Fashion
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In Conversation with Margot // Verve Fashion
"My style is a little street, with a classic twist. I love mixing pieces and 'MacGyvering' them to work for me. I am petite, so sometimes I can take a sweater and turn it into a dress, or I can take a cowl neck, flip it around and it becomes an off-the-shoulder sweater with a high ripped waist. I enjoy wearing fashion, even if sometimes it's not how it is meant to be worn. I am famous for cutting clothes and re-designing them to work for me. My mother was forever giving me heck for cutting up my clothes!"
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In Conversation with Natalie // Pom Pom Boutique
"Pom Pom is a combination of all things lovely over 36 years. It was a lifetime of curtain calls, many loving years of business, and marriage with a partner that can realize dreams. There were unbelievable losses both personal and financial and wonderful triumphs. Pom Pom will never be a grand salon of Paris, but it can offer a customer warmth and mesmerizing style. We know the part by heart on this business stage and hope to get a standing ovation a good deal of the time."
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In Conversation with Talia // Love Medals
"Be open to what makes sense. If you need to adjust and shift gears, do it, and if you can find a way to be excited about it, even better. Victoria has a strong sense of community. Connect with people who believe in what you’re doing and build your support team. Think creatively and always be open to opportunities, as you never know where they can lead. Dr. Bonnie Henry wearing a Love Medal on TV was a result of an email to a friend about new postcards I needed printed. Random!"
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In Conversation with Khloe // Amelia Lee Boutique
"I did what I had to do to keep my business going and my children fed. I had to lay off my entire staff and could not pay rent at one of my locations for two months. I was hit hard financially, but because of all the hard decisions I made during closure, it allowed me to reopen both the stores now. I find strength because I have two beautiful children, an incredible team of women that work for me, and a community that I call home. I do it for everyone."
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In Conversation with Nicole & James // Mango’s Boutique
"Our clients’ style changes as they age, so we have to always be careful and pay attention to what they are wanting. Sometimes when you’ve carried a line too long it gets “old” ... you have to learn to let go and find something new and fresh. Over all the years in business, it doesn’t get easier, it gets more challenging in what you bring in, as there are so many different styles and trends to accommodate for."
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In Conversation with Alexa // A La Mode Consignment
"Closing was difficult, laying off my girls was difficult, not knowing if I could pay rent is still difficult. The first month after we closed, I was at the shop alone every day, cleaning, organizing, taking photos, posting on social media. Running, running, running, and asking: what do people want to buy? Do people want to buy? It was a race to nowhere. We have always had family meetings in our house, with my husband, me, and our two children. Last week we had a meeting and I told them I was burnt out, hustling, running, chasing. They all looked at me and said, so stop."
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In Conversation with Erin // Reunion
"Even after 30 years of experience, it's hard to predict what is going to sell. Once we find a line that fits well and is good value for the price, we order core styles (proven best-sellers), then add exciting trends of the season, keeping in mind our climate, and most importantly, our customers."
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In Conversation with Stephanie // Open House
"I don’t worry too much about trends. Although I am aware of what is going on, it’s never been that important to me. I prefer to stick with a set theme or palette for the season. I try to choose timeless, well-made pieces in classic silhouettes, so they can be worn for multiple seasons and years. It’s about creating a wardrobe of pieces you love and bring you joy, buying less and investing in well-made products."
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In Conversation with Lara // Frances Grey
"Frances Grey blurs the lines. She challenges and redefines the feminine style of dressing. We aren't defined by one way or one gender. We have so many layers and desires and needs. Frances Grey provides women with multi-layers to explore their style, moods and vibes. She loves old world, classic structured pieces, art deco, utterly feminine and modern masculine styles. It’s beauty and elegance combined with the refined, edgy and playful sides we all possess!"
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In Conversation with Rebecca // Hughes Clothing
"I am constantly evaluating and looking at numbers. I have a math degree in finance (some don’t know that about me!) so I’m always looking at that. I need to feel like I have my finger on the pulse. If it’s not selling, I try to not take it personally and I move on. Simple as that."
