Mid-May 2021 not only marked the end of a long lockdown, but also the opening of Stylecamp's very first pop-up shop in Folkestone!
Situated along the steep Old High Street in Folkestone's historical centre, this vibrant and bustling heritage high street is the heart of Folkestone's Creative Quarter, an area thriving with artists' galleries, independent shops, bars and restaurants.
With Folkestone deservedly emerging as a bonafide holiday destination once again, it was an amazing opportunity to bring a slice of Stylecamp's glamorous French Riviera to the town for two weeks.
I really enjoyed meeting locals, day-trippers, holidaymakers and business owners alike during my stay, and to have a physical presence in which to talk about the work I do at Stylecamp. I'm so grateful to all those who stopped by with their kind words, and all the messages of support from my lovely followers, who were with me all the way!
With that said - who wants to take a look inside?
GREETINGS FROM STYLECAMP
So this was Stylecamp! Number 64, the Old High Street, situated in this pretty pink building with a very generous window area. I created the display as a travel postcard to match the holiday feeling of the Stylecamp collection.
The backdrop of the display was this gorgeous old wardrobe trunk, which, if you have been following @wearestylecamp on Instagram, you'll have seen me refurbishing in the weeks running up to opening. I have always wanted one of these, still with its original hangers and drawers. It's so symbolic of the glamorous age of travel, although I can't imagine them ever being practical!
My window mannequin packed her best Stylecamp holiday wardrobe for the occasion, with the trunk bursting with Stylecamp crop tops, shorts, dresses and trousers. All of her outfits were carefully curated during her stay to reflect those sunny summer holiday vibes.
The absolute star of the window was the Marlene jumpsuit in this brand new red terrazzo print, drawing people in from the street and receiving many compliments.
I 'tiled' the floor with a Mediterranean design and I hung vintage postcards and travel posters from the ceiling to complete the retro Riviera look. I wanted to transport visitors straight to the blue shores of the Côte d'Azur, which is my greatest inspiration for the brand.
Putting Stylecamp's name in the window was a surreal moment, but I couldn't have been more happy with the finished look!
YOUR FASHION DESTINATION
As a made-to-order slow fashion brand, inside were examples of all the classic Stylecamp designs, from vintage inspired sun-dresses, sets and jumpsuits, to stylish tops, crop tops, shorts and trousers, all in the signature feel-good brights the brand is known for.
In the far corner was what became known as the 'fabric wall', which offered swatches of all the fabrics I use at Stylecamp, and allowed me to show all the colour and fabric options of a particular design. It was particularly useful to show all the stylish top and bottom combinations with their iconic vintage silhouettes and their Golden Hollywood namesakes.
Over on Instagram, I did lots of Q&A's from the shop, where I answered questions about my inspirations behind the brand, including colour, and offered style advice for work and holiday occasions. It was great to be able to interact with customers in real life as well as online, picking items straight from the rail and showing how they can be worn and what they can be worn with.
I was even sewing your orders from the shop! I've always dreamed of having a workshop/retail space for Stylecamp and it was great to be able to show visitors what goes into each handmade piece.
WISH YOU WERE HERE
It was a short but fun two weeks on the Old High Street, and it was wonderful to see the high street coming back to life after what felt like a very long winter. Here's hoping I can bring some sunny Riviera vibes back to Folkestone soon!
If you want to know more about when and where Stylecamp will be popping up next, or more of the latest news, why not sign up to my newsletter, or follow @wearestylecamp on Instagram
Until next time, au revoir from the 'Côte d'Azur'!