Capretto’s New Buyer Jason Salstein Talks Bags, Shoes and Beyond

I am the type of girl who will travel for fashion. A good store will give me reason to put endless miles on my car….. What can I say? I’m a committed  shop-a-haulic. Guilty.

Do you ever venture into South Miami? If so, or if not, I am giving you every reason to get behind your wheel and go to Capretto, on Sunset.

No, it is not new. That is one thing Capretto and I have in common, we  both turned thirty years old as of this year. However, what is new, is the fascinating, outgoing, talented, young, hot and vivacious buyer who is attempting to take risks and make Capretto more appealing. It seems hard to imagine, but I trust in Jason Salstein.

You may have heard his name. He launched a highly publicized handbag line called Hunting Season in 2005 (which he is no longer partner of), then he designed at the handbag house of VBH, that has the best clutches known to mankind, where he designed with Valentino’s Boyfriend Bruce Hoeksema. He launched Our Lord & Saviour, Crucifix bags worn by Madonna at her 52^nd birthday party, among celebrities galore. He also designed for St. John and launched their handbag line, then was hired by billionairess Petra Ecclestone where he did guess what?…designed bags with her Stark collection. And last but not least, he started worked with St. John, where Salstein redesigned their handbag collection.

Fast forward to April of 2013, Capretto was fortunate enough to bring him in as buyer of the small, mostly shoe oriented boutique that carries big brands like Balenciaga, Celine, Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, Isabel Marant, Givenchy, Reed Krakoff, Valentino, Lanvin, Gucci, MiuMiu, Prada, Sergio Rossi, Chloe, Barbara Bui, Charlotte Olympia, Gianvito Rossi, Golden Goose Sneakers and Pierre Hardy.

Salivating yet?

Jason’s buy will start hitting the floor in November with Pre-Spring collection….

Jason tells Haute Living that he is a bit of a risk taker bringing in new, young and fresh designers, as he boasts “we always carried top name brands. I want to keep the core classics.” He and assistant buyer Amanda Suarez, who Salstein refers to as “Wifey” explain how “we know our customers very well. At Capretto, you get an at home feeling. When we do the buy, we shop for our specific clients and we have the brands make specific colors for us. Were known for our honesty. We’re not here to just sell. The clients are our family. We succeed because our service product and attitude is great. We are not pretentious, we want our clients to come in and shoot the shit with us and what is more amazing now is how we see our customers’ daughters coming in. It’s generational. There is something special about it we cant explain.” Want a fun-fancy fact? While speaking with Jason and Amanda they told me how “when it comes to the buy, most orders get cancelled because the items we choose are so select. We pick a lot of runway. Most of it never even goes into production.” That’s relatively tasteful and chic. Yallah? Speaking of which, they just launched a private label, in house brand of small make up bags – clutches and totes for “our girl who is a traveler. We came out with ‘take me with you’ and the ‘voyage tote’.” They come in leather and skins. Personally, I prefer the ‘take me with you’ that retails for $250.

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Instagram: @capretto_southmiami

QUICKIES ALA Jason…

E: Hottest shoe designer off the radar?

J: Gianvito Rossi (Sergio’s son) next big thing.

E: What line do you love currently?

J: Joseph Altuzarra.

E: Local competition?

J: The Webster.

E: Events coming up?

J: Yes, for our 30^th, in October, there will be a VIP cocktail reception for our customers and there are various Designers are coming for Basel and we will have a personal appearance with Jerome Rousseau and a trunk show with jewelry designer Lele Sadoughi, whom used to work for J. Crew, and with Pamela Love and Eddie Borgo jewels. I will also be bringing in Stark by Petra….. Many cool things, we are stoked.