Denim, So Haute Right Now

By: Elisabeth Steinhardt
Posted In: Opinion

In a society that is identified by money, wealth, possessions and by what label is on the butt of your jeans, Laura Jean came just in time.

This five and dime-turned-high end denim boutique just opened up last month on Williams Street, making shopping in Newport that much better.

Laura Jean, named after the one woman show, Laura Jean Flynn, features high end denim, accessories and one of a kind pieces, all fabulous enough to give your wardrobe a push in the trendy direction.

Flynn, a Mass. native, tried to complete her West coast inspired boutique by creating a rustic saloon atmosphere.

The store’s homey look is accentuated by hardwood floors, oversized dark brown leather couches, antique chests and dressers, old wooden planks and fraying ropes that act as shelves for merchandise and rustic red metal beams act as exposed supports to the ceiling.

The west coast inspiration doesn’t stop there, though. Flynn’s buyer and now close friend, Melissa Pattavina, looks to the west coast for trends that tend to be ahead of the east coast.

“We try to get all of the styles sooner,” Pattavina said. “People [in Newport] haven’t heard of them [new brands and styles] yet because they just came out.”

Although this dynamic denim duo likes to be trendsetters, Flynn said, “We also like to keep in stock things that the east coast likes.”

With 19 different designs for guys, 29 different styles for girls and a continuously growing inventory, there is definitely something for everyone.

Guys, who like to splurge on style, look for brands like Chip & Pepper, Rock & Republic, Kasil Seven, Citizens of Humanity and Paper Denim to fulfill all of your materialistic needs.

Girls, who like to delve into denim, look for Antik Denim, Chip & Pepper, Kasil, Seven, Citizens of Humanity, Paper Denim and many more styles and brand to come.

Also, look for Ed Hardy hats ($55 & up), tanks ($42 & up) and T’s ($44 & up), for men, women and kids, by the haute San Francisco designer Christian Audigier.

Audigier has partnered up with Don Ed Hardy, “the grandfather of tattoo,” created a new clothing company and has become one of the hottest brands across the country in under a year’s time.

Ed Hardy is so hot right now that stars like David and Victoria Beckham, Tony Hawk, Paris Hilton, Brad Pitt and Usher have been seen rocking these new items.

From jeans ranging from $130 up to $286, try not to break the bank while shopping for back to school! Show your Salve ID and receive 10% an item storewide or free alternations on any pair of jeans (saving $25).

Look for all of your haute,new, trendy items at Laura Jean, 94 William St., in Newport. Laura Jean, men’s & women’s denim shop, is truly “the denim store you have been waiting for.”