Dolce Vita Opens First Hamptons Pop-Up With Down The Street: Blending Art, Shoes, And Summer Style

Forbes

21 hours ago

Dolce Vita opens a concept store with Down The Street.
The Hamptons is known for interesting pop-ups during the peak summer season, but 2025 brings one most people probably didn't see coming—combining art and shoes in one chic spot. In May, Dolce Vita and Down The Street launched a unique concept store. While the brand has boutiques in Soho, Georgetown, Austin and Aventura, this is the first expansion to the coveted enclave on the Eastern end of Long Island.
Flowers and shoes
Located at 95 Main Street, the generously sized 2185-square-foot store isn't so much about shoes or art, but rather about storytelling.
While Dolce Vita's shoes are sold online and in most major department stores, this collaboration is demonstrative of a growing shift in the retail landscape: brands that want to create an experience, especially one that can easily be shared on social media. 'Today's consumer is looking for more than a product. They want to be inspired, to stumble upon something unexpected. Curating a space that blends fashion and art makes the store a destination, not just a store,' Nicole Reisman, Director of Influencer Marketing and Events, Dolce Vita tells me.
Art, antiques and shoes
The space itself features a modern-organic-meets-Hamptons design scheme, with just a touch of Nancy Meyers charm thrown in for good measure. Most of the colors throughout the boutique are neutral, and a large curved display showcases the brand's latest collection. This fresh take includes everything from antique chairs and dressers to scalloped lighting. The walls are adorned with a variety of curated pieces from Down The Street, all of which are available for purchase.
A gift with purchase
Another Hamptons touch is a co-branded gift with purchase: Mason jars filled with jam. There's no condiment that screams 'Hamptons' quite like jam.
A gallery wall
While collaborations are nothing new for Dolce Vita (past collaborations include For Love And Lemons and there's currently a shoe line with Byrdie Social Golf Wear, which is sold online as well as brick-and-mortar locations), the partnership with Down The Street is probably a bit unexpected from the consumer's standpoint.
However, Reisman tells me otherwise. "I came across Down The Street on Instagram and was immediately struck by the brand's distinct aesthetic and thoughtful curation. It felt like a natural fit for us—the kind of brand that could bring new energy to our Southampton space while aligning with our values around design, sustainability, and storytelling. We knew we wanted to give them a platform—to spotlight a vision that felt niche, elevated, and worth sharing with our community in a tangible way.'
Every piece of art featured in the store is intentionally curated. 'It was never simply about placing art on walls, but about cultivating something more layered and lasting: a sense of connection,' says, Jamie Wyskiel, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Down The Street.
Art from Down The Street
The art is also changed each month, telling a story in three chapters.
'Chapter One, the May Collection, focused on natural forms that reflect the softness of early summer, including antique still life oil paintings, charcoal figure drawings, and 1930s film photographs,' explains the art entrepreneur. 'Our second chapter, The June Collection, builds on this narrative with a focus on the rhythms of summer life in the Hamptons: mornings at farm stands, afternoons on horseback, evenings by the fire, long drives with the windows down, walking barefoot from grass to sand.'
Wyskiel approaches the selection process in a highly personal way, only choosing what she would want on her own walls. 'Many of the pieces in this collection were sourced in Italy, across Tuscany, Puglia, and Bologna, as well as in New York, London, and beyond. Our hope is to bring these beautifully lived-in works into people's homes in a way that feels personal and accessible.'
However, it was also important that the art be an extension of both Dolce Vita and the local landscape, especially because the Hamptons is one of the most beautiful places on the East Coast, if not the world. 'While sourcing, we serendipitously came across a group of vintage horse drawings, which gave me the idea to shoot the content for the June pieces at a barn near where I grew up, styling my close friend who grew up riding in Dolce Vita boots and mules. This felt like a fitting extension of the project and a nod to the longstanding and vibrant equestrian community in the Hamptons. Each chapter and element of this Summer Art Series has taken shape organically yet intentionally, forming an authentic dialogue between art and community.'
The store will also be transformed into a cottagecore-inspired European wine bar for a private event in July, welcoming friends and community members. It will be completely reimagined as an immersive dinner experience, featuring custom plates that guests can take home as keepsakes, menus printed on vintage books, a vinyl DJ, handwritten recipes, and other thoughtful touches. The dinner reflects Dolce Vita's commitment to intentional, offline experiences that bring art and community together.
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