Fashion Finds at Hampden Clothing

Ladies, do you know about Hampden Clothing? Maybe those mavens of style populating Greenville's downtown environs have clicked past in their Rebecca Taylor studded sandals on the way to Publix. But if you haven't explored the shops at McBee Station, you are definitely missing out on the city's latest fashionista paradise.

Greenville used to be on the two-year plan in terms of trends. As in, it would take two years for big-city styles to infiltrate the racks of local boutiques. By the time they migrated to the department stores, the looks were so out, they were almost retro.

When mass retailers found a way to keep up with fashion only minutes after it hit the runways of Milan, London, and New York, a new malaise set in. Everyone from Paris to Podunk could look mah-velous – but they all looked the same.

Fresh looks became the domain of savvy shoppers scouring vintage clothing stores and a few brave souls who cared nothing for the contempt of snooty salespeople wearing complicated footwear in stores that featured one rack hung with six limp pieces, each one more impossible to decipher than the last.

Enter Stacy Smallwood, a former assistant buyer for Neiman Marcus with a penchant for discovering all that is new and unusual from emerging designers. Dismayed by the lack of uniqueness in store offerings, Smallwood struck out on her own, first setting up shop on King Street in Charleston and then, this past November, in brand-new digs off McBee Street. 

You could say she's visionary, especially as one of the first independent retailers in that shopping center. Also, because the racks of Hampden are closely packed with a well-edited selection of bright, flippy dresses, sharp jackets, bold jewelry, and fetching bags and shoes. Sure, they're from labels you might not immediately recognize, such as Hanii Y and James Coviello. That's the point. She's taken pains to bring them to Greenville, even going so far as to fête Coviello during an exclusive, in-shop show during Artisphere. 

To this, Smallwood has added a healthy assortment of must-have basics, such as Current/Elliott's Boyfriend jeans (flattering for any figure) and James Perse tees, as well as pieces from venerable yet edgy designers such as Alexander McQueen and Daryl K.

Here's what you won't find at Hampden Clothing: an ounce of the pretension that permeates some other boutiques. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable; they know when to hover and when to back off. You won't find blouses, skirts, or pants that are so avant-garde they are unflattering. So, if you're of the easily-intimidated fashion ilk, you can feel safe here. 

If you are still dubious, try heading over on a Wednesday between 4pm and 6pm. Starting in June, Hampden is open late for Wine Wednesdays, so named for both the free pour offered and the freedom to be more experimental with styles that often comes with a few sips of chardonnay or pinot noir.