Southampton resident Rose Dios opened Stitch Southampton in 2010, and has kept the fashionable set of the Hamptons in beach chic style ever since.  She shares, “I have lived in the Hamptons full time since 1981.  As a child and throughout college I summered here to be with my family who lived in Southampton Shores.  I worked for a fashion designer Carol Sherman who had a store on Jobs lane.”  Rose shares a day in her life in this NEW KDHamptons Fashion Diary, below: 

KDHamptons: How would you describe your Stitch Southampton shop?

Rose: As the owner of Stitch, I run a small business with the help of my manager of operations. Stitch is a place where people come to get their clothes altered or changed to fit their creative ideas. In NYC, I create clothes that fit the bodies of today’s woman with my design partner Regina Kravitz [below].  She is a well known designer, and over a year ago we decided to design and manufacture a line of super fashionable easy to wear clothes that flatter every woman. This resort line is under the label Regina and Rose. Our goal is to make every woman feel beautiful. Our specialty is woman with bust sizes 38 to 42, but our designs range from size 0 to size 22. And that’s the same dress, pants, leggings and coverups- that can fit that range.  Stitch is a super positive energy store where people come to simply get advice.

I also designed a line of Panama and Italian Straw Hats this winter. They are wonderfully constructed by a historic factory in NYC.  I trimmed them with Mokuba trim from Japan and with silk flowers made in NYC. They are amazing and make every outfit look terrific.

Rose’s daughter Gloria wearing Stitch with the new hat line

KDHamptons: What do you love most about the East End?
Rose: I love nature and I love the climate here. I really enjoyed the crazy snow falls this past winter. Since I live in walking distance to the village, I loved walking around gazing at the huge drifts on the ocean and on the main streets. Then in the spring my gardens come alive. I have many different varieties of roses on my property, many of which are very old varieties. This love of flowers and roses started in Monroe Connecticut where I grew up in a very old home with vintage gardens.

I love to wake up to the sounds of so many birds competing as they speak. I usually just think about my day ahead and enjoy the chorus. Then I walk around my yard with my three dogs. Then I connect with people in my two careers and volunteer work (I am on the board of Immigration Legal Services of Long Island, I support I- Tri-this year I am making and donating over 75 bright pink dresses for their celebration on 7/20/15 at Cooper’s Beach, and I support Have A Heart Community Trust, and have people I mentor.) To me a perfect day is a day where I can help someone feel better-about their financial life (my clients at UBS) and their work (my employees and assistants) and how they look (my Stitch clients) and feel (my friends, family, pets and those I mentor).

KDHamptons: What is your favorite Hamptons restaurant, got a favorite dish & drink you get every time?
Rose: Tuscan House — the Brushetta and the Tuscan Mista salad.  have to limit myself on their bread and olive oil. And my favorite drink is the Plain T at Blue Duck – the green jasmine tea. I’m a cheap date as I don’t drink alcohol!

KDHamptons: Please describe your Hamptons home and decorating style?

Rose: In 1998 I bought an old Hildreth’s barn set off the street on a flag lot. It is a perfect home for my family and friends. It is open with exposed barn beams. I met a wonderful interior designer, Cathie Chrisicos from Boston while on a seminar with my 5 sisters. We worked together remotely and within a week we chose all of the things I needed and she created a very warm and rich year round look. Since I love fabrics and prints it is a bit eclectic with animal prints, rich velvets and silks and really fun lighting. Totally not white!

KDHamptons: What are you looking forward to most this summer?
Rose: Enjoying time with my family–I now have a two grandsons. My large family–10 siblings also visit and my nieces and nephews come for extended stays.

KDHamptons: Tell us something unique about Stitch?
Rose: At Stitch the customer is in control. We change what we have on our racks to suit your style. We duplicate easy to construct garments in new fabrics, and we make your clothing look fabulous. This year we sought to come up with high quality lined dresses in great new styles. Most of these new dresses can be worn year round, and because women love sleeves, most of our dresses have sleeves. If not, we have great jackets to match or we can add sleeves!

KDHamptons: Share any exciting news about Stitch?
Rose: We never stop–all year we are planning and creating and we are open all year…we are planning on having several 5th anniversary parties..so watch our social media pages..we are gearing up for something soon with a certain celebrity photographer!

**You can find Stitch at 22 Nugent Street, Southampton NY; 631.377.3993

www.stitchsouthampton.com or @stitchsouthampton on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter