Always in Fashion – Philadelphia Inquirer
About Sophy Curson
Sophy Curson
Discerning Shoppers’ Favorite Philadelphia Boutique for Almost 90 Years!
Discerning women of style expect something special when on the hunt for fashion designer collections. Philadelphia is a town of fashion-forward women, and when they’re searching for premier designer collections in cocktail and evening wear, jewelry and other accessories, they turn to Sophy Curson. They are drawn by our sensitive approach to customer service and our memorable shopping experiences. Approaching and helping a customer is not just a skill, but an artistry. To assist her in finding exactly what she wants, that is a science mixed a little bit of magic
Within that artistry is the ability to offer service that is helpful without being intrusive. Finding the right outfit for that perfect occasion is a very personal experience, and we at Sophy Curson have a mission to guide customers, not pitch them. Our sales associates engage with our customers, presenting suggestions from our fashion designer collections to aid in finding merchandise that both reflects current women’s fashion trends as well as reaching beyond to arrive at personal expressions of individual style. When shopping for women’s designer collections, Sophy Curson’s customers can expect excellence; we aim to exceed the highest of expectations.
For almost 90 years, Sophy Curson has dedicated personal service and attention to detail as our promise to you. In addition to exquisitely furnished, private dressing rooms, we offer:
Parking and Public Transit
Sophy Curson is located at 122 South 19th Street, Philadelphia PA 19103, at the corner of Sansom and 19th Streets, in Rittenhouse Square. We are accessible by public transportation or by car. Buses service streets throughout the area and we are just a short walk from Suburban Station, accessible via Septa’s Subway Lines and Regional Rail. For those who prefer to drive, metered street parking is available, and the store is a short walk from a few parking garages.
On-premises expert alterations
Even the finest garment likely requires some alteration to achieve the perfect, custom fit. Sophy Curson’s expert tailoring professionals ensure a precise and stylish fit, every time. Our in-house alterations team provides convenient and efficient fittings, whether it’s for your wedding gown, a new cocktail dress or a pants suit for the office. Our work is transformative, providing the finishing touch that makes an ensemble truly yours.
Designer special orders
As a fine women’s fashion boutique, we do the utmost for our customers. We feature ready-to-wear in sizes 2 – 18, but if we do not have what you need in stock, you can rely on us to do everything in our power to get it. Our international network of resources and our close, personal relationships with designers ensures that your special order requests are given top priority. In addition, several of our trunk shows include made-to-measure options, wherein styles can be customized to your taste and produced in any size.
Philly’s Beer Gardens Bringing Out the City’s Most Fashionable
Sporting Beautiful Dresses, Perfect Summer Pants, and Gorgeous Tops
Beer Here!
Philadelphia has been known as a “beer town” for a few centuries, but recently has gained accolades for becoming a craft-brewing mecca. One fantastic benefit that has accompanied our love for craft-brewing and craft beer consumption is the sudden emergence of the city’s multitude of beer gardens. The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection seems to have fallen hard for the beer garden. In the past two years we have gone from a city with a few alfresco refreshment stations to a metropolis containing more than twenty beer gardens within the City of Philadelphia, and a few more on the way later this summer.
So the million dollar question is, of course: what to wear when sidling up beside the bar or at a picnic table in an urban oasis serving freshly brewed suds? The answer is simple: wear something cool. We’re seeing pretty, light fabrics in both dresses and pants and skirts, as well as colorful lightweight tops. Most guys are leaving the ties and jackets in the office, and many of the ladies are swapping out their heels for flats, but we’re seeing wedges, sandals and even sneakers on the rustic patios and gravel beds beneath the city’s swankiest new watering holes.
“Wearing lighter clothes is critical to enjoying any outdoor space during Philly’s hot and humid summers,” noted Sophy Curson’s David Schwartz. “Nobody wants to be outside sweating. The key is to find a lightweight dress or pants and tops that makes you feel beautiful and are fashion forward. There’s nothing like making an entrance into a happening scene after work with a boatload of confidence and swagger.”
