Step Inside: Mashburn Has Arrived in Music City

The one-stop clothing shop and atelier is the first major retailer to open in the latest incarnation of the Neuhoff District

Ann and Sid Mashburn, partners in business and in life, have just opened their sixth store location — this one in The Curve building in Germantown’s Neuhoff District. That makes Mashburn the first major retailer to open in the latest incarnation of the early-1900s meatpacking plant. 

With floor-to-ceiling windows and neutral colors, the open, airy, 6,000-square-foot space is relaxed and inviting. In the men’s area, the design echoes Sid’s luxe but low-key aesthetic. A focal point is a very visible workstation for the store’s two tailors. There’s a handsome writing desk accented by curved-back wood chairs with tartan plaid seats, perfect for consults for a made-to-order suit. Nearby sits a ping-pong table. 

“There really is a hospitality piece to what we do,” says Sid, a Mississippi native. “When someone comes in, we want them to feel like they’re in our house. So we offer them a Coke or coffee or a cold beer or some water or a restaurant recommendation.”  

The women’s side, with clothing from cocktail attire to PJs, features white cabinetry showcasing bags, shoes and jewelry. A highlight is the checkout counter with its striking pink, off-white and green Schumacher wallpaper backdrop depicting butterflies and birds in peony trees. 

The area in Germantown, still under development led by Atlanta’s New City Properties, suits the couple. After all, they know a thing or two about being pioneers. 

After establishing impressive careers in the fashion industry — Sid as a designer for J.Crew, Ralph Lauren and Lands’ End, and Ann as a fashion editor for outlets like Vogue and Glamour — the couple decided in their mid-40s, with five children, to go out on their own. 

In 2007, they launched a Sid Mashburn menswear store in an up-and-coming area of Atlanta — right before the Great Recession. “So that was a little scary,” says Ann. “But to be honest, we were so busy, we didn’t even notice. We were just working all the time, and I think we were too busy to be discouraged.” Three years later, Ann opened her womenswear store next door. 

Now, 17 years later, the business is going strong — with stores in Houston, D.C., New York City and Dallas, and a solo men’s store in Los Angeles. 

All Things Mashburn

Just as the clothing Mashburn carries reflects the couple’s personal style, the store pays homage to the way they live, whether it be the elaborate vision boards on the store’s walls or the sundries it sells. On Sid’s side, you’ll find items like a tin of Antonio Mattei almond biscotti, a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife or a Timex watch. Some of Ann’s favorite things include Susanne Kaufmann skincare products and Diptyque candles. Even the music playing (on vinyl) is handpicked.

By Design

About 90% of the merchandise is designed by the couple — classic American clothing with their signature styling. Sid’s luxe but wearable pieces come with a “heavy dose of Italian tailoring,” says Ann. She has a similar sense of style, then infuses her designs with a Parisian sensibility that heavily influenced her in her 20s. The couple’s “everyday luxury” aesthetic also has a high-low component. They sell everything from Levi’s jeans to Edward Green dress shoes that retail for $1,770. 

(Don’t) Save It for Later

“If you own a beautiful jacket, you cannot just hang it in your closet,” says Ann. “You have to wear it.” And Mashburn’s clothes are made so you can actually move in them. “Sid wears a suit, or at least a sport coat — and he loves ties — all the time, but he wears it like a field jacket,” says Ann. Sid concurs. As he puts it, he shouldn’t need a wardrobe change — even if he goes “from Mississippi to Manhattan to Milan.”