One might not be able to buy love, but some of the items sold at Matthew Izzo could definitely buy some affection.
With everything from clothing to jewelry to skin care products, there is something to satisfy every relative, friend and significant other.
Many of the clothes carried there either have been worn or will be worn by celebrities. The owner, Matthew Izzo, buys a lot of the clothes with his connections to New York stylists.
“Our goal is to have as many exclusives that nobody else has. We want to be on the edge of the trends,” Izzo said. And although his store carries what is hip now, he said that he tries to “stock the store with items that are wardrobe-building.” “It’s hip and trendy right now, but you can take it out of your closet in two years and still wear it with style,” he said.
Philadelphia usually gets the shaft when it comes to carrying new designers, but Matthew Izzo has just recently added Heatherette to its inventory. The designers of Heatherette, Richie Rich and Traver Rains, were present just a few weeks ago to help launch the brand at the Center City store. Care Bear and unicorn print T-shirts glitter at about $85 a piece.
Their funky designs transfer into a much more sophisticated style of party dress. One stunning, silk, halter dress splashed with the vibrant colors of the rainbow costs $335.
Matthew Izzo also offers a huge selection of the hottest designer jeans for both him and her. The brands include Rock and Republic, Acne, Joe’s Jeans, Grail, Damage, Hudson and the hotter than hot Nudie brand jeans.
“The Nudie jeans are flying off the Web site. Everyone on the West Coast has been buying them like crazy, because they are the new “it” jeans,” Izzo said. The assortment of jeans cost from $130 to $250. Unfortunately, Matthew Izzo can be a Grinch when it comes to prices.
When asked about the high costs, Izzo responded, “All prices are corporately structured. We have no control over how much things cost. We might even be selling them for $5 cheaper than what, say, Nudie jeans are being sold for at Fred Segal on the West Coast.” So beware that although its clothing is fabulous, Matthew Izzo is not a store for the price-conscious shopper.
Of course after you’re done surfing the Ted Baker shirts and Acne cashmere sweaters, there are tons of great gift ideas for this holiday season that will keep you in the green and out of the red. Matthew Izzo offers a great selection of jewelry ranging anywhere from $25 to $360. Rings, bracelets and watches of various designers adorn the cases.
Izzo also sells his own candle line. With scents such as Rittenhouse, a soft lilac and jasmine aroma, to South Beach, which is more of a citrus, grapefruit fragrance, there is sure to be something that everyone will like for a fraction of the price.
If clothing, jewelry or candles, won’t do the trick, then saturate your epidermis with shaving products by Sharps and other skin care by John Allan and Red Flower. There are body lotions, bath soaks, skin creams and room mists all pricing between $12 and $56.
All the customers seem to be regulars, so now it’s your turn to find out why people keep coming back to this chic boutique. Matthew Izzo is located at the corner of 13th and Sansom streets, with a new store opening Dec. 3 at 11th and Walnut streets.
“The new store will be somewhat of a mini-department store,” Izzo said. It will have clothing, but also furniture, housewares and hair care products, and will have a salon. Izzo also has a furniture store at Ninth and Pine streets.
Caitlin Murphy can be reached at cmurph33@temple.edu.
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