Beginnings Bleus, Armonk
Beginnings Bleus is the kind of unisex clothing store you might equate with Manhattan’s Upper East Side. It’s got all the top fashion brands you’d expect from a hip boutique, including Diane Von Furstenburg, Elizabeth and James and Nicole Miller, to name a few.
But it’s the store’s focus on high-quality denim and the clothes that can be worn with it that has endeared it to fashionable suburbanites.
Managed by Andreas Chronis, who works closely with his mother and owner of the store, Elaine Chronis, Beginnings Bleus has called Armonk home since 1998.
The Chronis family owns two additional stores in Westchester, including Beginnings Boutique in Scarsdale, which carries a more traditional fashion line, and Beginnings Bleus Outlet, also located in Armonk, selling many of the same brands that can be found in Beginnings Bleus but at a 50 to 70 percent discount.
The younger Chronis, a Queens native, lived in Greece and played professional soccer before joining his mother in the business.
“I always loved clothes, but I had a passion for soccer, too,” said Chronis, who now plays semiprofessionally.
Three years ago he helped in the store’s expansion, making room for a men’s section, but also giving the store what he described as an “industrial and chic facelift.”
Chronis is about to graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology with an associate’s degree in advertising and marketing. He will soon embark on a bachelor’s degree program in operations management at Baruch College, all of which will solidify his knowledge of the fashion industry’s retail component.
There’s a mix of designer jeans to be found in the brightly lit store, which targets the 30- to 50-year-old market. Casual tops, dresses, jackets, a small footwear section for men and women and a men’s casual clothing department share the space. Evening wear for men and women is also available. The store replenishes its stock monthly.
“We pride ourselves on having new merchandise on a regular basis,” Chronis said.
Their most popular jean brands include AG (Adriano Goldschmied), Citizen of Humanity, Mother and J Brand. Chronis said one of the top selling styles in all of the brands is the “slim boyfriend” fit.
A variety of casual tops can also be found at Beginnings Bleus, with the off-the-shoulder style popular this season. The Joie and Vince brands, as well as a variety of other designers such as Amanda Uprichard, Bailey 44, Ecru, Skull Cashmere and Theory are in demand.
Customer service is what sets Beginnings Bleus apart.
“We know 95 percent of our customers and we’re also on a first-name basis with all of them,” said Chronis, who attends up to four trade shows a year and commits to weekly New York City-based showroom appointments to stay abreast of the fashion trends.
Knowing his customers well means that Chronis and his team know what they like and can suggest the styles that are most appropriate for their body type.
“People who shop here know that they will get an honest opinion from us,” he added.
Upon approval, some customers are allowed to bring outfits home and return them within a specific timeframe. The store offers eligible customers 5 percent cash back or a store credit every time they shop, and the chance to get a free pair of jeans after 10 pairs have been purchased.
Beginnings Bleus is located in the Town Center at 575 Main St. in Armonk. The store is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundaysfrom 12 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 914-765-0004 or visit http://www.beginningsbleus.com.
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