Obviously, you’ll want to choose your apparel based on how hot the temperature and humidity are, and factor in whether you’re meeting friends or a date. “If you’re hanging out with friends, you might go a little more casual, and if you’re meeting a date, you might want to ratchet things up a bit,” quipped Schwartz. No matter how dressy you choose to go, remember to always bring an umbrella, as Philadelphians know that summer showers can pop up faster than these swanky beer gardens, and nothing can ruin your day more than getting caught in a drenching downpour.
Checkout Philadelphia Magazine’s handy list of beer gardens to determine which venue is best for you when you decide to imbibe.
Photo By Martin Falbisoner (Own work)
Sophy Curson on the Silver Screen
Small Reference in Jennifer Weiner’s In Her Shoes Provided Us with Great Joy!
Philadelphia has a rich history in cinema, with films such as Trading Places, The Sixth Sense, Philadelphia, Mannequin and the Rocky series all being filmed and taking place in our historic city. In 2005, Philadelphia author and former Philadelphia Inquirer writer Jennifer Weiner chose our beautiful city to film her movie, In Her Shoes, starring Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine.
Late in the film, MacLaine, who is getting out of a cab at Jamaican Jerk Hut on South Street in Philadelphia, is seen carrying a Sophy Curson bag. We were so tickled and honored to have our boutique, which has been in business since the 1920’s, included in this film. We pride ourselves as being an iconic women’s boutique in Philadelphia, and to see such a respected and celebrated novelist such as Weiner include our brand was something that we are extremely proud of.
We’ve been around for the better part of a century, and don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. Well-heeled ladies from Philadelphia and our surrounding suburbs, as well as visitors to the region and celebrities alike have been shopping in our store since 1929, and we welcome them with open arms day in and day out. Looking out of our carefully appointed windows onto the beautiful streets of the city always brings a smile to our faces. And seeing passers by stop to look at our windows and then come inside to shop provides us with as much joy as the surprise we got when our bag appeared in Ms. Weiner’s funny, smart and entertaining film. It was a huge honor to be included in a film that showcased so many iconic places in our wonderful city, and sincere validation that Sophy Curson is as much a part of Philadelphia as Philadelphia is essential to us.
Photo Gallery: Petra Meiren Trunk Show
Celebrated German Designer Petra Meiren Showcases Her Artisan Jewelry in Philadelphia
Sophy Curson was proud to welcome celebrated German artisan jewelry designer Petra Meiren and her collection of unique earrings, necklaces, bracelets and belts on Saturday, May 7th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sophy Curson, located at the corner of 19th and Sansom Streets in Rittenhouse Square. “I am thrilled Petra has chosen Sophy Curson to exclusively sell her beautiful designs in Philadelphia,” noted David Schwartz. “Meiren’s pieces are playful, soulful and purist in nature, and are terrific additions to the accessories we offer.”
Petra Meiren has been passionate about jewelry since she was a little girl. In 1992, The Budenbach-based jewelry designer received her M.A. in Gemstones and Jewelry Design from the University of Trier, shortly thereafter establishing her own company. Her collections have appeared on runways in Paris, Vienna, Italy and Switzerland. Her jewelry has been spotlighted in dozens of international fashion publications including Vogue, Glamour and ELLE. Meiren’s favorite material is metal, but not like any you’ve seen. “They are knit into almost textile-like fine weaves or paper-thin, translucent structures,” she explained. “They are soft and delicate, like transparent gossamer film, or striking, broad metal areas. Cool silver, matt-finished oxidized silver, warm gold and shimmering rose gold accentuate the flattering surfaces. Petra’s motto is, “Jewelry is fun for you to wear and fun for me to design.” Her pieces range in price from $100 – $600 apiece.
“We had so much fun hosting Ms. Meiren and her stunning jewelry,” quipped David Schwartz. “Our customers were seriously impressed by the pieces, and showed up excited to take home some new accessories that are perfect for the spring and summer seasons.”
Sophy Curson, the chic women’s boutique located on Philadelphia’s famed Rittenhouse Square, has been dressing Philadelphia’s most glamorous women since 1929. Learn more about Petra Meiren.
The DNC is Coming to PHL
Philly Will Be on the World Stage July 25–28, 2016!
