Siena McLees in her new shop.
Fashion maven and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour once said, “You either know fashion or you don’t.”
For those who are in need of a little advice, experts like Siena McLees are ready, willing and able to step up to the fashion plate. The Shipoke resident recently joined the ever-growing list of female entrepreneurs setting up shop in Camp Hill.
Her new store, Chemise, slipped into its little niche on Market Street in mid-October among other boutiques that are increasing in number as the borough’s business district continues to expand.
McLees describes her shop as a “curated collection for modern dressing,” and her personal style is a reflection of that collection—elegant, understated, textural. She suggests that her interest in fashion may be inherited.
“My father’s mother was a seamstress,” she said. “She made beautiful clothing.”
The shop owner, who majored in theater at Penn State, discovered her calling while working on a school assignment.
“We were required to complete 40 hours of technical theater, and I gravitated towards costume design,” said McLees, whose face lights up when she recalls seeing her creations come to life on the big stage for the first time. “I sewed a suit for production, and my professor said that’s what I should do.”
Her attention then turned to retail.
“I decided I didn’t want to be a performer,” she said.
After McLees’ daughter was born, the family relocated to Philadelphia, where she spent time working for clothing giant Max Mara, founded by Achille Maramotti, a leading fashion entrepreneur in postwar Italy. She worked her way up to the position of Northeast merchandise manager before returning to the Harrisburg area.
“My husband took advantage of a great job opportunity here,” she said.
When she heard that Meeka Fine Jewelry was relocating on the same street and the building was ready for a new tenant, she knew the time was right.
“I had been thinking of opening up my own shop for 15 years, and I loved this little pocket right here on Market Street. We all offer something a little different,” McLees said of her neighboring shop owners.
She enjoys bringing a little bit of the Big Apple to Camp Hill.
“I have family that lives in Brooklyn, so I go to New York often,” she said. “The designers that I bring here are in my favorite boutiques.”
Perfect Addition
Inside of the new shop, shoppers discover a minimalist and elegant décor with an industrial chic vibe that features Edison bulb pendant lighting, attractive wood flooring and a front desk crafted from reclaimed barn wood and festooned with an Art Deco postage stamp design.
Racks of clothing line the walls and range from shirts and dresses to pants, jeans, capes and coats. Accessories include handbags and a special collection of what McLees describes as “non-massed produced” jewelry, as well as a selection of shoes to pull it all together.
Customers are provided with plenty of room to browse as Audrey Hepburn’s famous Vogue cover hangs on the wall, overseeing the entire enterprise.
Kara Beem describes McLees as her “go to” person for fashion advice.
“Siena is great at pulling a wardrobe together for anything from a casual event to date night,” said the Camp Hill resident, adding that she also appreciates that McLees offers customized advice based on lifestyle and personal preference. “With her background in working with Max Mara, she has an incredible ability to pull various textures together.”
Laurie Kennedy of Camp Hill considers the collection “contemporary, with an edge.”
“Siena has a skill for not only determining what will look great on a customer based on their body type, but also how various pieces will fit into their lifestyle,” said Kennedy, adding that the boutique owner is able to envision how something will look, often before a customer is aware of it.
“She showed me a pair of brocade pumps that I didn’t think were for me until she put them on me,” she said. “They work with so many outfits.”
Kennedy said that she likes that McLees has put so much thought into selecting pieces that work together for wardrobe-building and describes the merchandise as “versatile and wearable.”
“When I purchase one of her pieces, I find myself reaching for them time and time again,” she said. “They always fit well and look good.”
Kennedy, who also is a member of the Camp Hill school board, said she is delighted that another enterprising woman has chosen to open in Camp Hill.
“We, as a community, are trying to develop our business area on Market Street, and she is a perfect addition to our retail offerings,” she said.
Chemise is located at 2205 Market St., Camp Hill. For more information, call 215-740-9598 or visit the Chemise Facebook page.
Author: Stephanie Kalina-Metzger
