Shop Scout: Germain

By Chris Frey
August 17, 2010

It can be difficult to find a retail environment that truly and instantly feels like “home” (or, in many cases, the version of home you are striving to achieve) but we found it in Great Barrington, nestled in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. We are referring to Germain, a multi faceted lifestyle boutique that is the collective brainchild of clothing designer Anne Johnston Albert, interior designer Elena Letteron, and most recently, Valerie Maynard, who brings to the group stationary and gifts as well as an event design studio.

Like your favorite fashion magazine or go-to design blog, Germain has done the work for you. Along with original designs from the owners is a meticulously edited selection of apparel, home furnishings and gifts that includes the work of regional artists and designers working in a variety of mediums such as glass, knits, pottery and photography. Together, the three women have created a shopping environment that’s non intimidating and entirely inspiring with such thoughtfully arranged displays of their items you’ll be tempted to package an entire portion of the shop and take it home with you.

Letteron has been practicing interior design professionally for 15 years, with projects both commercial and residential. After years spent living in Europe, she returned to the states in 2000 and opened Metropolitan, her French antiques shop, still thriving in Great Barrington. Several years later, Albert relocated to Great Barrington with her husband and family seeking a more bucolic life outside New York City. Prior to the move, her clothing line Martin, and East Village boutique of the same name, had celebrities and fashion editors clamoring for her designs, the denim in particular. The jeans, paired with her always-evolving collection of tops, jackets, skirts and dresses made the line a downtown New York girl’s dream wardrobe with timeless silhouettes and details that made them feel special. (A Martin devotee, I continue to wear a piece practically daily!)

(Photo credits: Martin Albert)

When the building behind Metropolitan became available in 2009 Letteron saw an opportunity to expand beyond her antiques shop with a new space and the freedom to express a more contemporary point of view. To partner with Albert made sense financially and aesthetically: Albert’s design sensibility and sophisticated but wearable clothes complimented her own industrial and vintage modern pieces, made personal with warm home accessories. Newest to the collective is Maynard who honed her design experience while in Los Angeles studying interior design and working as a print and film stylist. Belle Fete, her stationery boutique and event design studio focus on unique products that utilize Maynard’s appreciation of artisanal letterpress and custom invitations and gifts. Her presence allows the Germain shopping experience to expand outside the boundaries of home and fashion and into both the corporate and social event planning realms.

We turned to the Germain tastemakers, Albert, Letteron and Maynard, and asked them to share with us their current eBay obsessions as well as their Top Five items for Fall.

ALBERT’S EBAY PICKS:

“I'm feeling cool-upscale French girl this summer. They always have a designer accessory with classic clothes that fit easy—and they are always having fun!”

Roll over items for details

Hermes Red Belt

(buy it now price, $1,595)

Khaki Army Shirt

(from $4.50)

Levi’s Vintage Straight Jeans

(from $0.99)

NEW Petanque Set in Case

(buy it now price, $15.21)

ALBERT’S TOP 5 for FALL:

1. Martin sheer, wool, heather grey layered tops.

2. Martin dark indigo slim jeans.

3. Fuzzy tan wool A Detacher vest.

4. Grey suede A Detacher platforms and knee high boots.

5. Martin crinkle gauze tops.

LETTERON’S EBAY PICKS:

“My design sensibility is definitely eclectic. I've had a French antiques shop for years but this year opened my new shop and the space has been really fun to experiment with. I love mixing the scale of the industrial pieces with the clean lines of the mid century. I chose things that I'd love to have in my future dream house/barn home.”

Industrial Metal Armoire

(buy it now price, $1,299)

Campaign Tool Chest

(buy it now price, $249)

Industrial Metal Bookcase

(buy it now price, $949.99)

Industrial Cabinet

(starting bid, $420)

Eames Fiberglass Rocker

(buy it now price, $595)

LETTERON’S TOP 5 for FALL:

1. Vintage industrial furniture and lighting.

2. Mid-century upholstered furnishings.

3. Contemporary pottery from local artists.

4. Black and white photography from photographers Martin Albert and Leslee Carsewell as well as changing featured artists.

5. Handcrafted jewelry from local artists.

MAYNARD’S EBAY PICKS:

“I’m headed to Maine soon and since I am an event planner I decided to go with the theme of a Lobster Bake. A vintage lobster postcard as an invitation, a vintage lobster platter, lobster bucket, vintage lobster crackers, vintage lobster tablecloth weights & lobster towels.”