The BIG Question: What will the candidates and delegates be posting about Philly?
With Philadelphia hosting the Democratic National Convention July 25–28, 2016, the BIG question isn’t going to be who the Democrats will be nominating for the Presidential Election, but what will the candidates and delegates be talking about on social media during their time in The City of Brotherly Love? No matter what happens during the business portion of the DNC, there’s no doubt that Philadelphia will be shining bright on the international stage as the world watches one of the most significant components of the most contentious election in modern U.S. history. Besides traditional TV, radio and online press, the world will be watching as thousands of visitors use #PHLDNC2016 to show and tell their followers what’s happening in Philly.
We’ve witnessed a lot of history on our corner of 19th and Sansom Streets in Philadelphia over the past 87 years. We’ve endured the Great Depression, 21 Presidential Elections, and a World War, and celebrated two Phillies World Series victories, two Flyers Stanley Cup Championships, an RNC Convention in 2000, and the ever-changing evolution in the world of fashion throughout the nearly nine decades that we’ve been in business. We’re as excited to welcome the DNC delegates, candidates and national and international journalists to our incredible city, as one can imagine.
It’s interesting how when historic events like the DNC happen in Philadelphia, we have the opportunity to celebrate who we are and what the region has to offer. Without events like this, we sort of take for granted that we’re the 5th largest city in the U.S, or that we have the second largest downtown population in the country (behind Manhattan)! And it’s pretty incredible to think that the 71 hotels in Philadelphia and many surrounding the city are booked solid for this event. That represents a massive 35,000 rooms, and a ton of social media posts! We’re certain that the 93,000 small business owners like us are excited to meet the visitors coming to our historic city, and will be rolling out the proverbial red carpet to ensure that all of the posts and conversations about Philly include more than about how delicious our cheesesteaks are. We’re sure there will be a ton of posts about our iconic sandwiches, but we’re very certain that they’ll also be raving about our restaurants, boasting about our city’s beauty and singing the praises of the shops and clothing boutiques. They might even post a few shots of our locally brewed beers and hand-crafted spirits, which have gained serious notoriety recently.
Welcome to Philadelphia, social media savvy DNC constituents and candidates. We’re excited to have you, and we can’t wait to read what you say about us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! And you can be sure we’ll be watching those selfies to see what you all are wearing while living it up in our wonderful city.
Learn more about the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Sophy Curson Hosts Exclusive Jewelry Trunk Show
Celebrated German Designer Petra Meiren Showcases Her Artisan Jewelry on May 7th
Sophy Curson is proud to welcome celebrated German artisan jewelry designer Petra Meiren and her collection of unique earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and belts on Saturday, May 7th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sophy Curson, located at the corner of 19th and Sansom Streets in Rittenhouse Square. “I am thrilled Petra has chosen Sophy Curson to exclusively sell her beautiful designs in Philadelphia,” noted David Schwartz. “Meiren’s pieces are playful, soulful and purist in nature, and are terrific additions to the accessories we offer.”
Petra Meiren has been passionate about jewelry since she was a little girl. In 1992, The Budenbach-based designer received her M.A. in Gemstones and Jewelry Design from the University of Trier, shortly thereafter establishing her own company. Her collections have appeared on runways in Paris, Vienna, Italy and Switzerland. Her jewelry has been spotlighted in dozens of international fashion publications including Vogue, Glamour and ELLE. Meiren’s favorite material is metal, but not like any you’ve seen. “They are knit into almost textile-like fine weaves or paper-thin, translucent structures,” she explained. “They are soft and delicate, like transparent gossamer film, or striking, broad metal areas. Cool silver, matt-finished oxidized silver, warm gold and shimmering rose gold accentuate the flattering surfaces. Petra’s motto is, “Jewelry is fun for you to wear and fun for me to design.” Her pieces range in price from $100 – $600 apiece.
Sophy Curson, the chic women’s boutique located on Philadelphia’s famed Rittenhouse Square, has been dressing Philadelphia’s most glamorous women for 87 years. Learn more about Petra Meiren.
Welcome to Sophy Curson
Welcome to Sophy Curson’s blog, SoSophy. Stay tuned for updates.