Our Story
OUR STORY
founded in charlottesville, virginia in 1994 by amy gardner, scarpa offers a distinct selection of women’s clothing, footwear, accessories, and beauty from established and independent designers. a graduate of uva’s architecture school, amy opened scarpa as a shoe store, serving up an edited collection of footwear to a town in desperate need of good shoes. with scarpa’s evolution into a full-service specialty shop, our guiding principles have remained unchanged; we choose items for their thoughtful craftsmanship, smart design, and timelessness. eschewing the tide of trends, our buyers seek to offer fresh ideas for your wardrobe and lifestyle at the intersection of pretty and interesting.
we’ve been in the same storefront for 24 years, though as we’ve grown, the space has grown with us. since the summer of 2016, we’ve completed two extensive renovations, which serve our goal of creating an atmosphere that’s warm and inviting, unique and memorable, and as well-designed as the goods on our shelves.
SERVICE
we pride ourselves on our talented and dedicated staff, and we deeply value the longstanding relationships we cultivate with our customers. we want your experience with us, both in store and online, to be exceptional. if there is anything we can do to improve your time shopping with us, please don't hesitate to be in touch via email, phone, or online chat.
DID YOU KNOW?
with advance notice, we happily offer private and extended shopping hours in store.
additionally, we offer personal styling for customers both in store and online. whether you’re looking for an outfit for an upcoming special event or you’re in need of a wardrobe refresh, one of our experienced stylists will be glad to assist you.
please email us at web@thinkscarpa.com for more information.
MEET TEAM SCARPA
this multi-talented bunch works together to make your scarpa experience an unparalleled retail pleasure.
shipping
all available inventory will ship within 1 business day. free ups ground shipping on orders over $300.
amy gardner
favorite designer(s) of ours?
i can't pick just one! shoes: golden goose and cydwoq denim: r13 tops: rachel comey and sofie dÕhoore sweaters: avant toi jewelry: marian maurer and tura sugden
cake or pie?
cookies
favorite movie you recommend?
booksmart when i need to laugh. absolutely brilliant.
favorite alternative small business?
new dominion book shop and a few hours to browse.
duke's or hellman's?
hellman's. there's a recurring battle in our home as to who buys mayonnaise before the one in the fridge is empty.
last series you binged?
when i was in quarantine in january i binge watched schitt's creek and chernobyl which is a pretty perfect reflection of the fact that my moon is in gemini.
capi bowles
favorite designer(s) of ours?
literally can't choose - i like that we have a little of something for everyone.
greatest guilty pleasure?
a glass of wine on my bed with netflix when the kitchen is cleaned up after supper.
cake or pie?
homemade coconut cake for the win!
favorite alternative small business?
really enjoyed shopping at be just over the holidays - beautiful, useful, and interesting items.
dream dinner date?
that one might get me in trouble... : )
duke's or hellman's?
duke's. always.
susie white
greatest guilty pleasure?
planting in my garden... all by myself!
bucket list trip?
amsterdam to see the april tulips.
cake or pie?
definitely cake!
last series you binged?bridgerton!
binky wheeler
cake or pie?
pie, particularly raspberry pie from maine in july.
greatest guilty pleasure?
sitting outside on a beautiful evening with friends, cocktails, and not a care for a couple of hours.
favorite alternative small business?
our neighbors, folly.
dream dinner date?
god
duke's or hellman's?
definitely hellman's!
dagmar kuttner
favorite designer?
iris van herpen
greatest guilty pleasure?
a good glass or two of red wine.
what does your perfect day-off look like?
a sunny spring day.
bucket list trip?
the great serpent mound of ohio
cake or pie?
pie
favorite movie you recommend?
ikiru by akira kurosawa.
favorite alternative small business?
albemarle bakery
dream dinner date?
bill hicks
duke's or hellman's?
duke's
last series you binged?
schitt's creek
elaine browning
favorite designer(s) of ours?
golden goose, of course
greatest guilty pleasure?
reality tv
what does your perfect day-off look like?
temperatures in the 70's, low humidity, outside gardening time and then time with the kiddos and a cookout
bucket list trip?
paris
cake or pie?
pie - all day
favorite alternative small business?
bodo's
duke's or hellman's?
hellman's
sarah fauerbach
favorite designer(s) of ours?
triple tie- frank & eileen, r13 and officine
greatest guilty pleasure?
