A curated collection of luxury accessories by Lambertson Truex is being sold at Privet House in New Preston during the holiday season.
A pair of olive, opera length shearling gloves lay artfully over an exotic skin clutch in a light-filled annex within Privet House in New Preston. On November 16th, the opening of an exclusive sale of Lamberston Truex attracted New York fashion executives, A-list interior designers, a bestselling novelist and other county style-seekers. The preeminent luxury lifestyle blogger, Stacey Bewkes of Quintessence selected a deep chocolate satin clutch with a signature interlocking ‘L’ and ‘T’ snap closure and green hide camouflage gloves. Opulent alligator bags, rich Italian leather totes and metallic minaudieres share shelf space with wallets, belts and footwear. These accessories are the award-winning designers’ hand-selected favorites from each season over a fifteen-year period of work.
Before the opening, Richard Lambertson and John Truex, sat down at Privet House to talk about their vision and design philosophy. Richard, in his signature black framed glasses, sporting a chic orange cashmere scarf and John, fresh from the stables, in britches and fine equestrian boots, seem themselves, the epitome of sophisticated sensibility. Though the designers will switch out the vignettes displayed every two weeks, they spoke about the current look.
“Circa 2008 and 2009, we had leopard prints for the fall season. We treated them as a core color and not a novel print. What is more perfect with camel or black?” John Truex explains showing the exquisite craftsmanship of a large tote. Richard adds that, “Classic leopard prints are timeless. The handbags were designed to be carried for years to come.”
Lambertson Truex, formed in 1998 by Richard Lamberston and John Truex, developed a signature style which blended superior craftsmanship, design and exclusivity with a unique American aesthetic. In 2000, they were both awarded the CFDA Accessories Design of the Year and the ACE Award for Design Excellence. In 2009, Lambertson and Truex joined Tiffany as expert designers to help extend the iconic brand reach beyond jewelry. Throughout all this time, Richard explains, “Our customer has always been an independent woman who seeks those statement pieces that she can wear for years.”
Style icons from the film and television industries have had a true love affair with the luxury brand. The actresses seen wearing the accessories while out and about in NYC and LA, as well as on the red carpet, include: Debra Messing, Julianne Moore, Mary J. Blige, Cate Blanchett and Reese Witherspoon. Jennifer Lopez created a sensation when she sported an all-white ensemble with a Lambertson Truex white crocodile clutch at a premiere. Though friendly with many celebrities, both designers agree they get more satisfaction from seeing their accessories on a strong stylish woman on the street considering her vast array of choices.
Why now? This is the first time the designers’ personal archive, including both couture and ready-to-wear pieces, has been offered for sale. All these accessories were wrapped up in tissue paper and stored in plastic bags at their Sharon country home. “We wanted to set them free,” says John Truex with a smile, “we wanted to let the girls (i.e. luxury handbags) out for a chat.” Once one of these coveted accessories is sold off the shelves, it will be gone forever, so Lambertson Truex devotees have been coming from all over the Northeast. This new wave of women will share the story of these exquisite, rare accessories and bring them to life.
Why Privet House? “Privet House represents original ideas and designs. It has a unique point of view, mixing new with vintage. It is a perfect fit,” says Richard, co-owner of Privet House with fashion and antiques powerhouse, Suzanne Cassano. She adds, “Our clientele show the same spirit of adventure in choosing a one-of-a-kind exquisite boxcar handbag as they do in selecting European towels, antiques and prints that we find for the shop.” In every corner of Privet House are treasures—china from Paris, mirrored pillows from India, Italian room spray, first edition books, and now an annex filled with coveted Lambertson Truex designs.
Both Richard and John call Sharon home when in Litchfield County. Richard, as co-owner of Privet House, combines travels with shopping and seeking special products for the destination emporium. On a recent shopping trip to India, Richard fulfilled two special dreams; to visit the Taj Mahal and to ride an elephant in Jaipur. John is an avid equestrian with a handsome Hanoverian named Orion who is stabled in the county. He enjoys the region as a truly rural spot, only two hours from New York City, where you can choose to see no one or everyone.
Privet House will have the Lambertson Truex curated collection in the annex throughout the holidays. The shop’s regulars have already started purchasing the upscale accessories as gifts: wallets and belts for men; handbags, gloves and boots for women. Other distinctive gifts at the shop include Cire Trudon candles, striped cashmere scarves made exclusively for Privet House in Nepal, Fornasetti room spray in a collectible container, mercury votives and hurricanes and vintage cuttings boards discovered on a recent trip to the South of France.
Privet House is located at 13 East Shore Road in New Preston. Holiday hours are 11am to 5:30pm every day. 860-868-1800 or www.privethouse.com
