Reese Witherspoon opens Draper James boutique: overpriced or niche market?


Our American Citizen opened an all-American store with a Southern flair in Nashville, Tennessee yesterday. Reese Witherspoon debuted the first physical location for her Draper James online boutique. She celebrated last night with a opening party held under tents and featuring guests like Sheryl Crow and Faith Hill. Look at Reese’s styling for the party. She’s got superlong extensions, Farrah Fawcett hair and a ton of makeup. We’ve never seen Reese styled like this and she looks like a country star.

Here are some pics Reese tweeted of the opening event. It looks like a wedding.

On Tuesday at the Music City Center in Nashville, Draper James and the YWCA of Nashville co-sponsored a conference called “Girls Just Want to Have Funds.” The event aimed toempower at-risk Nashville girls with economic literacy skills.” Draper James claims it offers “affordable luxury,” by selling sweatshirts for $125 and dresses for around $300. It seems bizarre that they would sponsor an event on money management when their items are out of the price range of most people. Maybe they’re conscious of that and that’s why they’re getting involved with this cause.

Reese’s brand is like a cheap Kate Spade knockoff at only marginally cheaper prices. I don’t understand why she’s branching out like this. She probably wants a second act but I also wonder if this is some kind of tax write off for her.

To see more of the inside of Reese’s new store, check out The Tennessean. It’s all very preppy.

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42 Responses to “Reese Witherspoon opens Draper James boutique: overpriced or niche market?”

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  1. Elisa the I. says:

    I read “Diaper James Boutique”. 😛

  2. vauvert says:

    If her dress is an example of what the brand offers, no thanks. Talbots’ does it better and more affordable.

  3. OSTONE says:

    I live in Atlanta (Addlanna) and I am sure she found her niche. This won’t be the wealthy southern lady’s answer to Tory Burch, but I am sure she will sell. If not, add it as a new tourist spot. People do love their American sweetheart (and citizen) Reese over here!

    • DaSH says:

      This. I’ve seen some of Draper James clothes on Instagram and they are really cute but way overpriced for dresses and shirts like Anthropologie which I used to love until I found a similar dress they were selling at a different online boutique for $30 and they had it in their store over $150 and now my eyes are opened. Lol. But I’ve read southern instagram fashionista and some southern fashion bloggers getting really excited for this boutique to open so they can shop. Who knows? She might be the next Jessica Simpson or Jessica Alba earning billion dollars.

      • holly says:

        It shouldn’t always be about the price tag. That $30 dress was likely made by an underpaid, disenfranchised woman in a third world country. By choosing to support brands that have an ethical supply chain you may end up spending more, but you do it in the knowledge that you aren’t supporting a system that exploits vulnerable workers.

      • Beth says:

        @holly I absolutely agree, but I read the about section of the Draper website and it didn’t mention anything close to ethical supply chains or local factories. I understand you’re commenting on Anthropoligie’s business model, but it seems RW is following the price point without the ethical trade-off.

    • Biting Panda says:

      Agreed.

      I expect her next store to be in Phipps Plaza.

      • belle de jour says:

        Bingo. Buckhead, Lovett, Westminster, PDC, Junior League lunches… yawn. Looks like she was aiming for some cross between what Pappagallo’s, Pierre Deux et al used to be here, but I think she’s overrated the cachet her ‘brand’ might ever have with that crowd.

  4. Sullivan says:

    I never would have guessed that is Sheryl Crow.

  5. ctgirl says:

    Overpriced country club wear. No thanks.

  6. Talie says:

    I’m not impressed by the ecommerce offerings… I do think they should be collaborating with more “Garden & Gun” brands of the south to kick things into high gear. If I’m thinking of a Nashville store that captures the spirit of the south well it’s Imogene + Willie — they go more in the opposite direction though, being more vintage and bourbon, so Draper has an opening on the proper southern thing if they are smart.

  7. Narek says:

    Good luck to her – Cheryle Crow is unrecognizable.

  8. FingerBinger says:

    This is high end Target clothes.

  9. Jayna says:

    I think it will do great. I love the name of it, Draper James.

