At Home with Garbarini's Teri Garbarini
For our series Closet Confidential, we interview interesting and uber-cool people in their homes wearing outfits from their closet. Culture & Style Editor ANNIE BLOJ interviews the owner of the Cherry Creek boutique Garbarini, Terri Garbarini. Terri is photographed at her home in Hilltop.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH
MAKEUP BY OKSANA STARLING
Annie Bloj: Terri, your namesake boutique, Garbarini, has become a beacon for Denverites and customers from all around the world to find the latest styles from the top designers. You have seen so much change, I can’t wait to get to know you better, find out what inspires you and how you keep Garbarini so fresh and fun.
Garbarini has been open for 34 years! You originally opened Garbarini as a shoe store on Larimer Square and then moved it to Cherry Creek North, where it has found its home ever since. What inspired you to open the first store?
Terri Garbarini: I opened my store because I didn’t want to look for a job! Nothing sounded appealing as far as employment goes, so I decided to open my store. I had no idea I would still be at it 34 years later! It was downtown on Larimer Square and we only sold shoes and accessories- no clothing at that point. Denver was so much smaller then and the word spread very quickly! It was the eighties so most of the shoes were black - although we had leopard too. So funny to think back.
AB: What do you love about your current location in Cherry Creek North?
TG: Moving to Cherry Creek was a huge win at the time. As cool, urban, and edgy as downtown was by comparison; Cherry Creek is just easier to get to, easier to park, more pleasant to stroll, everything is more convenient and all of the better boutiques are located here. It is also closer to where most of our customers live. Although that’s changing, the boundaries of where people live in Denver now are pushing further and further out in all directions.
AB: To what do you attribute your long-term success in Cherry Creek?
TG: The success of my store is due to my incredible staff, many who have been with me for close to 20 years or more. They are really good people, they are professional, they have good fashion sense, they are honest, helpful and fun! We all love what we do and that shows.
AB: What do you think makes Garbarini a must-shop for fashionable Denverites?
TG: I think our mix is amazing, no other store has the same combination of designer and contemporary lines, the mix of high and low price points along with jeans, many lifestyle items together with cocktail looks and the occasional black-tie ensemble! We edit many lines to bring only the very best of each category so that you don’t have to weed through it all. The term is curated- I think it gets a bit overused- but that is exactly what we do. We make sure we always cover the best of what’s on-trend, plus those pieces that transcend trends, the classics that always look good all while trying to keep the look elevated.
The sheer size of the store allows for lots of variety and yet we still have the space to make a beautiful presentation. I think we’re the largest better boutique in town. People love to browse and enjoy their time with us.
AB: What is inspiring you lately, what is exciting to you and who are your favorite designers?
TG: Fashion is fun, it’s about change, it’s visual and I’m very visual. I love beautiful things. I think it is easy to stay relevant and successful when you like what you do. I like my customers and I like buying great stuff for them. In terms of having a favorite designer, I don’t have a constant one, it changes seasonally.
AB: Your home is incredibly unique and distinctive, reflecting your style and interests. How did you go about working on it and how does it fuel your inspiration?
TG: My new house is beyond my wildest dreams. I have a degree in Art and Art History and I love the first half of the 20th century, especially Art Deco. I’ve been collecting Art Deco furniture and objects for decades, so I designed the house to be a reliquary for my treasures. It was so fun and rewarding. It’s a great accomplishment and it turned out so well. It’s a joy to live in, I feel so fortunate!
Terri Garbarini: @garbarinishop
Photography: @estherleeleach
Makeup: @starlingmua