“At 35 years old, I’ve seen all these styles before,” says Marisa Borghi, owner of the shoe boutique JoanMarie. This “been there, worn that” relationship with footwear gave Borghi the impetus to launch her Bridgehampton shop last summer. The store is the cure for Borghi’s woes, as it features newer and often lesser-known designers including Castañer, Hoss, and Coye Nokes, which are all new to the lineup of nearly 20 labels, as well as Edmundo Castillo, who recently made an in-store appearance, and Belle by Sigerson Morrison, both Hamptons exclusives.
When curating her selection, Borghi takes cues from her past and present social experiences on the East End. The shoe aficionado chooses what she deems the single best heel of the season and then completes her offerings with more durable and practical wedges, flats, and sandals. “You can’t wear a heel to a Hamptons party,” she says, since many events take place on the grass. Her variety of shoe styles also reflects her personal evolution from city maven to suburbanite to mother. “It’s a mix of what I used to be, which is someone going out in the city and wearing fun, high shoes, and now the practicality of it.” 2462 Main St., Bridgehampton, 537-0911
