Tess & Carlos

high-end European fashions, selective merchandise, and personal attention as an alternative to traditional department stores. Now, over 16 years later, customers continue to value the T&C merchandise selection and well-trained staff that is always ready to help create the perfect ensemble for any occasion. With the success of their Cambridge store, Tess & Carlos opened a new location in Newton Center, Massachusetts in November of 1999. This transition from the urban Harvard Square locale to the chic suburban setting has allowed for a more diverse selection of merchandise, geared to compliment a variety of styles. Both stores carry identical merchandise and on any given day merchandise can be transferred from one location to the other per client request, or even shipped directly to the client's home. Further success encouraged the opening of the newest location in Concord Center, Massachusetts in May 2011. Tess & Carlos plans to continue to grow but not without the dedication of its cherished and loyal patrons. Tess Enright - Biography
The world of fashion has countless players: retail buyers, editors, sales people, personal shoppers and stylists, to name a few. Tess Enright, owner and style guru at Tess & Carlos boutiques manages to be all things at once. Having started her career in sales at Bloomingdale's and Bonwit Teller in Boston, it took Tess 10 years to realize that her true calling was to open a store of her own. With the help of her partner, Carlos Pava, who is behind the design concepts and operational side of the business, Tess & Carlos's doors opened over 16 years ago in Cambridge and over 12 years ago in Newton Centre. Tess's talent for identifying unique designers as well as buying specific pieces from leading collections is evident upon entering her store. Over 2,000 square feet of loft-like space in Newton and 2,000 square feet in Cambridge are the backdrop for bountiful racks and stacks of the season's most coveted clothing and accessories. Tess's detailed knowledge of each line, as well as her instinctive approach to women's sizing and to her customers' personal preferences, is unmatched. After taking a quick look at your face and body type, she will select several items that are almost guaranteed to look fabulous on you. She's also attuned to her customers' current wardrobes, and knows just what to add to complement them, making sure that friends and acquaintances don't buy anything too similar. It's no surprise, too, that she hires only the best salespeople who mirror her personalized approach. Tess's individual style belies her bold, fashionable vision. Most days you'll find her at their Newton Centre store (yes, she's always there) wearing a simple yet chic crewneck sweater with a skirt or pants – black and grey are favorite colors. "I leave my creativity for the buy," she says. But her business philosophy is anything but basic. She believes in color and pieces that complement the body, as well as unique and different looks that please a variety of tastes. While Tess doesn't follow exact trends, she asserts that a good salesperson can have considerable influence. "If a customer has trust in you, you can create the trend."