  10. lucy2 says:

    I love the blue doors and planter. The shop looks pretty, but like a place I’d wander through, check the price tags, and keep moving.
    Sheryl Crow looks…different? Maybe it’s just a weird photo.

  11. AlmondJoy says:

    I checked out her website and I love many of the pieces I see but I’ll NEVER buy them. I can’t afford all that! I can find similar pieces at Zulily, Target, H&M and even Old Navy. There’s a definite market for this style of clothing though so I’m sure she’ll be successful.

  12. Mrs. Wellen Melon says:

    I love it. Except for the It’s Fall, Y’All etc. sweatshirts, I love it.

  13. Dancinnancy says:

    I will say that she used local artisans, designers, and construction to build her store. It is located in the Belmont/Music Row/Vanderbilt area – so there is definitely a clientele for her brand. We’ll see if she is successful.

  14. Heather H says:

    it is important to note that the clothes are made here in the US (Georgia I believe). They may be more expensive than Target, etc but at least they are US made and that does typically cost more to produce.

  15. JenB says:

    I think Reese looks a lot like Carrie Underwood with this styling. Is that really Sheryl Crow?? Damn, that makes me sad, she doesn’t look like herself at all. Faith is also obviously tweaked but I would still recognize her. Speaks a lot to the impossible standards for women.
    I think the DJ merchandise is pretty cute but certainly more than I would spend. I’m a JCP/Macys kinda gal. Regardless, I wish Reese success. Say what you will but she has always struck me as a hard worker and I respect that about her.

  16. hadlyB says:

    I know many hate on her style and clothes but I love it. I dress very similar.

    Classic, a touch preppy, a bit boring but I have my clothes a good long time and I throw in some trendy pieces each year. I also like Jcrew, made well etc.

    I tend to buy good quality classic pieces each year ( which is getting very difficult as even “designer” stuff is in made in China with cheap fabric). But I shop everywhere: Neimans to , Target.

    I do think her stuff is a bit overpriced for what it is but I haven’t seen it in person and didn’t research the fabric content.

  17. lila fowler says:

    If I’m going to spend that much money on clothing, I want it to actually be a designer brand, not Reese Witherspoon.

  18. antipodean says:

    Good luck to her and her over-priced brand. It seems as if her social conscience demands that she advise young girls with regard to money management, and I applaud her sensitivities, she must realise that when one is not earning a Hollywood salary, it is somewhat difficult to manage what one does not have. It reeks of “let them eat cake” to me.

  19. Susan says:

    I can’t stand her or the fake nice southern crap she tries to pose with.
    And yes I’m from the south.

  20. LAR says:

    Her heels are pretty terrifying.

  21. holly hobby says:

    Holy cow what happened to Faith and Sheryl’s faces? They look so tight?!?!? That’s all I have.

  22. Sarah says:

    Eh… there arent just poor people and rich people in the world… there’s loads in between! There can be shops for everyone between costco and versace!

  23. JenniferJustice says:

    Why would anybody want to copy her style? She has awful style. I have never seen her, not once, in anything remotely sharp or hot and it’s not because she likes to pretend she’s a prep. It’s because the particular preppy clothes she wears are either plain or down-right hideous. I work in a law office in downtown Lansing, Michigan and I look sharper than she does any day of the week. So, why would anybody buy an overpriced fug dress for $300 when they can buy an actually sharp Calvin Klein dress for $30 off a Macy’s clearance rack?! It boggles the mind people!

  24. KelT says:

    “THANK YOU @girls_inc & #Nashville for this discussion with young girls about finances! #Community #SmartGirlsSave”

    Hipocrasy! Talk to young girls about finances but then try to sell a sweatshirt for $125? Ridiculous.

    This might be “affordable luxury” for the wealthy who count every penny, but not for the everyday woman.

  25. Katie says:

    I like the clothes but I didn’t see anything I couldn’t find a copy of somewhere else. They are overpriced but it’ll sell like Lilly Pulitzer sells. It’s a lifestyle brand. People love that.

  26. Tig says:

    Totally agree about Sheryl Crow- good Lord, hope that’s wrong- otherwise, what has she done to herself? I think Faith is looking better- she was wearing braces a while back, so assumed she was having issues with jaw,etc. I hope her store/line does well!