Piermarini Boutique Celebrates First Anniversary in Snider Plaza

Mila Hermanovski | Fall 2013

Piermarini Boutique is celebrating its one-year anniversary in its new Snider Plaza location.  If you aren't familiar with this little gem of a store, it features international, local and new designers that are off the beaten path to mainstream fashion avenues, with each store item being hand-picked by owner John Piermarini himself. Maintaining an heir of exclusivity, Piermarini Boutique showcases jewelry and apparel designs under $500, only orders one item in each size and has a strict no re-order policy. John prides himself on finding lines that no other store in Dallas carries so browsing the racks is always a treat.  The real secret? Ask him to show you what's in the back room. They have racks of clothing back there waiting for their turn on the main floor. It's your best chance to snag a coveted piece in your size sometimes weeks before it goes out for public view. You can thank me later for that tidbit... 

CFDA's {FASHION INCUBATOR} fosters fashion in Dallas

runway drama from Reece Hudson

The CFDA's {FASHION INCUBATOR} scooted into Dallas yesterday to introduce four of the program's designers to our market's VIP's in the fashion industry.  They visited upscale stores like Neiman Marcus, Stanley Korshak and Forty Five Ten, threw a private luncheon and a glam cocktail party at the W Hotel's Ghost Bar.

The see-and-be-seen of Dallas fashion set came out for the evening's cocktail soiree and as I wandered about I spotted Neiman Marcus' Chuck Steelman, John Piermarini, stylist Stephanie Quadri, Tracy Hayes, Joslyn Taylor, handbag designer Susie Straubmueller and blogger Krystal Schlegel all scoping out this hot new talent.

I didn't know much about the program so I hit the internet and discovered that CFDA's {FASHION INCUBATOR} was designed to support the next generation of fashion designers. They provide a creative professional environment to foster promising fashion talent, and help selected designers grow and sustain their business. By offering low-cost design studio space, business mentoring, educational seminars, and networking opportunities the program provides a way for participants to reach their full potential and become an integral part of the New York Fashion community.

Piermarini Boutique Opens in Snider Plaza

Owner, John Piermarini

Piermarini Boutique has decided to trade the quaint Uptown cottage they've occupied for the past 2 years and make the move to Snider Plaza in tony Park Cities.  (The lure of SMU girls with little budgetary constraint and the ladies of Highland Park is an irresistible draw)  I'm always happy to get a new neighbor, so I swung by Friday afternoon to check out  the new digs and welcome John to Park Cities.  I met John earlier this year when I profiled him for my Dallas Dweller series.  He's a great guy with an infectious smile and incredible style.

Piermarini Boutique features international, local and new designers that are off the beaten path to mainstream fashion avenues, with each store item being hand-picked by John himself. Maintaining an heir of exclusivity, Piermarini Boutique showcases jewelry and apparel designs under $500, only orders one item in each size and has a strict no re-order policy.

The new space doesn't quite have the charm of their old cottage in Uptown, but John has tried to give the space as much personality as he could by ripping up the flooring to leave exposed concrete floors and tearing out the sheet rock to highlight the original red brick walls of the building.  The trade off is that the new store has lots of natural light and is much more open, allowing shoppers to more easily browse the goods (men's on the left, women's on the right).

John prides himself on finding lines that no other store in Dallas carries so browsing the racks is always a treat.  The real secret? Ask him to show you what's in the back room. They have racks of clothing back there waiting for their turn on the main floor. It's your best chance to snag a coveted piece in your size sometimes weeks before it goes out for public view.  You can thank me later...

Piermarini Boutique is located at 6827 Snider Plaza, Dallas, Texas 75205
For more information, please visit www.piermariniboutique.com.

Piermarini Boutique Moving to Snider Plaza

photo: D Magazine

Earlier this year I introduced you to cutie-patootie John Piermarini. He owns a fantastic boutique in Uptown that features international, local and new designers that are off the beaten path to mainstream fashion avenues, with each store item being hand-picked by John himself. Maintaining an heir of exclusivity, Piermarini Boutique showcases designs under $500, only orders one item in each size and has a strict no re-order policy.

My pal, Raya Ramsey, at D Magazine's ShopTalk reported yesterday that Piermarini Boutique will soon be moving to Snider Plaza saying, "I love the airy, wood-floored cottage that currently houses the Uptown boutique, so I’m sad to see John Piermarini move his store to a shopping center. On the other hand, the new space, which will open before the end of the August, will allow them to expand and grow. Of course, you reap more benefits from this move, as Piermarini Boutique is hosting a sale this Saturday. Most things are already 40 percent off, but Saturday purchases will earn an extra 25 percent off."

If you want to check out the savings, visit John for the next 30 days at 2701 Hibernia St., Dallas, TX 75204 (214) 303-1261. For more information, please visit www.piermariniboutique.com.

Dallas Dweller: John Piermarini

Dallas is full of colorful characters. There are those you see monthly in the society pages, whose stories are legendary in this town. But, this feature is inspired by the people that I think you should know more about because of their fabulous style, interesting back-story or amazing accomplishments.  Dallas Dweller seeks to introduce you to these fabulous faces and this week, I want to introduce you to a young man who's taking the Dallas fashion scene by storm:

John Piermarini

John Piermarini
photo by Beau Bumpas Photography

In November of 2010, 20-year old John Piermarini decided to thrust himself into the competitive Dallas fashion scene by opening Piermarini Boutique in Uptown with the vision of bringing fresh and unique looks to the Dallas fashion scene at an affordable price point.

His uptown boutique features international, local and new designers that are off the beaten path to mainstream fashion avenues, with each store item being hand-picked by John himself. Maintaining an heir of exclusivity, Piermarini Boutique showcases designs under $500, only orders one item in each size and has a strict no re-order policy.

I recently became acquainted with John, and was so impressed with his talent - but more importantly, his entrepreneurial drive ay such a young age - that I asked Piermarini to share some of his insights about Dallas with me so I could get to know him better. 

Q:  What's your life story in a couple of sentences?

A:  Born in Houston, raised in Dallas - I've lived in Texas my entire life.  I always tell people that I didn't have much of a choice to be in the fashion industry - the moment my mother could take me out of the house she brought me straight to the Chanel make-up counter at Neimans, and I've been a professional shopper ever since. I started designing clothing when I was 15. One day, I just decided to get a sewing machine and I taught myself the basics.  From there I made a custom wedding dress for an actual bride, and then I met my friend and mentor, Abi Ferrin.

Abi and I have been mentoring each other since the day we met, and we still work together today.  I worked as an intern for Abi on special events, and even worked alongside her pattern maker.  Today, Abi and I have a collaboration together called Abi & John of just basic pieces that everyone needs in their wardrobe.  After graduating High School, I decided to open my store.  I wanted to be able to design, buy, and work directly with customers - and opening a store was the best way to do all of the above!  I wanted to make something different, and I wanted people to take risks with their wardrobe.  In order to do that, I needed to take the risk of opening up my own business at the age of 19.

Piermarini outside his namesake boutique.  Photo: SMU Daily Campus

Q:  Name a few of your favorite places to shop for yourself.

A:  I love to shop! Really, I do. I love Forty Five Ten (who doesn't?) and of course, Barneys - those are my two favorites in Dallas.  Going through my closet it's, "I got this at Piermarini, this at Barneys, and all of those shoes from Forty Five Ten.