Narcissus in Cashiers

No, I'm not writing about the flower. Or the egomaniacal boy. But it is a fabulous place to go when you want to pamper yourself with some of the best travel clothes on this side of The Pond: Narcissus, in Cashiers, North Carolina.

Perched on the corner of the crossroads in Cashiers, North Carolina in a little yellow house, the modest exterior of Narcissus does not betray the secrets within. Most of the clothes offered in this part of the world resemble two part ensembles of a jacket with short sleeves over peg leg pants in a sherbert color. Thankfully, Narcissus frees us from that torture by making available some of the most sophisticated and understated clothes from abroad. Guiliana is an Italian native who stumbled upon the sleepy Southern town of Highlands, North Carolina and decided to bestow some European taste and practicality upon us Southerners. Walking into the store, it appears to be a jumble sale: everything is displayed from every surface. Usually, I turn around and walk out of places like that: visual overload and too much shiny stuff makes me walk away. But not Narcissus.

Everything from the most incredibly perfect travel t-shirts, to the famous Mycra Pac raincoats, to the jewelry of renowed artist GoGo Ferguson awaits in this tiny jewel of a store. Some labels and makers are not easily found in the U.S., but they are available in this tiny shop in the middle of the ultra-conservative Southern foothills. This is a place where everything seems fabulous, but it comes with a lesson that less is more, and here's how you pull it off without seeming like an overdone shiny tart...something we Southerners seem to have a knack for as we usually gravitate towards colors like watermelon, honeydew, and other assorted fruits.

Do not come here expecting a bargain. Guiliana's pieces are not inexpensive and she only has a sale right before she returns to Italy for the winter. Expect to pay for what you get, but expect to get a lot for your money. Everything wears beautifully and travels perfectly and lasts for several seasons. Consider shopping at Narcissus as an investment of your time and money. And looking for the website? Guiliana would never stoop to that common and available level! You'll have to find her in the summer season at the crossroads in Cashiers!