Let's Go Shopping: Linens

Whether it’s bedding, tablecloths, dinner napkins, beach towels or woven-cloth placemats, several East End merchants who specialize in fine linens and more agree, it’s all about the way fabrics feel when it comes to household linens.

Barbara Dutton, owner of C.W. Mercantile on Main Street in Bridgehampton explained last week, “It’s not always about the thread count with linens, it’s important to pay attention to the feel of the fabric, the type of cotton used,” she said. “The way it has been woven or combed all determines the texture and the quality.”

Stephanie Finkelstein, owner of The Elegant Setting in Southampton—which will move from its Main Street location to a bungalow-style building around the corner on West Main Street on March 3—agreed.

“When shopping for linens, you have to touch everything and get a sense of what feels good in the hand,” she said. “The feel or the hand will help you figure out what sort of material you need for a certain setting.”

For example, Ms. Finkelstein noted, when looking for formal dinner napkins, customers should first consider the rigidity of the fabric.

“Some are really formal and very stiff, like our large 22-inch sturdy napkins which generously cover white pants during summertime, and that works better for some scenarios. Others are more casual and better suited for more frequent use,” she added.

Though texture figures in prominently when making linen purchases, after that, no matter what the item is—a washcloth, hand towel, paper cocktail napkin or throw blanket—it’s totally up to the buyer’s personal preferences and needs, and that is where custom-tailored design comes in.

At Loving Touches on Montauk Highway in East Hampton, owners Mary and Stanley Redlus have built their business on that very concept.

“Everything here is custom. Nothing is ready-made, but nowadays custom drapery, slipcovers, etc., it’s more commonplace,” Mr. Redlus said. “Sometimes it can be more complicated to look for ready-made materials and make them fit than to come in and order exactly what you want for exactly

what you need.”

Prices vary greatly and when shopping for drapery and there are different ways to save or spend a few extra dollars, Mr. Redlus noted.

“Pinched-pleated drapes require more material by the yard. Just think about how much material is exposed and then sewn in for that pinched look, that adds up. So you might spend more,” he said.

A more contemporary look, such as a grommet-style drape, will most likely cost less because the amount of yardage needed is less, he said.

Ms. Finkelstein’s business also features a heavy rotation of customizable options.

“People don’t really buy dining room sets the way they used to,” she said. “Considering tables alone, there are so many styles, shapes, heights, lengths and materials; so it made sense to scale back a bit on tablecloths. But we still carry a few popular standbys.”

One of the popular standbys, according to Ms. Finkelstein, is the extra-long picnic tablecloth.

“For summertime on the East End, I find many customers looking for easy-to-clean, long tablecloths which are useful but still add flair to an outdoor party,” she said.

At The Elegant John on Montauk Highway in East Hampton, there is a wide array of bed linens and sheets available. And according to sales clerk Joanne O’Brien, whether customers are looking for inexpensive sheets or something with a higher price-point, there are many options available at the store.

In agreement with Ms. Dutton of C.W. Mercantile, Ms. O’Brien also said customers shouldn’t be so quick to judge a fabric based only on its thread count, however, the count may still play an integral role in purchase decisions.

“The Fino Lino set, which is imported from Italy, has a 600-count thread, and these are sheets that must be ironed often and cared for consistently to maintain that luxurious feel,” she said.

All four merchants—C.W. Mercantile, The Elegant Setting, Loving Touches and The Elegant John—carry extensive selections of linen goods.

The Elegant Setting offers more than 300 thread colors to choose from when it comes to napkins of varying styles. Personalized sets of cocktail napkins cost $80 for a half dozen.

Beach towels are also par for the course at the Southampton store. Generously-sized plush adult beach towels start at $65, or $40 for children’s towels. Cotton-blend throw blankets, which Ms. Finkelstein noted are perfect for chilly winter nights or brisk spring evenings, retail for $160.

C.W. Mercantile offers an array of American and European linens featuring both contemporary and traditional styles. Ms. Dutton said one of the best-selling brands found at the store is from French designer Yves Saint Laurent, known informally as “YSL.”

“It’s just so, so soft. And their designs are just beautiful,” she noted.

YSL bed linen packages, some of which include flat and fitted sheets and shams, range from $700 to $1,000. Now through the second week of March, the Bridgehampton linens store will mark down most items 20- to 50-percent off.

Fabric prices vary greatly at Loving Touches in East Hampton. Materials can run anywhere from $35 per yard to $300 per yard. And the selection of textiles on site is immense and suitable for upholstery jobs of all kinds.

“We’ll walk customers through the process and help them figure out what they need for any project,” Mr. Redlus said.

At the Elegant John, linen options range from $50 for a twin-size sheet set to the aforementioned Fino Lino set (queen-size fitted, flat sheet and pillow cases included) for $360.

When it comes to purchasing linens of all types, Ms. Finkelstein said the best way to put shopping worries to bed before hitting the stores is to take inventory at home.

“As the seasons change, go through all of your linens, see what you need, see what is tired, what looks a little drab, what needs freshening up and then go shopping,” she said.