When fashion designer Elyse Walker decamped with her family from Los Angeles to Napa Valley during the pandemic, she never dreamed it would create a business opportunity—or become permanent. But just as tart grapes can yield a particularly entrancing sauvignon blanc, sometimes wonderful things happen when you take a leap.
So in 2023, Walker opened her seventh namesake boutique in a historic 1800s brick building in St. Helena. It quickly became the town’s luxury fashion epicenter—filling a void in this affluent enclave renowned for its high-end resorts and Michelin-starred dining. Now, Bottega Veneta, Valentino, and jeweler Jenna Blake are among the prestigious brands that have hosted events and launched exclusive collections at Walker’s Main Street store, which has grown famous for its shopping pairings, such as wine and tequila complementing personal styling services.
Aesthetes from throughout the valley gravitate toward Walker’s signature high/low curation that seamlessly transitions from vineyard days to evening charity galas. Among the finds are laid-back Xirena cotton poplin separates, alluring watercolor-print dresses by Colombian designer Silvia Tcherassi, raffia bags by The Row, and recycled gold-and-diamond bangles by Nouvel Héritage.
For Walker, Napa Valley offers more than fashion—it also delivers a richer social life than her L.A. days ever did. “We call it summer camp for grown-ups,” she says. She reveals her go-to Napa Valley haunts, hidden gems, and favorite pours.
