Accessories in Devi Kroell’s East Hampton store
Devi Kroell built a business on one must-have handbag: the python hobo. Since its 2004 debut, the brand has maintained a consistent focus on distinctive, impeccably constructed accessories made in the most luxurious and exotic materials. Validating this commitment, Devi Kroell was awarded Swarovski’s Perry Ellis Award for Accessory Design just two years after its launch, solidifying its place among luxury handbags.
That same year, the company opened its first boutique, a discreet space located below London Jewelers in East Hampton. This hidden gem became the ultimate destination for those in the know, who came to find the brand’s ubiquitous python hobo that had been spotted on the arms of trendsetters such as Sienna Miller and Anne Hathaway. Further cementing the store’s commitment to its exclusive audience, shoppers were often treated to private parties on the boutique’s outdoor patio. Over the past seven years, Devi Kroell has continued to grow, expanding beyond this initial location to a new space in a historic building at 23 Main Street. (The company also has opened boutiques in Manhattan and Las Vegas.)
This season python marched across many a runway: Prada’s snakeskin Mary Jane and suede booties, Gucci’s python pencil skirts and Hannah MacGibbon’s python paneled sweaters for Chloé were among the numerous looks. However, nobody does it quite like Devi Kroell. No stranger to the exotic, the brand’s signature pieces are timeless yet trendy. This season brought new styles as well, such as the Gramercy bag, which offers a more youthful silhouette. Our favorite piece, the accordion bag, was redesigned in rich jewel tones with an added shoulder strap, while the classic hobo was updated with bonded fox and rex fur for a multitonal color effect. Its wooden clutch, one of the house’s hallmark pieces, was even redone, in rare zebrano wood with hand-cut stones and Swarovski crystals.
Yet no matter how exotic the skins or how luxurious the embellishments, Devi Kroell remains, at its core, an East Hampton treasure dedicated to the community heritage and exclusive to the women who recognize an underrated virtuoso. 23 Main St., East Hampton
