Mount Pleasant Magazine 6.3

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Looking Good
Head toToe Fashion
Vivi & Kate
Iventured into local boutique
Vivi & Kate to speak with owner Elizabeth
Raub without making an appointment. To
my delight, I didn’t need to call ahead – Raub
was every bit as warm and welcoming as a
local business owner ought to be, and, by
the time we parted ways, I felt
we’d become friends – plus I was
wearing an awesome new bracelet.
Raub, a native of Maryland with an undergraduate
degree in English and a self-proclaimed “Jill of all trades,”
did not start out owning a ladies’
clothing boutique or even studying
fashion. She attended The Culinary
Institute of America in Hyde Park,
New York, and was introduced to the
Lowcountry during an internship
at Magnolias in downtown
Charleston. Like so many others,
she fell in love with the area and
decided the South Carolina coast
would make a perfect place to put
down roots for herself and her
daughter, Genevieve. Incidentally,
her mother had recently relocated
to Beaufort and opened a clothing
boutique.
“I was staying home with
Genevieve and working as a freelance
writer and editor when my mom, who owns Grace &
Glory, told me she envisioned another store, so we opened
Vivi & Kate together,” Raub explained.
Open for two years this summer, Vivi & Kate, named
for Raub’s daughter and another granddaughter, is thriving
with customers from East Cooper and beyond who
frequent the boutique for its generous selection of designer
brands and exceptional customer service.
“Business has been good,” Raub commented. “We have
a loyal, supportive clientele, and it’s been nice to get to
know the locals.”
A stroll around Vivi & Kate will reveal its wide
selection of styles and brands; the shop specializes in items
that are “comfortable, look good and feel good,” according
to Raub. Colorful tops, pants that range from casual to
work-ready and numerous accessories, from jewelry to
scarves, adorn the space. I was particularly drawn to a pair
of white boot-cut jeans, perfect for summer, and Raub
pointed out that the shop has earned the reputation of
being a pants emporium.
“We have a great selection of pants,” she mused. “We
make sure to stock a variety of pants that are flattering and
fit well.”
Popular pants brands found at Vivi & Kate include
Lisette and NIC+ZOE; other apparel
brands include Joules, Jude Connally
and Katherine Way.
As for accessories, Raub puts
emphasis on quality jewelry handmade
in the United States. Designers on
hand the day I visited included Ken
Attkisson – who is based in North
Carolina – as well as Tat2 Designs
and Evelyn Knight. Raub pointed out
that she understands the respect that
Lowcountry residents have for local
artisans, and she hopes to attract more
regional jewelers.
Admiring her sleek, dark jeans, brown
boots and stylish blouse, I asked Raub
whether her personal style has played into
what she purchases for Vivi & Kate.
“Yes and no,” she replied. “I buy according to the
needs of my customers. I do focus on items that are
classic and comfortable with clean lines, which describes
my own taste as well.”
“Because we’re a small business in a tightly knit
community, we want people to feel good when they shop
here,” she concluded. “We strive to be welcoming and
helpful – never pushy. We want to be a place where you
can find something, take it home and love it!”
Vivi & Kate is located at 423 Hibben St. in Mount
Pleasant. To learn more, visit or
call 843-352-7331.
By DenIse K. JaMes
Photo courtesy of Vivi & Kate.