Jeff Lasota and Danielle Licata didn't stumble into fashion; they built their eye for it over years in the industry's biggest rooms. Before founding Curio together, Jeff held leadership roles at brands like Stella McCartney, Belstaff, and Yeezy, while Danielle ran point as president of Coterie, one of the largest fashion trade shows in the country. When the two partners launched their own venture in Miami in December 2019, it was with a 360-degree understanding of what the industry was missing—a shopping experience built on discovery and relationship, not just transaction. What started as a pop-up during Swim Week gave them the confidence to open a permanent Miami location, which quickly grew into a flagship that established Curio's name in the industry.
From there, the brand expanded to Southampton, New York, and when it came time to open a third location, New Jersey felt like the natural choice. Jeff, who now calls Westfield home, and Danielle, who grew up in Holmdel, both found a homecoming in opening Curio’s Chatham location, a way to honor the roots that shaped them long before the shop existed. They chose a location built for the same intimate, relationship-driven retail that first defined their vision. It was a spot chosen outside the mall ecosystem on purpose, favoring a setting where the store could feel like it belonged to the community around it, not just to the brand.
That philosophy is immediately apparent the moment you step inside. Curio isn't set up for a quick transaction; it's built for a conversation. Customers can book an appointment or walk in Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from there, the experience is entirely personal. Instead of being pointed toward whatever's trending, you're guided by a team that treats styling as a genuine collaboration.
That's the real heart of Curio: a styling philosophy designed to gently push you outside your comfort zone. The staff become part stylist, part sounding board, helping you navigate the insecurities everyone quietly carries about their style and guiding you toward looks you might never have chosen on your own. Nothing here is disposable or trend-chasing. Instead, every piece is selected to build a wardrobe that actually lasts; versatile, considered, and made to evolve with you rather than expire with the season.
Good style isn't borrowed from a trend cycle. It's built, piece by piece, with someone who actually knows you. But great style isn't just discovered in the moment; it's built long before a customer ever walks in. That groundwork starts with Jeff and Danielle themselves, who spend a significant part of the year on the road, hunting down the pieces that will eventually fill Curio's racks. It's a process as deliberate as everything else about the brand. Less about keeping up with what's already popular, and more about staying a step ahead of it. What that looks like in practice, and how it shapes the experience of shopping at the Chatham location specifically, starts with a passport.
Every great find at Curio starts long before a customer ever walks through the door. Jeff and Danielle travel to New York, Milan, and Paris four times a year, sourcing a mix of established designers and emerging labels most shoppers haven't discovered yet. It's a deliberate strategy, one built to recreate the kind of browsing experience longtime shoppers remember from Barney's, where half the joy was finding something you didn't know you needed.
That same intentionality shapes what actually lands on the racks in Chatham. Inventory here is curated specifically for the local audience, a different assortment than what you'd find at Curio's other locations, tailored to the climate and lifestyle of New Jersey rather than simply mirroring the Miami flagship. The store also runs on a rotating inventory model, so the selection is always evolving, punctuated by brand-specific activations that turn shopping into an occasion rather than an errand.
That same personal touch extends well beyond the sales floor. Curio maintains a network of affiliate stylists who work independently with their own clients, building custom clothing packages tailored to each person's specific needs and lifestyle. It's an extension of the same philosophy that defines the Chatham store itself, styling as a genuine relationship, built on trust and expertise, rather than a single transaction driven by whatever happens to be trending that week.
That's what sets the experience apart. You're not shopping a trend cycle someone else defined. You're working alongside people who've spent their careers inside the industry, using that expertise to help you figure out exactly what belongs in your closet. Every recommendation comes from real knowledge of fashion, not a passing algorithm or a seasonal display.
Curio isn't asking you to chase trends. It's asking you to slow down, trust the process, and let your style be built rather than borrowed. Step inside the Chatham location, and you'll discover that it's much more than a clothing store. It's the beginning of a thoughtfully curated wardrobe and a personal style that's uniquely your own.
Curio's styling suite is available by appointment for those who want a more dedicated, one-on-one experience. Whether you're building a wardrobe from scratch, refreshing what you already own, or simply looking for guidance on a specific occasion, the team is equipped to meet you exactly where you are. It's the kind of personalized attention that's become increasingly rare in retail, and it's entirely intentional.
Curio is located at 76 Main Street in Chatham. To book a styling appointment or learn more, visit shopatcurio.com or find them on Instagram at @curiovibe. Your wardrobe and the relationship that shapes it start here.
Good style isn't borrowed from a trend cycle. It's built, piece by piece, with someone who actually knows you.
Styling isn't about pointing someone toward what's already popular. It's a relationship, one built on trust, expertise, and genuinely knowing what makes a person feel most like themselves, no matter the season.