She is perfectly suited to her sensuality, is easy to laugh and like pretty things, and has a magnetism that only a few people who don’t try hard can possess… Am I describing a muse? inspired? Elle’s Boutique, or the owner herself, Elle Florescu? You decide. Sometimes, having a founder is so embodying the brand they’ve created that it’s hard to know where to stop and where to start.
Florescu opened Elle’s Boutique, the Austin-based store, to celebrate “a modern representation of joy and intimacy” at the start of the pandemic, and it turned out, a year when everyone stayed home. not a bad time to launch a brand that says more intimate pursuit. When designing the space, she first imagined how she wanted people to feel when they walked through its doors.
“I wanted the space to feel like a Milanese living room from the 1970s — even though it was a retail concept, I wanted it to feel like a comfortable gathering where people feel at home. Inspiring, curious and playful. There is always a nice bottle of chilled roses, a buzzing atmosphere and the promise of an evocative conversation.”
To celebrate a festive season, Elle invited a few friends to the store to buy a holiday cocktail party with simple yet profound bites, thorny eggs and seasonal fun. Scroll to see the luxury party details (including that olive oil cake recipe) and her secret to a great gathering. Hint: it involves adventure.
How do you organize a meeting?
For me, it’s all about diversity — I love bringing different souls together. I’m not really a planner, but the beauty of our location is that we’re next to some Favorite local restaurant. I can get delicious grilled meats and cheeses from Swedish Hills or a dozen oysters from Clark’s across the street. As for drinks, we like make a cocktail for special occasions; otherwise, it’s simple cocktails and roses.
Tell us about Elle’s Boutique chalet — it’s a great space.
The bungalow was built in the 1930s, and it looked completely different when we first bought it. Given its limited space, we needed to give it a spacious feel, so we raised the ceiling, demolished most of the walls, and installed skylights and vaulted ceilings.
Form is defined by the different emotional experiences that I hope to evoke in each interior space. In the main room, I wanted the client to feel curious, playful and comfortable, that’s why we designed it to be as much like a living room as possible.
Much of the inspiration comes from the Milan-based architect and designer Vincenzo De Cotiis – Bold colors, rich textures, custom furniture. We used dark blue plaster for the main retail space, terracotta plaster in the kitchen, both by Sloan Houser. The furniture is mostly custom or vintage in origin. In the main space, the pendant light is a Poulsen sourced from Sputnik in Dallas. Two suede LC3 chairs from Le Corbusier for Cassina that I found on 1stdibs. The four burgundy Cassina taxi seats were passed down to me by my mother.
The dressing room is designed to be a safe, sexy and luxurious space. I want people to relax in this space, not feel rushed. Lighting, tailor-made mohair couches, soft rugs all contribute to this sensuous performance feel. There are no overhead lights, the mirror is backlit to create a bright glow and all lights are dimmed. My favorite element of the entire space is the paint color used in the dressing room. Light is reflected through the fine red high-gloss lacquer of Europe’s Fine P Paint to create a brilliant sheen. A vintage-style stroller is always full of things to keep everyone entertained and entertained. All senses are intended to participate here.
What does a great gathering look like to you?
Adventure in the form of chat or activity. I like a gathering that is either rooted in something very specific, or completely indifferent. Either way, a gathering should be considered. If anchored in an activity, it could involve an outdoor paella picnic, a great meal after a planned group bike ride, or gambling on the dice.
Even an impromptu gathering can be thoughtful; For me, permissiveness and discretion should coexist. It’s all about the details – a great cheese, a treat that counts as food, music, scent.
Guide us through your typical day.
I usually wake up around 8 o’clock and roll around in bed, cuddling our two dogs. I love this time in the morning; I feel calm and peaceful. My fiance Larry set the record and we drank coffee together on the patio, on our two chairs. This came to an abrupt end when I realized I was running late for something — a gym session, a meeting, etc. I certainly don’t have a workday uniform; the same applies to anyone who works at the store. Freedom of speech is extremely important to me. Sometimes baggy trousers and a t-shirt, sometimes a fitted leather skirt. My mood informs my outfit, and it can range from casual androgynous, to chic, to mismatched socks.
Nearly every day is different, and that’s what I love most about what I do. Usually, I try to get both a creative job done and a little bit of grudging work done. The morning starts with some design or development meeting — I’m currently working on a bar project with an MML slated to open in March, and a hotel concept in Aspen. Then I went to the store to communicate with my team. We’ll look at inventory needs, marketing initiatives, upcoming photo sessions, event reservations, and depending on the year, have a zoom market appointment with a vendor. In the afternoons, I try to spend some time looking at Quickbooks, doing financial planning, and updating emails. I love going to the store in the late afternoon and early evening to meet customers and chat with friends who pass by.
Evenings are spent cooking at home and relaxing with Larry. Or, if he’s opening a restaurant, I might be at the restaurant with friends for the tenth night in a row. I tend to leave the gap between extremes – there is rarely an in-between.
What do you drink and eat in the morning?
Coffee or lemonade, but mostly lemonade. I swear I was the only adult ordering lemonade at Swiss Hill in the morning. I’m not really a breakfast person, but if I’m hungry, I’ll rummage through the pantry for some nuts or beef jerky. I know, I have a weird breakfast habit…
What are your favorite 3 products on the table?
I love the subtle elegance of Tracie Hervy ceramics and Carriere Freres candle. Heather Rosenman from LA also creates these especially beautiful flower vase. She is an incredibly talented artist inspired by ancient Cycladic figures. I painted the concrete nature of her pieces; I find them magnetic.
What are your must-have cookware?
A cutting board and a sharp knife. They can be functional and beautiful at the same time.
Your favorite cookbook?
The River Café London, Thirty Years of Recipes version. The recipes themselves are both inspirational and simple, and the cookbook is a love letter to the restaurant that Ruth Rogers and her deceased partner, Rose Grey, built together. build. It is a chronicle of their memories, victories and joys. Every time I read Ruth’s letter in the foreword, I can feel her passion for her beloved partner and friend, and the wonderful journey they have begun together. . It is truly a story of friendship and adventure.
What will we always find in your fridge?
Arugula, Parmesan, Olives
What scares you about entertainment and why?
I always feel comfortable when entertaining. I am the product of a big, crazy, messy family. Both my parents were great entertainers – my mother came from a dumb Texas family and my father, from a big, boisterous European family. Having grown up in the chaos of this dynamic, I am used to spontaneous entertainment. I grew up doing charcuterie table with them or even throw their party. It always feels natural.
Your signature drink or dish for gatherings?
Boiled fish with tomatoes with Chile oil and herbs
What is a tip for those who want to organize a meeting on a budget?
Keep things simple and elegant. Ambience is much more valuable than anything. Light is paramount. Candle, Good music, a bottle of good wine.
Favorite conversation starter?
“If you don’t know me, what do you think I do for a living?” A friend recently told me that he would assume that I work at Zumiez.
The list of perfect dinner parties includes:
D’Angelo
Go to central solution:
A burlap runner with a variety of wild cut flowers. I like a natural, tonal center – one that combines neighboring elements.
What’s your stress-free partying rule?
The more comfortable the host, the more pleasant the guest.
Dream dinner guests?
- Sally Mann
- Robyn Davidson
- Jane Jacobs
A perfect meal should…
… Always start at the back.
It’s not a party without…
… Some characters.
Every host should know how to…
… Make someone feel comfortable.
