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Beautiful People
Endless Summer
Christiane Celle: Boutique Owner
By Victoria Kirby
Christiane Celle believes her destiny was written in the stars. "In the Chinese horoscope, I'm a dog, which means I have a strong sense of smell. And my zodiac sign is Leo, so I'm ruled by the sun." The designer and owner of the Calypso boutiques also had some earthly influences, growing up in Cannes with the sea on one side and the town of Grasse -- the center of the world's perfumeries -- on the other. As a teenager, Celle became captivated by clothes: "My classmates vacationed in Nepal and India, and they'd return with these beautiful tunics and embroidered pieces." Celle went on to spend nearly a decade as a fashion stylist in New York City. But it was during a holiday to St. Barts in 1992 that Celle smelled an opportunity. "All the stores on the island were very high-end or cheapie tourist shops. There was no place to buy a great cover-up or a fun little dress." Celle soon opened the first Calypso boutique, stocked with her own designs and pieces collected on trips to India, Morocco, and beyond. One store begat 36, and now, Celle is working on her fourteenth fragrance, a vanilla-and-white-flower blend tentatively named St. Barts. Celle says, "I've been wearing a test version for weeks."
Beautiful People
Endless Summer