Designer Looks Come to Town with A List Pop-ups

Hallie Wasserman describes herself as a fashion chameleon — loving most styles, though her day-to-day look is what she likes to call “downtown street,” which consists of denim, oversized knits, leather jackets and boots. The Hunting Valley native founded A List Pop-Up Shops to elevate Cleveland’s fashion scene with designer pop-up boutiques in the area.

She began her endeavor about two years ago, after she realized a demand for brand-conscious fashion in Cleveland. “People would always stop me and ask me ‘where’d you get those things?’" Wasserman recalls. "I’d always be setting people up with websites and brands, so I was always thinking about ‘What don’t we have here, what can we use, and what do I love to do?’" She would recommend shopping websites like Revolve, Shopbop, Singer22 and Intermix.

So she established A List to put locals in touch with high-end retailers such as Rachel Zoe and Ramy Brook in person, rather than online. “It’s a hands-on boutique experience; [the customer] can touch it, feel it, try it on,” she says. “Its great for the Cleveland shoppers [to experience] brands not yet in our marketplace or that never will be.”

Wasserman does about six events a year, and the brands she brings in keep locals coming back. “We have a very fashionable customer that likes value," she says. "They enjoy discovering things that are new and want it at their fingertips.”

The next A List Pop-Up takes place in Legacy Village, Feb. 3-6, featuring Nicole Miller clothes, jewelry by Hagar Statat and Julie Rachel Designs, a Cleveland jewelry designer.

We caught up with Wasserman and Lauren Schuler, a senior account executive at Nicole Miller, to talk about specific pieces to look out for at the pop-up.

Courtesy of Nicole Miller

This Nicole Miller Cold Shoulder top ($254) is 100 percent silk. "It's showing skin in a more demure, sophisticated way," Schuler says.

Courtesy of Nicole Miller

The Motion Blur Midi Dress, ($495) is made of Techno Metal, a material exclusive to Nicole Miller. “This is a great dress for pre-spring. It's transitional," Schuler says. "[It's] extremely flattering for any body type."

These Julie Rachel Designs cuffs are made from cowhide and accented with authentic Chanel buttons. “I fell in love with these cowhide cuffs and thought they were a perfect marriage to the vintage Chanel buttons,” explains designer Julie Hirsh. “They are fun, rustic, edgy and classy all in one.”

Catch this event at Legacy Village in the former Lithium space Feb. 3 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Feb 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Feb 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.