Elizabeth McKay fans beware; there's a new boss in town!I stumbled upon La Roque the other day when I was browsing through one of my favorite online stores, and I instantly fell in love!
The woman behind the fashion genius is AnnaBelle LaRoque, and it all started when she quit her corporate gig in pharmaseutical sales to focus full-time on making and designing cute skirts using an antique sewing machine. She was an overnight success, and soon rented a space in upscale downtown Columbia, SC: LaRoque Studio Boutique was born!
Her concept was to create elegant and classic designs with a modern twist, and she definitely succeeded in creating a niche in the market. All of her designs have a decidely "Southern" and "Charlestonian" flair to them.... one of my favorite details being the oversize silk sashes that she accents most of her outfits with. And just like everything else Southern, you're never too far from a monogram--- the sashes and bows can be monogrammed to order!
Customers visiting her boutique will find her 12 classic silhouettes available in a variety of prints and fabrics, all of which she can custom-fit and make for you in 2 weeks. AnnaBelle spent the first 2 years sewing EVERYTHING herself (incredible, right!), but now she has a small staff and warehouse to help fill the custom orders.
Custom southern elegance doesn't come cheap: Annabelle's La Roque line ranges from $125 - $400, and that doesn't include her bridal line. Add in custom fabrics, special orders, and fittings, and you're looking at the $300 - $500 range.
She has since expanded from her original custom-concept, and now some of her wholesale collection is available at select boutique retailers across the south.
If you're not close to her home base in Columbia, SC, don't worry. Some of her closest locations (if you live the NC area) are:
113 N Wall St
Clinton, NC 28328
M Christopher's Clothier
111 Reynolda Village #B
Winston Salem, NC 27106
The Julia
7220 Wrightsville Ave
Wilmington, NC 28403
Finley House Couture
1121 Main St
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
I had a hard time finding ready-made pieces to buy online, but there are several online-retailers that carry the La Roque line now too. If you are having a hard time finding Annabelle's designs, visit the official website here:
Shop La Roque Original
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| La Roque Carly Dress, on sale for $148 |
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| La Roque Clover Skirt, $128 |
But P.S., I was able to find a few pieces at a really cute boutique/website called SC Sugar. They had a few things from La Roque that were actually on SALE!!
Here's the link: SC Sugar La Roque Sale
