Our new “Spotter” reflects on why the Hamptons is a land for discovery when it comes to fashion, food, and so much more. Plus, all the fun things happening at her eponymous store in Sag Harbor all season long.
BY: Joey Wölffer
The Hamptons is a one-of-a-kind place consisting of many villages and hamlets that each have their own picturesque landscape, unique charm, and buzzy social scene. It’s a popular destination for both relaxation and entertainment, especially during the busy summer months when many people from NYC come to visit or stay in their summer homes. Of course, many brands also come out to the Hamptons to host special events and unique activations, making it a fashionable scene and a place to be seen! This is part of what gives the Hamptons its own unique style.
Hamptons style exemplifies a chic and sophisticated yet relaxed look, perfect for seaside living and social gatherings. And trust me, there’s always a reason to get together here! We have some of the best restaurants, museums, shopping, beaches, wineries, hotels, and more. Whether you choose to spend your Thursday night at Duryea’s for dinner overlooking the water, Friday evenings at Wölffer Estate’s Wine Stand for our Sunset Music Series, or Saturday afternoon at Parrish Art Museum to view their collection of more than 3,000 works, this is what I love most about living in the Hamptons.
There’s something for everyone, no matter your interest, and you can be your authentic self. You don’t have to fit into a box or aspire to look and live a certain lifestyle. It’s the perfect balance of traditional and modern, classic and cool, high and low, new and old!
In the Hamptons, you can go to dinner in a sarong and heels while looking polished and still feeling comfortable. That sarong, or one of my Reworked dresses, is probably the same piece I’ll pull out of my closet to wear over my swimsuit for a day at the beach, run errands in, or wear out to lunch with some girlfriends in a wedge heel.
Where else can you do that? Here, you need pieces that are not only comfortable but versatile. And because of our rich cultural scene, I’m constantly influenced by the creative spirit of the Hamptons and all the amazing artists and creatives that we’re surrounded by.
Most people know me as the chief brand officer and co-owner of Wölffer Estate Vineyard, which is my family business, but I’ve always had an affinity for fashion. When I opened my eponymous boutique in Sag Harbor back in 2015, I wanted it to be a one-stop shop for women where they could find everything from limited luxe jewelry to clothing and accessories.
The concept of it was—and is still to this day—a carefully curated treasure trove of extraordinary pieces by hard-to-find designers mixed with worldly vintage finds. Think vintage Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, Hermès, and Missoni, to name a few. This goes back to my philosophy of being authentic and the reason why we don’t buy deeply into collections. We want our customers to feel special in the pieces that they find.
In fact, many of the designer labels in our store are unique, and even the more well-known, sought-after designers are not highly distributed. There is nothing more gratifying than having a customer leave feeling good about herself and having discovered something unique and special!
In addition, I started my own label, Reworked by Joey Wölffer, which is a collection of one-of-a-kind reimagined womenswear pieces. My pieces are made from 100 percent deadstock cotton, making each one as beautifully unique as the person wearing it!
The line marries my unique artistic style with the environmentally conscious practice of upcycling. I source all the vintage textiles myself, and each piece is proudly made in New York City. You can find these pieces both in-store or on my shop’s website, joeywolffer.com.
Our Upcoming Events
This summer, my shop will also host a series of unique shopping events starting on July 4th. We will kick off the first event by hosting a party with the C.Bonz founder, Celine Benz, with an in-store customization station. Customers will have the opportunity to shop and customize their comfy sweatsuits with embroidery art all summer long!
The following week, from July 11–14, Buggy founder Buggy Valhouli will host a four-day pop-up. Always designed with a getaway in mind, shop Greek-inspired pieces for your next vacation. Buggy will personally be in the store to help you put your vacation looks together!
Later that week, from July 17–19, stop by and shop Cresta Bledsoe Fine Jewelry. One-of-a-kind sculptural 18K recycled gold fine jewelry that playfully pairs the precious and the vibrantly unique. All diamonds are ethically sourced and handmade in the U.S. Her jewelry will instantly transform your outfit!
On August 5, join Jessie Freschl of Shop Repurpose and me to shop vintage pieces for a good cause. A percentage of all sales will go back to Shop Repurpose, a nonprofit organization that utilizes the resale of luxury items to provide job readiness training, personal development, mentorship, and scholarships for higher education while providing a platform for sustainability in the fashion industry.
Then, on August 8 and 9, jewelry brand Phyllis + Rosie designer, Alana, will be in store to create customized charm necklaces, bracelets, and more. The brand makes simple, classic, high-quality jewelry for everyday wearability.
And lastly, before we bid goodbye to summer, Joey Wölffer Shop will have a booth in Boutique Gardens at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. Stop by and shop anytime from August 25–September 1. We hope to see you there!