R E TA I L
THE GLORY OF GRACE BY DEDE MERCK
82 QUEST
exclusive, custom pieces just for us! (Del Toro, Mariella Vilar, Strong Boalt, Allegra Fanjul Designs…). We’ve taken the time to hand pick special pieces in a variety of styles so that everyone, of any age, will surely find something that suits them. Our prices are reasonable and quality is our top priority. We are always looking for ways to give back to our community, as well as to other less fortunate communities that need help. For example, this past Black Friday, we donated 50% of all proceeds made to Wholehearted Orphanage in Haiti, an organization whose founders are close friends with GRACE’s manager, Kaela, and her mother, Michelle. Additionally, in mid-December we are hosting a holiday event to benefit a mission trip to Cuba that I intend to join at some point during the first couple of months of 2017. My ministry, The Palm Beach Prayer Team Ministries Inc., will match each purchase of $100 or more to put toward the mission. With every coming holiday, we hope to host some form of charitable event at GRACE that will either match profits and/or donate funds in order to benefit others in need. We are delighted and grateful for all of the love and support we’ve felt throughout the past month, and we are beyond excited for what will come in the future for GRACE! With love, Dede and Grace. This page: Mother-and-daughter team Dede and Grace Merck. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Beachy shoes, bags, swimwear, and jewelry available at GRACE (first 3 photos); Lauren Layne, Grace Merck, George Merck, and Dede Marck; items for sale in the window of GRACE; GRACE’s storefront at 249 Royal Poinciana Way; Charlotte Lewis and Ariana Stein of clothing label Paloma Blue.
N I CO LE CO N N AU G H TO N
MY DAUGHTER, GRACE, had been living in New York for two years (after graduating from SMU in 2014), when she flew down to Palm Beach for a wedding this past April. I had been eyeing a storefront that had become available for rent, and I thought it would be absolutely perfect for our boutique. I brought Grace to see the spot and she instantly fell in love as well. From that moment onward, everything started to happen at lightening speed. Grace came home for the summer and we headed straight to LA to embark on our first buying trip (before we had even signed the lease!). We had discussed opening some kind of small business together for years, but the time never presented itself until now. By the grace of God we were able to transform the vacant space into a cozy, beautiful, island-y, locale that we absolutely adore coming to everyday (and hope others will too!). We wanted the store to have a St. Barth’s, Capri, Amalfi Coast vibe. In order to achieve that feel, we tried to stick with beachy, breezy pieces that can easily be thrown on every day. We are lucky to reside in a warm climate that allows us to offer resort and swimwear year-round (Frankie’s Bikinis, PilyQ, Paloma Blue, Juliet Dunn, Melissa Odabash, Cali Dreaming, Reina Olga…). Nevertheless, chillier winter evenings afford the chance for us to branch out into warmer, more seasonal pieces, such as lightweight cashmere sweaters and embroidered denim (Sandrine Rose, Flannel, Line, Muche et Muchette…). We have also done our best to find and provide unique accessories, jewelry, and leather goods at GRACE, along the lines of tote bags, clutches, footwear, pouches, beaded bracelets, straw bags, etc. (ASHA by ADM, CocoBella, Marte Frisnes…). Many of our items come from local vendors (from people who we grew up with in Palm Beach—and from their children) who have created