Newport Boutique Brings European Fashion With A Flair of Newport Style

Walking into Long Wharf's breezy new fashion boutique, the traditional bright colors and crisp whites of Newport fashion fuse with the hippest trends from London to offer locals a completely new shopping experience.

The New England Harbor Club is a homegrown approach to the retail fashion in Newport. Owned, operated and designed by local Newport fashionistas, the concept, explained Brand Manager Ali Jenkins Downes, is to complement and add variety to the area's traditional sailor-influenced style.

"We're hoping our styles inspire people to dress a little more fashionable," said Downes.

Downes, a former bikini designer, is back home in her Native Newport after spending three years in Maui, HI working in fashion.

Shop owner Tony Leach, a British investor who now resides in Newport and a relative of Downes, paired Downes and her penchant for design with another local fashion mogul - Jessica Ward.

Ward, the store manager, worked for years as a manager and buyer for Aquidneck Outfitters - a staple of Newport fashion.

"With our retail and design backgrounds together, and both being family with Tony, this is a good way to start a business," said Downes.

"From Jess we take her buying input because she knows what the Newporters like to wear and also what we can show that they will strive to wear," said Downes. "I call it aspirational fashion."

Despite importing some of London's hottest brands, Downes stressed the affordablity of the NEHC lines - likening the price point (and quality) to that of H&M or Zara. 

What is unique to NEHC, however, is the store's intimate feel. TopShop and its menswear line, TopMan, have only before been accessible in big-box stores. NEHC is the first to offer access to the brand in a boutique environment.

"We chose to launch with TopShop and TopMan because it gives us instant street credibility," said Downes. "People know the brand, but we are also looking to bring lesser-known brands into Newport that are good quality with a good price that we really believe in."

From pajamas to swimwear, lingerie to men's blazers and denim to cocktail dresses, NEHC has you covered for any and all occasions the Newport social scene might throw at you.

Currently, the shop also stocks designs from Saturdays Surf NYC, a brand Downes says will appeal to a New York hipster style. Soon the store will carry Wildfox Couture and Zoe Karssen.

NEHC is also launching its own original designs. So far NEHC is pushing out t-shirts that test the boundaries between Newport classic and cosmopolitan style. Crisp colors and angles denote hint to the region's sailing culture, but brightly colored and understated graphics make these tee's more wearable than any tourist t-shirt in Newport.

NEHC is offering its t-shirts in men's and women's styles for $38 each. Eventually, NEHC will expand its line to include lounge wear and swimwear, said Downes.

The shirts, printed on American Apparel tees, highlight NEHC's brand motivation:  the comfort of local fashion with the appeal of cosmopolitan trends.

By bringing together the two styles at a price shoppers can afford, Downes said she hopes NEHC challenges Newporters to bring a new fashionable edge to their style.

"We felt that a lot of locals were craving fast fashion," said Downes.

NEHC is open Sunday - Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.