Business Profile: Mary Jane Denzer, Westchester’s Most Fashionable Destination
The name Mary Jane Denzer has been associated with the very best in good taste and haute couture for over 35 years. Having recently moved from its previous location on Mamaroneck Avenue to 7 Renaissance Square at the base of the second Ritz-Carlton tower in White Plains, the store features only the highest quality in designer evening gowns, dresses, separates, accessories, jewelry and shoes.
Some of Westchester’s most popular and fashionable ladies are dressed by Mary Jane Denzer, the woman behind the store and its name. A perusal of the local society pages shows how they stand out, but Mary Jane does not talk about the women she dresses, rather she expounds on the creative qualities of personal presentation that pull an outfit together and enhance the beauty of the woman wearing it.
“I know what I like, and I know what works” Mary Jane, says, explaining that her unique selections are created by well-known designers as well as those not so well-known, but up and coming stars in the world of haute couture.
She travels extensively from New York to Milan and Paris to select the fashions on display in her store, each presented in such a way as to highlight the fabric, texture, color and quality of construction that makes anything purchased more a work of art, than a mere item in a wardrobe.
Mary Jane Denzer focuses on eveningwear for special events such as holiday parties, fundraisers, weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and other gatherings where women want to look not only their best, but outstanding in the crowd.
Mary Jane remembers that her interest in fashion began at a very early age. Her grandmother was a seamstress who made her own patterns and taught Mary Jane how to alter clothes to make the fit and the style just right. They would shop for fabric together and look at what the designers were doing at the time.
She carries this knowledge with her today, giving personal assistance to all of her customers. A team of seamstresses works for the store, located in an area at the back of the premises where fit and style are perfected for each customer’s unique needs. Store Manager, Anastasia, who has been with Mary Jane for 11 years, coming with her own base of fashion knowledge, has learned from Mary Jane and carries forth the art of design perfection.
As a young woman, just starting out, Mary Jane modeled at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman. She later became involved with their special boutique events and trunk shows, learning how to shop and select designer fashions. The knowledge she gained from these experiences became the foundation for her own retail adventure.
In the store today, the spring collection is in full swing with pink and white dresses on display in the windows and yellows, lilac, purple and a new color “paprika” sprinkled throughout the racks.
For spring there is a mix of fabric texture and pattern in the outfits, Mary Jane explains. “It is not easy to do, but when done well the look is fabulous. I was thrilled when I saw this,” she said.
The designers are also bringing back a more feminine look with fitted waists and skirts that flair.
The designs are pure glamor, straight from the Red Carpet with a lot of new talent from Italy, France, Australia and Lebanon. “Lebanese designers are vey hot right now,” Mary Jane explains.
While Mary Jane has made a name for herself well outside of Westchester – she has customers who travel from Manhattan, Connecticut and New Jersey and several who fly in on their private jets from Dallas and California – Westchester is her home. She moved from Greenwich to White Plains about 14 years ago and has witnessed the tremendous growth of the city in recent years.
“I am working with the third generation of families of some of my customers,” Mary Jane said. “I dress grandmothers, their daughters and their granddaughters.”
She sees the new generation of women as very sophisticated and independent and working in positions that at one time were traditionally held by men. “They need to dress well to make a statement,” Mary Jane says.
This week, Thursday, Dec. 11 and Friday, Dec. 12, (9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., both days) fast-rising Lebanese designer Tony Ward will be featured at the store in a one-of-a-kind trunk show. His gowns and couture dresses stand out on the Red Carpet as feminine and sophisticated.
Tony Ward was educated in London and enrolled in the prestigious L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. He worked with Claude Montana at Lanvin, Gianfranco Ferré at Christian Dior, and Karl Lagerfeld at Chloé before he was ready to launch his own brand. He is excited to be bringing his designs to Mary Jane Denzer in White Plains.
Delighted with the new location at the Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, which she says is a “perfect fit” Mary Jane invites new customers to come by the store during regular hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Appointments, recommended for anyone wishing more personalized attention, can be made by calling 914-328-0330.
Visit http://mjdenzer.com/ for a complete list of featured designers and information about special events held at the store.
