The celebration of manhood that is Over-the-Rhine men’s lifestyle store Article has officially introduced its new sister to the neighborhood, bringing with her a distinct feminine edge.
Meet Idlewild Woman.
Article and Idlewild Woman are both retail and lifestyle boutiques owned by Anthony and Maria Graziani, a husband-and-wife team with a heart for fashion and the city of Cincinnati. The goal behind each of their stores is to create a place that nurtures and embraces the beauty of adulthood with the belief that clothing isn’t something that must be sacrificed with age.
“You need to love yourself for the way you are now,” Maria says. “Living in the present is what we try to do.”
Article first began when Anthony felt that the retail aspect of manhood had been lost in the back corner of a store at the mall, so he and Maria were inspired to create a place that caters to what men are looking for, but also one that cultivates community in Cincinnati. With this concept in mind, the shop took off immediately.
Turns out, they had the same concept for women.
Idlewild Woman opened their doors only a block away from Article in April, welcoming women to come and celebrate their bodies just the way they are. “We wanted to build a store and a concept for women who aren’t finding inspiration from a commercial mall,” Maria says.
Both shops are located on Vine Street, providing a comfortable atmosphere in which customers can feel at home right when they walk through the door. Between the couches, hanging plants and contemporary rugs, each space is created to feel less and less like a more profit-oriented retail store.
The classically simple design already existing at Article was translated into the female version at Idlewild, maintaining its modern feel with neutral colors and a clean, less-is-more environment.
“We looked at the space and all of the character and we didn’t want to take away from that, just make it more useable for retail,” she says.
They’ve even put the contemporary exposed white-brick wall to use as a backdrop for employees to model and hang outfit inspirations that get featured on their social media sites.
However, the Grazianis don’t believe in plastering a face onto a brand. There is no ideal “Idlewild Woman” or “Article Man”; instead, the shops give everyone something to identify with.
“Our culture is obsessed with youth, but the majority of your life you’re not young,” Maria says. “Why do we have to be obsessed with that? We should be obsessed with being adults. We want it to be about the community, and there’s something in our stores for everyone.”
Because of their admiration for small designers, many of the store’s products are made in the U.S., along with selected designers from overseas — both keeping quality in mind for products that last.
“We like to think the things you buy in our stores are going to last you season after season,” Maria says. “We’re less into the trends and more into the classic pieces that are going to last you longer than fast-fashion stores you’d see in the mall.”
Idlewild currently carries authentic clothing brands such as Billy Reid, Imogene and Willie, Gant Rugger and more, as well as jewelry from shops like Another Feather and Tiro Tiro.
Both stores are also proud to sell local items like Noble Denim jeans at Article and Haven Magazine at Idlewild. The Grazianis look forward to making more local connections and cultivating relationships with those who are just as passionate about the city as they are.
As successful as Article and Idlewild have been so far in their journeys, the Grazianis say they are more than ready to continue growing, including online and through events in their welcoming spaces. “You don’t have to come in and just buy something; you can come in and have a drink with us,” Maria says.
As for Idlewild, their women’s event space located in the back half of the shop is scheduled to take off in the next couple months, when Maria hopes to continue with wine tastings and host workshops around the holidays.
“We’re trying to do something different,” she says. “And I hope we make a difference [in OTR].”
IDLEWILD WOMAN is located at 1230 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. ARTICLE is located at 1150 Vine St., #11, Over-the-Rhine. More info: idlewildwoman.com, articlemenswear.com.
This article appears in Jul 8-14, 2015.
