Good news for shoppers who love the shop Max & Riley on Newbury Street in Boston: The boutique has opened an Andover outpost featuring its “high-end, yet accessible shopping.”
Co-owned by Susan Roussilhes and her daughter Hope, Max & Riley is expertly curated, filled with hand-picked dresses, bags, shoes, separates, gifts, and other items.
“We want women to feel like they can shop locally for high-end, exclusive designs, and not need to go in to Boston to find something they are looking for,” says Susan.
The style and selection in the shop is designed to appeal to a wide variety of shoppers.
“We are a mother-daughter team, so customers will see both perspectives and this translates into a blend of designs that many women across the spectrum can appreciate and enjoy,” Susan says.
Susan and Hope each have an impressive fashion pedigree under their stylish belts. Susan worked at John Wanamaker in the Philadelphia area, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bamberger’s, before transferring to Paris to live with her Paris-born husband, Philippe.
Hope’s fashion path included such stints as interning, learning, and working at Anthropologie, Teen Vogue’s Fashion University, and Oscar de la Renta.
“Hope and I had always talked about opening up a boutique ‘someday,’” Susan says.
That someday happened in Boston, where the family moved from southern New Jersey to be close to Susan’s older daughter, Ali, a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
There are high-end and more moderately priced pieces, too. Stop in to find fun styles from Show Me Your Mumu, as well as more classic designs from Black Halo, Rachel Zoe, Krisa, and Nightcap, plus casual wear, from labels like Wildfox and Lauren Moshi.
Max & Riley also carries Tanya Taylor and SJP Collection.
“Customers will not find those styles anywhere else in the area,” Susan says.
Longtime downtown Andover shoppers will also notice that Max & Riley is in the space once occupied by Amy Finegold’s boutique, dresscode, which closed after 13 years. Susan’s admiration for dresscode and Finegold are apparent.
“Amy really made a name for herself here and we really respect what she built,” Susan says. “When she approached us about taking her space, she wanted to be sure that another established store would take over and Andover would not be left without high-end, yet accessible shopping.”
Yet Max & Riley is clearly its own store with its own unique aesthetic. Rather than being a continuation of dresscode, Max & Riley is “a new store that moved into her space, and people have been responding so well to our store and our brands,” Susan says.
It’s no wonder: In addition to offering great fashion, Max & Riley prides itself on quality customer service.
“We also pride ourselves on quality customer service, and we have been listening to the customers and taking suggestions as to styles they are looking for,” Susan says.
She’s also eager to continue making new friends and happy customers in Andover. “We are so happy to meet everyone and for everyone’s support of our store!” she says.