Your Next Favorite Find: Owl and Kittycat
Words by Angela Salazar
Photos by Kelsey Wisdom
Tucked behind the Scheid Vineyards tasting room, in one of Carmel’s quintessential courtyards, the orange arched doorway of Owl and Kittycat beckons. The new boutique from owner Alex Connell purrs with a finely curated selection of gift-worthy goods—that you may just want to keep for yourself. Exploring the intimate two-story shop feels like opening a treasure box: Downstairs, discover hand-painted home decor by local artists Marie-Clare Treseder Gorham and Mandy Coon, vintage-inspired earrings from We Dream in Colour, Sumner Lane stationery, consciously crafted candles from Goods That Matter, ceramic accoutrement dishes, and neoprene champagne bags for toting bottles of bubbly to the beach. Upstairs, find one-of-a-kind kid’s wear with a touch of whimsy (hello, felted swan slippers), plus grownup pieces like richly patterned dresses by Samantha Pleet (Owl & Kittycat is the New York brand’s exclusive brick and mortar), and archival designs by Louis Vuitton and Gucci. The upstairs area also affords a private dressing room experience, which Connell fashioned after her time in styling for Anthropologie and its bridal line, BHLDN.
Inside Owl and Kittycat in downtown Carmel.
“It's that dark academia vibe,” Connell says of the shop’s romantic aesthetic, noting that Carmel is having a bit of a renaissance with a talented community of owners and artists that “are very humble about what they do and are really fantastic.” Something she aims to showcase in her shop with pieces by Jessica Bovert, Mia Christopher and more. A Bay Area native, much of Connell’s family is from Carmel. (Her great aunt, she says, “would've been so tickled” by her endeavor.) So it’s no wonder that Connell puts a personal touch on each purchase, offering bespoke gift wrap using deadstock fabric ribbons and hand-stamped papers inspired by her own art background. A poetic finish to a special shopping experience.
Owl and Kittycat, SE San Carlos and 7th, Carmel-by-the-Sea; @theowlandkittycat on Instagram. <img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6457f19f1c1e1601e2c9c3f6/6487a9355b63a6818c705cea_CC-Icon--20.svg"alt="CC"height="20" width="20">