Three words come to mind when I think of Simply Smashing! Posh. Modern. Industrial. This caliber of boutique is something you usually find on Sacramento Street in SF, not in downtown Campbell. It’s a bit off-beat, with a thought-out spectrum of European labels and high-end clothing, but that’s what you like about it.
Walk into the boutique and you are met with walls bedizen with pink paisley, furniture reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, displays in metal and wrought iron, and a concrete floor - all while Retro En Vogue rocks on speakers.
Deb Rohzen is the brains behind the boutique. She describes the hot spot as ‘the quintessential boutique experience’ and I would say she is right. Her most popular labels are as follows (drum roll please):
The coveted Cop Copine of France. Spain’s Isabel de Pedro, currently featuring a gaming theme. Weston Wear of San Francisco. Sharon Segal t-shirts (yes, shirts by THE Fred Segal’s daughter). Boy-Girl of the North Bay, whose t-shirts that Deb can’t keep in stock, with their quirky cheerleaders in letterman sweaters spelling out P S Y C H O. Sweet jeans from Rock Revival. LA’s Stacia with her 100% Bamboo shirts and Burning Torch, a brand of recycled cashmere sweeper sweaters made in the USA.
Amidst the posh Euro labels you will inevitably run right into unusual mannequins wearing plastic dresses. Deb brought in artsy pieces by local designer Charlotte Kruk that take the phrase eye-candy quite literally. Three sweet dresses are on display throughout the store, one made in at least 1000 Baskin Robbins spoons, another in Reese’s wrappers and finally the last in Good n Plenty boxes. Yes, you read correctly – this is WEARABLE ART. Deb sells the pieces, which range from $1,500 to $3,500. The dresses are tiny, however, only offered in size 2/4.
Deb loves to play with store sales, meaning they change at her whim. “If you want to know when a sale ends, go to a major department store. I run a boutique and we are really not for everyone. We have a posh palette,” she explains. Her Cop Copine will be on the 50% rack one day and back to full price the next. Deb buys what she likes when she sees it and she buys in limited quantity. The point is this: If you like it, buy it now cause once it’s gone it ain’t comin’ back.
Simply Smashing! 241-B E. Campbell Ave. Campbell, CA 95008 408-379-1925
Corinne Phipps operates Urban Darling
