I have a Suttles & Seawinds story. My guess is that a lot of people here on the South Shore have a Suttles story, either a family member who may have worked for the iconic store as a sewer and seamstress, or buying a dress for a special occasion, it is a huge part of our Lunenburg County and Nova Scotia history.

My story? It was 1992 and I was in a new relationship with a boy. We were both 22 and had been dating for about 6 months when Christmas arrived. I remember this boy and I exchanging gifts in my parents living room late one night when everyone was asleep, and inside a lovely wrapped box from his family, was a Suttles & Seawinds dress…I was in shock! Not only was the dress stunning and beautiful…a blue floral material done in their signature patchwork design…but I now owned a Suttles dress! I was completely smitten and beside myself. I’ve honestly never forgotten my excitement over receiving that dress as a gift. I even had a photo shoot done in it on the beach with my big early 90’s hair and a hat…that’s how much I loved it. 🙂

Five years later I married that boy and this fall we will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. I’m not saying that dress from Suttles & Seawinds had anything to do with it…but it may have. 😉

So now imagine my excitement when I was recently invited to Suttles & Seawinds with none other than renowned owner and designer Vicki Bardon, giving me a tour of the store and their new Spring and Summer 2017 Collection. Vicki along with her husband Gary, started Suttles & Seawinds 40 years ago and has evolved into a fashion destination visited by people all over the world. Meeting Vicki and Lynn, their store manager, and spending time looking at items from designers all around the world, right here in Mahone Bay, was such a fun way to spend a morning!

It had been awhile since I had been inside Suttles & Seawinds and I was initially surprised by the clothing and accessories that were there. They still carry a few of their iconic quilts…I spotted a few beautiful pieces on my way upstairs…but their focus now is on fashion and Vicki herself, along with Lynn, head to New York each year looking for inspiration. One thing Vicki likes about those trips is that she gets to meet and talk to the people who design and make the pieces. On a visual and tactile level, she is searching for those lines and pieces that draw her in. That is what they try to show people, Suttles & Seawinds – Art of Fashion.

There’s something special about shopping in a store when they have selected the pieces that they think will resonate with their customers and to the many visitors that stop by each season. I witnessed while I was there, the personalized attention the staff gives to each customer, making suggestions and providing assistance. If you’re planning a trip, have a special event coming up or just refreshing your wardrobe, what an enjoyable way to do so! A shopping trip at Suttles feels like an experience. Who doesn’t feel pride when they tell people their latest find came from Suttles and Seawinds?

A noticeable thread for Spring and Summer 2017 were “famous artists” or prints that look like art. Even the way some of the pieces are cut and many of this years accessories have an artistic flair. Suttles and Seawinds carry designs from Ecuador, Peru, Spain, Israel and more and of course Canadian designs including Periphery from Samuel Bardon, son of Gary Bardon, Vicki’s husband.

I loved the Periphery line and not just because their 2017 pieces are modern and ageless, but I noted the comment on their website “I own too much black, said no one ever”. Yes…this line speaks to me. 🙂 There are several pieces I lingered over and have been thinking about ever since. I have read a fair bit about the impact of throw-away fashion on our environment. By investing in a few classic pieces that make up the backbone of your wardrobe, will save you time and money in the long run, not to mention help you look stylish and fabulous. 😉

There are fewer stores here in Nova Scotia these days that sell these specific lines. Suttles and Seawinds, which is open year round, gives their customers access to quality, seasonal on-trend fashions, accessories and home decor from all over the world. They also have a selection of curated items in their online shop .

An exciting event coming up in May is the Art of Fashion Gala Runway Show which Suttles and Seawinds is presenting in collaboration with the Mahone Bay Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce.

Suttles and Seawinds will be showcasing their beautiful Spring and Summer 2017 Collection as well, there will be two winners of the Amazing Mahone Bay Make-Over revealed with each receiving a makeover, hair styling and wardrobe worth over $1,000 each! Nominate yourself or a friend for this amazing opportunity. Entry deadline is May 18, 2017.

This fantastic evening is made possible with the support of Suttles and Seawinds, Cocoa Organic Spa and Boutique and Atlantica, Oak Island Resort and Conference Centre.

I am so looking forward to this! What a fun way to kick off the summer season on the South Shore. Besides the fashion show, there are door prizes, refreshments and a cash bar. Tickets are only $25.00 and have been selling quickly so get yours before they are gone! Tickets are available at several locations or you can purchase them online.

This could mark the beginning of your summer adventures! Grab some friends and make a night of it…or better yet a weekend…in charming Mahone Bay. Have dinner at one of the many restaurants, stay in a quaint B&B, visit a coffee shop or brewery, do some shopping and get carried away by Mahone Bay.

You’ve set your course for Mahone Bay and now it is time to drop anchor. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the waterfront for spectacular views of our picturesque bay, where the sun sparkles like diamonds on the deep blue waters.

Source: Welcome to Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia – Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada

I want to thank Vicki Bardon for spending some time with me talking about Suttles and Seawinds and its incredible history here on the South Shore. A large part of their beginning involved providing employment for rural women and Vicki is quick to credit the many wonderful employees they have had over the years with making Suttles and Seawinds a Lunenburg County success story. From having quilts and clothing promoted in art galleries and seen in prestigious stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s, to designing a dress for Princess Diana, Suttles and Seawinds, like the fabric used in their original quilts and fashion, is a historic part of the fabric of Lunenburg County. How lucky are we?

I began this with sharing my Suttles and Seawinds story. Do you have one? if you wouldn’t mind sharing it in the comments below, I would love to hear it.