fuentes Mier. There’s an incredible fringe bag. My other go-tos are the Bottega Veneta Lauren bag. I carry it as a clutch during the day. I love it, it’s burgundy, and I’ve had it for at least five years, and it holds up so well. I love the shape of it; it’s a classic, named after Lauren Hutton.
What do you keep in your bag?
I’m light on what I have in my bag because I don’t like things that weigh me down too much. I always have a Good Weather Skin lip balm. I have a small Bottega wallet and two different sunglasses from Bottega and Celine. I also have wipes and a small notebook.
What shoes do you pack for traveling?
I walk a lot in the Bay, too. I like the Dries Van Noten sneakers. I’m moving around so much during the day. If I’m at the store, I’m merchandising, or working with the team, I need something comfortable. I love a beautiful heel, but during the day it’s all about flats, sneakers, loafers, even a moccasin. There’s a great brand called Ilio Smeraldo, it’s an Italian brand, they have ballet flats and beautiful colorways.
Photo: Ryan Futura
Where do you like to buy basics?
Flore Flore that makes incredible tees. It’s all organic cotton but the fit is so wonderful. It molds to your body, which is so nice. Some T-shirts can be boxy, which is fine, but this one conforms to your body. The V is the perfect V-cut; they have the really low, classic ones, and it hits the perfect place on your neck.
Who are some upcoming designers/brands you love?
I love Rachel Scott, everything she’s doing with Diotima and now she’s creative director of Proenza Schouler. There’s a brand called Heirlome, and they’re NYC based, they have really beautiful silhouettes. They have great tops; it’s always hard to find tops, but they make such beautiful, wearable pieces that are chic and understated but feel really good on the body. I’ve been wearing a lot of their pieces. Aisling Camps is another one, I wouldn’t say she’s emerging anymore because we worked with her for such a long time. She’s part of the new CFDA Vogue finalists and she’s incredibly talented and has a beautiful way of thinking about knitwear for the modern woman. It’s just so fresh.
How do you discover new brands?
Looking in unexpected places. New York has the most incredible designers and fashion, of course, but I think looking in places people wouldn’t expect. In San Francisco, there’s the Academy of Arts, and I like to see what the students are doing. I love anything that’s happening in different places in Africa — Lagos and Ghana — there’s the most incredible artistic design, fashion, art, film, music. We worked with so many incredible brands from Maki Oh (we introduced her to the U.S. market years ago), Lisa Folawiyo— we worked with Christy Brown from Ghana, Orange Culture from Lagos, just really incredible talent.
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