Children's boutique My Darling Jeans opens in St. James
Owner Pamela Atkinson at her store, My Darling Jeans, which recently opened in St. James. Photo Credit: Newsday/Joann Vaglica Credit: Newsday/Joann Vaglica
With a name like My Darling Jeans, one might expect to walk into a boutique with racks of denim. However, Pamela Atkinson, the new children's shop owner, says the name carries a much more sentimental meaning.
“Jean was my grandmother,” she says. “My mom, myself and my daughter all share this middle name. My grandfather used to write my grandmother letters when he was in the army, ‘my darling Jean.’ So we pluralized it because there’s so many of us.”
While denim doesn’t take over the floor at the boutique that celebrated its grand opening in October, Atkinson, 38, does stock up on made-for-Instagram looks for infants to girls up to size 10 and for boys up to size 6.
The one-time teacher and mother to daughter Cameran, 2 1/2 years old, and son, Declan, 1 1/2 years old, says although she loves fashion and does a lot of shopping, her kids were the driving force behind the boutique. “Suffolk County really has limited places to shop for kids, so if they do have a place, it’s a little more on the traditional side,” she says. “We try to bring a little more modern styles and we also want to be the one-stop-shop.”
Here, you’ll find more than 50 brands throughout the store that carries everything from pajamas to everyday styles, plus shoes, hair accessories, stuffed animals, blankets, books and room décor. Expect local brands such as Ooh La La Couture (casual to more sophisticated dresses and girlie outfits); Teagy Bean Co. (sunglasses, flower clips and bracelets); Midwood Avenue (exclusive to MDJ; milestone discs and other wooden creations); Marie Marano (knitted goods); Kids Kapers (custom bows); and Doe a Dear (clothing, purses, outerwear, footwear).
“I jokingly call myself the ‘bad mom,’ ” she admits, poking fun at herself and those who wait until last minute to get the family together, especially before the holidays. "I don’t want people to have that feeling of panic," she says. “Like before the holidays … ‘oh my gosh, I don’t have the right outfit, the kids aren’t ready, I’m not ready.’ It’s stressful being a mom, especially a working mom.”
Atkinson also offers a collection of holiday dresses, as well as christening and Communion attire for both girls and boys. Custom baby baskets are also available.
My Darling Jeans is priced “moderate to sky’s the limit,” with accessories like stuffed animals and hair bows starting at $5, and clothing starting at $30 for an infant’s outfit. It’s open Mondays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Find it at 556 NY-25A in St. James (in the Green Hills shopping center); 631-315-3655.
