Southern Tide brings active fashion to Davidson Plaza, right next door to a friend
By Jane Bartnett
Southern Tide, the classic ocean-inspired, coastal lifestyle and performance clothing and accessories brand for men, women and boys, came ashore on Siesta Key this summer.
Shoppers will feel a definite beach vibe at this welcoming and bright boutique located in the heart of Siesta Key Village and adjacent to the Lily Pulitzer store in Davidson Plaza.
“Siesta Key has been on our radar for some time,” reported Jodi Faaborg, manager of Southern Tide. “Everyone is so excited to be here. It’s an ideal location for who we are. The response has been wonderful.
“This fall, we plan on having a grand opening and a kickoff party. Having our sibling brand, Lily Pulitzer, next door to us is also a win-win.”
Southern Tide is owned by Greenville, North Carolina-based Oxford Industries. The firm also owns Lily Pulitzer, Tommy Bahamas, Johnny Was and the Beaufort Bonnet Company.
“Our Southern Tide client base is 60% men who golf, fish, play tennis, sail, etc.,” said Faaborg.
The beautifully appointed Siesta Key store offers a well-curated collection of men’s performance shirts, shorts, pants, and jackets, all found at the front of the store. The signature Skipjack Polo, made from certified organic cotton, is a best-seller. A selection of print performance polos crafted from the Southern Tide patented Brrr line of sustainable quick-dry materials — made with UV protection and stretch and created to cool the wearer while providing stretch and comfort — are also on display. Other styles of men’s shirts include printed camp and sport shirts as well as long-sleeve performance fabric shirts that look good under a blazer. Long pants, shorts and swim trunks in solid and print styles are geared for an active man’s lifestyle.
Golfers have made the Southern Tide men’s Birdie short, designed with an interior elastic waist-grip, a best seller. In November 2022, the company increased its presence in the golf world by signing emerging PGA tour rookie Kevin Roy as its first PGA tour ambassador. On the golf course, Roy wears the brand’s skipjack logo.
Women will find stylish, preppy golf and tennis wear that features pockets for scorecards and cell phones. These looks also look fit right in on a pickle ball court or while taking a bike ride around the Key.
The women’s line, Faaborg said, features the same Brrr performance fabric. “It’s also anti-microbial,” she said.
Casual pullovers and a selection of softly colored women’s dresses and bathing suits are also in store.
Women, she noted, have discovered the men’s navy blue Charleston blazer. “They’re wearing it with a skirt or over a dress. It looks great on both women and men,” she said. “It’s also very travel friendly, lightweight and unpacks wrinkle free.”
Flipjacks, Southern Tide’s take on the classic flip-flop, are sold in men’s and women’s sizes. Hats, blue-and-white-striped pickle ball paddles, fragrances, candles and a Southern Tide-branded Yeti cooler and tumblers are among the store’s accessories and gift items.
Boys’ wear includes T-shirts, shorts, and trunks. “We specialize in boys’ youth,” said Faaborg. “Lily carries girls’ youth items.”
This fall and in the early part of 2024, Southern Tide’s new men’s line will feature “reversibles” and vests for golfers with placket zips for stashing scorecards and cell phones. A larger selection of women’s wear for golf, pickle ball, tennis, power walking and more is also coming.
A new stand-up women’s paddle board two-piece suit with UV-protection long sleeves and a built-in bra, along with new one- and two-piece bathing suits and dresses, both short and long, are among the new women’s items that will be coming in the next few months.
The June opening of the Siesta Key store marked the brand’s first entry into the Sarasota market. A second Southern Tide store opened last month at the University Town Center Mall. In addition to stores that dot the east coast, from as far north as Cape Cod, Nantucket and Newport, Rhode Island, there are 10 Southern Tide stores in Florida.
Specialty retailers and department stores at more than 850 locations across the United States also carry Southern Tide merchandise. In keeping with Southern Tide’s commitment to coastal well-being, the company implemented its Reclaim the Tide sustainability movement that is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of its products.
Southern Tide has also partnered with the non-profit Folds of Honor organization, a group that supports children and spouses of fallen military personnel and first responders with educational scholarships.
“We’re very excited to be a part of the Siesta Key community,” said Faaborg. “To show our support we are offering all military personnel, teachers, police, firemen and EMT’s with identification a 20% discount at the Siesta Key store.”
Southern Tide is located at 5116 Ocean Blvd. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit online at southerntide.com. or call (941) 210-0018.
Author: Jane Bartnett
- Tags: Davidson Plaza, Jodi Faaborg, Southern Tide