A lot has changed on Main Street since Kildare Curtis opened his unisex clothing boutique, Eugene Choo, 16 years ago. Foot traffic has increased substantially, there’s more destination shoppers, and better places to eat have popped up, but what’s stayed the same is Curtis’s commitment to stocking his store with quality, timeless threads.
“It was good, but it really relied upon community support, there wasn’t a lot of destination shopping and very little foot traffic,” Curtis says, recalling the early days on Main Street.
He started with a vintage store three years before joining up with his sister, Fiona Curtis (who also had her own retail store), to open Eugene Choo. He decided to make the leap from vintage to new clothes after one too many people came in asking for the same thing – like classic black plain trousers. In the vintage game, you had to live with what showed up, while opening a boutique meant he could meet his customers’ demands.
The name of the quirky store was inspired by a friend Curtis knew when he was a kid.
“The code name we used when we were talking about merging the two stores was Eugene Choo. For whatever reason, the name just stood out, and then neither of us could compromise on the name is how it kind of boiled down, so it kind of stuck,” Curtis says.
The store signage reads “Welcome home Eugene Choo” and was intended for the namesake childhood friend if he ever turned up. So far, no word from the original Eugene Choo, but a handful of people with the name “Eugene Choo” have turned up at the store over the years.
“It’s usually that I can spot it happening because somebody will stand in front of the store and get their picture taken under the sign,” Curtis explains.
Curtis took over the business from his sister in 2006 and continued the unisex business model. These days, Curtis says his business is about 40 per cent male shoppers and 60 per cent female – pretty good odds considering that women generally shop more. Stylish men know that Eugene Choo is one of those brilliantly curated shops that offers the right mix of casual and classic clothes as well as a well-rounded wardrobe. Need the perfect black turtleneck? Check out Eugene Choo. The right pair of stylish, quality denim? It’s pretty safe to say Eugene Choo will have them.
During his buying trips to New York, often accompanied by his wife, The Block boutique owner Jennifer MacKay, Curtis looks for clothes that he himself would wear – those with quality fabrics and fits.
This season’s "house" line was inspired by Pablo Picasso and Francoise Gilot in the south of France, vintage children's summer play-suits, and a Paul Poiret men's tunic. They imported beautiful fabric from Japan for the collection – designed by Heather Young – of interchangeable, mix-and-match wardrobe pieces that are designed as much for the studio as they are for the beach.
Currently, some of the favourite lines Curtis is carrying in the store include the United Kingdom’s Universal Works, which he describes as having a soft construction with a utilitarian vibe to it: “Stylish older English gentlemen meets Japanese,” he says. Oliver Spencer, also out of the UK, has a British vibe that’s not mod, but more classic, and detailed-oriented without being fussy. On a more casual tip, there is Oh Dawn from Denmark, a Danish surf-inspired line with a clean Scandinavian aesthetic.
There are also more unique lines that will turn up on the racks at Eugene Choo this fall.
Kildare Curtis’ men’s wardrobe essentials
A two-piece suit
This is a must. You will need it at some point whether it be a funeral or wedding. Preferably go dark, which makes it good for every season and you can wear each piece separately.
A good pair of raw denim jeans
When they're new they can be dressed up, and once you break them in they really become your own. Plus, a reputable brand will last a long, long time.
An Oxford shirt
White? Blue? It's a dress shirt (you're gonna need that for your suit) but looks easy with the sleeve rolled up paired with those jeans.
A chino pant and/or short
Sounds boring but it'll get you through the country club doors or onto the yacht.
A Derby or Oxford dress shoe
Again, you need a shoe with that suit and it doubles down with the jeans and the shorts.
A Breton striped long-sleeve shirt
A French classic looks good under a suit jacket, with jeans or chinos and hey what about with shorts on the beach for a French Riviera look.
Converse Chuck Taylors
Last but not least. In either black (if you’re more punk) or white (if you’re more preppie). Goes with everything always!
