Lou & Grey

The effortlessly cool sister of Ann Taylor and LOFT, Lou & Grey embodies the tomboyish fusion of active and street wear («athleisure») that’s taking twenty-​somethings by storm. In their seventh brick-​and-​mortar location, you’ll find their signature silk shirts, linen tees, oversized tunics, and slouchy jogger pants in soft neutrals.
With a more boutique feel than the commercialized Ann Taylor and LOFT, Lou & Grey fits into the Southport Corridor perfectly; in fact, they even carry an assortment of accessories and homegoods by local artists, all unique to the Southport location. I love to look around for styling ideas!
Unfortunately, I haven’t found Lou & Grey’s quality up to par – not the fault of the Southport team, I know. I’ve purchased two pairs of drawstring joggers, one in silk and one in a sweatpant knit disguised as denim, but both began to pill and fade in the thighs after only a couple wears. (The silk pair in particular, which I’ve worn maybe six times, are almost translucent!) Since I’m curvier, I accept that the thighs of my pants will eventually give up the ghost, but at $ 75 to $ 100 a pop, Lou & Grey’s pants should last more than a season. At this point, I’ll probably only open my wallet for their clearance sales.

This store is an offshoot of the Loft brand, but it’s like Loft’s cooler, more hip sister. They offer comfy, cozy clothes with a relaxed feel. Mixed in are unique finds from both local and national artists including candles, jewelry and lotions. The result is a big retailer feeling like a boutique– in a good way. This store hits the mark for having a accessible clothing at good prices, with a great «found» appeal to its accessories. I will check in often!