Yvonne Di Chiara is greeted with a “Hi Yvonne!” everywhere she goes. Over 30 years ago she opened one of Del Mar’s most popular businesses, Durante’s Menswear in Old Del Mar. Since selling the business, Yvonne has set her sights on her other passion… real estate! Her strong work ethic began when she would help her father, even at the age of 10, in his candy business back in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Growing up on the ocean and surfing inspired her to attend fashion school in Miami, and interned at Neiman Marcus before moving on to Maui, Hawaii to surf and follow her photography interest. She criss crossed back and forth the country from Hawaii to New Jersey before finally settling in Del Mar.
Yvonne understands people and has always helped her clients achieve their needs by paying attention to their concerns. Through her business she has made friends for life. Often asked “How did you pick menswear?” and she’ll laugh and say, she didn’t, it picked her! Always comfortable with guys from the surfing days, she said “Men don’t like to shop, so you have to ask a lot of questions and really understand them, instead of throwing things at them. You have to make sure what you give them is right for them and the less you give them the better. Selling to a man is a psychology, it’s an emotional connection.“
Over the years she’s developed somewhat of a “client psychology” and a devotion to high-quality customer service. Her landmark business was rooted in “extra mile” customer service, giving the client far more than was expected. Her real estate business is similarly based. Her clients know she has their best interest in mind and her savvy business sense and comfortable communication style makes her a joy to work with.
Yvonne says “ Faith is a relationship built on trust and loyalty. My clients have faith in me because I devote myself entirely to serving them with wisdom and experience.”