spending money on my animals
what does your perfect day-off look like?
no phone/obligations, spending the day outside with my family, dogs + horses
bucket list trip?
galapagos
cake or pie?
chocolate cake
duke's or hellman's?
neither; bodo's cream cheese
last series you binged?
i don't sit still long enough to binge
liz manson
favorite designer(s) of ours?
zero maria cornejo, malone souliers, rosanne pugliese
greatest guilty pleasure?
red vines licorice
cake or pie?
ice cream cake
last series you binged?
ozark or anything with jason bateman
jeff cornejo
cake or pie?
pie. always pie. never not pie. doesn't matter which pie. and ice cream. pistachio.
favorite alternative small business?
conmole, a few steps away in belmont. drool -> https://instagram.com/conmole. hunger -> conmole.com.
duke's or hellman's?
duke's. c'mon. what else would you use on tomato sandwiches? amy will say hellman's, but there's a recurring battle in our home as to who buys mayonnaise before the one in the fridge is empty. we always have duke's.
last series you binged?
for all mankind on apple tv+. space race, cold war, 1960-1980's fashion and interiors. the most entertained i've been since mad men.
charlotte holden
bucket list trip?
madagascar to see a lemur in its natural habitat...this has been on my bucket list for so long that in highschool i had a bumper sticker on my 20 year old station wagon that said "i [heart] lemurs" (which is embarrassing in hindsight).
favorite movie you recommend?
i don't even have to think about this one...obviously "the sound of music" or "jumanji" as they are inarguably the most perfect movies in existence.
dream dinner date?
my dream dinner date is michael b. jordan. i'm sorry, i wish i had an intellectual answer to this, but what can i say...i'm only human and he is incredibly gorgeous, so of course i want to go on a date with him.
last series you binged?
i will shamelessly admit that i hopped on the bandwagon and binged "bridgerton". i'm a sucker for a good orchestral cover of a pop song.
gudrun reeder
favorite designer(s) of ours?
tough question... cara cara, kal rieman, lafayette 148, pedro garcia, zero + maria cornejo, etc. etc. the list goes on!
cake or pie?
cake all day long.
favorite movie?
any world of disney movie after sunday supper with our family - and always muppet movies... anything that makes me happy!
favorite alternative small business?
roots hair salon, greenwood grocery, and l'etoile.
guilty pleasure?
a perfect vodka martini - 3 olives, please...
maddie leggett
favorite designer(s) of ours?
so hard to choose! but to name a few... zero + maria cornejo, ulla johnson, and lene vibe.
cake or pie?
cake - carrot cake, specifically.
favorite movie?
i always watch bridesmaids when i need a good laugh.
favorite alternative small business?
feast!
duke's or hellman's?
raised a duke's girl... married into a hellman's family.
last series you binged?
the white lotus.
lisa banton
favorite designer(s) of ours?
so many… golden goose, R13, coclico, rachel comey, jerome dreyfuss, and of course marla aaron.
duke’s or hellman’s?
duke’s, without a doubt.
cake or pie?
cake, specifically chocolate.
bucket list trip?
thailand
favorite alternative small business?
cocoa and spice
favorite movie you recommend?
what dreams may come
what does your perfect day-off look like?
a long run, tacos, and a mezcal margarita.
katie dale
favorite designer(s) of ours?
who could ever pick just one? a few of my favorites are rachel comey, r13, tibi & calleen cordero.
duke’s or hellman’s?
neither; I make my own mayo at home. it’s super easy and delicious!
cake or pie?
pie. but mostly treat it as a vessel for ice cream.
favorite alternative small business?
so many! marie bette, continental divide, dogwood refillery, and pretty much all of the locally owned fitness studios (you’ll catch me at a lot of them).
greatest guilty pleasure?
probably margaritas.
what does your perfect day-off look like?
any low-key outdoor activity with my dog on a beautiful day.
katherine burling
favorite designer(s) of ours?
alix of bohemia, frank and eileen, and mara bini.
duke’s or hellman’s?
duke’s
cake or pie?
cake with cream cheese icing
bucket list trip?
india
favorite alternative small business?
heyday antiques and ivy nursery
last series you binged?
selling sunset, i'm embarrassed to admit.
dream dinner date?
tavola with my husband.
what does your perfect day-off look like?
sunny summer day spent visiting used bookstores, gardening and having friends over.