Need New Clothes for Summer? Stop by the Nina McLemore Trunk Show

By Lisa Lenkiewicz

Four times a year, Kathy Jannuzzi holds a trunk show at her Farmington home for the high-end shopper who enjoys designer Nina McLemore’s line of clothes. Fashionistas have been eagerly awaiting this spring’s open house, which is now through May 11.

Some 300 articles of clothing for women sizes 0-18 are available for sale at Jannuzzi’s Garden Street home.

“We have a fabulous product that is not easy to find,” explained Jannuzzi. The collection includes leisure wear and business and evening clothing.

Light weight cotton jackets should be a big seller for summer, said Jannuzzi. They are not inexpensive — ranging in price from $500-$800, depending on the fabric.  But they are not mass-produced; often less than 50 jackets are made each year, said Jannuzzi.

“They are unique, which I think is very exciting,” added Jannuzzi, who is national sales manager for Nina McLemore and who often travels with the designer around the country. Jannuzzi is also the sales rep for the Chicago market.

A focus this season is on colorful dresses. The collection includes eight fitted dresses which can be dressed up or dressed down.

“The quality of the clothing is impeccable. Most fabrics are imported, natural fibers, cottons, silks, linens and wools,” said Jannuzzi, who added the clothes are designed in the Garment District in Manhattan by expert pattern makers and have an excellent fit, with fabrics that stretch.

The most inexpensive item is a 100 percent cotton, no-iron blouse, which sells for $150. It comes in rainbow colors, is machine washable and can be thrown in the dryer, according to Jannuzzi.

“Our colors are amazing,” stressed Jannuzzi. “They flatter and are bold and fun.”

“We also have a great line of pants — equestrian cotton, a great stretch cotton with multiple styles to fit different body parts. Our pieces are about separates. We try to make different outfits. We call it the power of seven — if clients buy seven pieces, we try to figure out the many ways can we put them together.”

McLemore, a Mississippi native, is the founder of Liz Claiborne Accessories. She started the company in 2003, aimed at women aged 40 and over. Her style is elegant and classic, with pieces designed to last. McLemore resides in Washington, D.C., and many of her clients are politicians, TV anchors and other professionals.

The designer is philanthropic, with a focus on women and children’s issues, arts and education. Jannuzzi said in the Hartford area, the company has supported the YWCA, Hill-Stead Museum, Wadsworth Museum and the New Britain Museum of American Art.

There are Nina McLemore stores in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Vail, Aspen, Nantucket, Cleveland, Easton, Maryland and Chestertown, Maryland. Jannuzzi was in charge of opening the one in Nantucket. The collection is also sold in stores around the country, including the Darien Sport Shop in Darien, Connecticut.

Years ago, Jannuzzi met McLemore at a benefit show for the Hill-Stead Museum, which is one of the former Garden Club president’s pet causes.  Later, Jannuzzi and a friend were shopping at McLemore’s showroom in New York and McLemore overheard Jannuzzi on the phone telling a friend about a jacket there she thought her friend would like. On the spot, McLemore offered her the job as sales rep for the Greater Hartford area.

“Nina had an intuition we would be a good fit,” said Jannuzzi, who formerly worked in sales for Scholastic Publishing in the New England area.

She is married to local pediatrician Dr. Peter Jannuzzi and is the mother of two grown sons, P.J. and John, and the proud owner of two English bulldogs.

To RSVP for the trunk show or for more information, call Kathy Jannuzzi at (860) 490-2665 or email Kathy@ninamclemore.com.