Exploring Life & Business with Kristin Holbrook of Two Skirts

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Holbrook

Hi Kristin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I always loved skiing, as much as I could as a girl from New Jersey. After graduating from the University of Virginia I moved straight to Vail to become ski instructor for a year. As it goes for everyone who moves to a ski town, a year turns into a lifetime. I followed my husband to Telluride in 1999 with the intention of opening a business, I just didn’t know what at the time. Telluride was young and lacking a women’s boutique with a feminine vibe so I took the leap and opened a dress shop in 2001 in a 600-square foot space on a side street. After 18 months I made the move up to the Main Street and 3 years later landed in my permanent gallery space in the center of the sunny side of this quaint and beautiful downtown strip. Twenty three years later the pink bags of Two Skirts are a Telluride iconic symbol. A pink wooded carved clapboard sign, pink avocado chairs and welcome mat, crystal chandeliers, blush walls and colorful clothes are our signatures.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My vision for a dress shop in Telluride was a little before it’s time. It took many years before I made any profit. But I stuck with, made a few buying changes, and over time helped change the way women dress in Telluride. You can still be an extreme athlete and wear a dress. I tell my customers to create their own reasons to get dressed, don’t wait for an occasion. We had to close for 2 months during the start of the pandemic, but my online presence and loyal customer base got me through it without a hitch. I also created a fundraiser for health care workers during the pandemic to help boost sales of our custom Telluride sweaters.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
A little dress shop in Telluride, Colorado that specializes in well know brands and well curated small designers. I like my customers to be surprised at how much uniqueness we have to offer. I’m most proud of helping women feel confident and beautiful in their clothes. I create shopping boxes for customers all over the country. We take all our own photos for social media so customers know what the clothes look like on real people – they appreciate that! Our pink chairs, signage and bags are iconic within Telluride. We love color and organize the store by color stories – maybe it’s the art history major in me! The English major in me enjoys doing my own Instagram posts, it keeps it authentic and tells the story about me as the owner, the clothes and Telluride. Everyone knows I’m a hockey mom through my Two Skirts’ instagram stories!

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I love meeting new designers, especially Coloradans, and I host trunk shows and pop-ups to support them. Never a Wallflower is a Denver designer who sought me out years ago. I’ve carried her collections from her grass roots beginnings and we have become great friends, even sourcing fabrics and designing collections together.

Pricing:

• elevated contemporary pricing

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shoptwoskirts.com
• Instagram: @twoskirtstelluride
• Facebook: Two Skirts Telluride