Today, I am going to talk about boutiquing and profile one Orange County shop:
Kathryn Aileen's
309 Palm Street, Ste. C
Balboa, CA 92661 Ph: 949-675-5351
First, when I think of boutiquing I think of how exciting and fun it is to shop in boutiques. I love the individuality and creativity of each boutique and how they reflect the personal pride of the owners and their employees. I have shopped at certain boutiques for years and when you frequent a particular boutique there is a nice friendly relationship with the employees and owners. They know you by name; you have a relationship. There is a warmth to them that mainstream stores don't always have. Sometimes, boutiques can be more expensive than department stores depending on the merchandise but other times with a good sale their merchandise will be discounted more than the big stores.
Kathryn Aileen's Boutique at the Balboa fun zone in Newport Beach, has many things to offer to their customer. Upon my visit to the boutique with my cousin Michele, the owner Lisa Gordon and sales associate Sharon were generous and kind in helping me learn about their shop. I have some pictures taken by my cousin to show you the products and trends. I like the fact that Lisa has a committed effort at her boutique to help manufacturers with a cause. In this blog, I will show you later on some jewelry made by Tibetan Refugees and hand made knits made in Thailand by 3500 Thai women produced by a Canadian company that gives back 1% of the profits to the women that create them. I think that is exemplary of those brands to help underprivileged people by not only giving them a job but to create beautiful art in the process. She also carries several lines which are produced in the United States to help domestic manufacturers, including Testimony, Not Your Daughters Jeans, I C collection, Rafael, Tail Bait and Surrealist. Lisa said, " I feel that some of the fabrics produced in the USA have a better quality than overseas." I love fabric, and in design the way a fabric feels is called the hand. Most of the fabrics in the boutique have a beautiful hand. Lisa has over 30 years experience and has an expert eye in discerning quality and fashion.
Let's start with a trend that is produced in the U.S. Below is a gorgeous mineral wash, French Terry ruffled jacket made by Los Angeles based company Testimony. The material is very soft and the design with a ruffled drape collar as well as an asymmetrical hemline is right on trend. The wide collar and taupe color are also a trend.
The boutique offers black leather jackets which is also a trend, and I consider a staple for most girls to own a leather jacket. Then pictured beside it is a beautiful crocheted lace sweater which has ruffles incorporated into the design of the collar. Lace and ruffles both are current trends. This sweater is at the front entry to the boutique and the beautiful beige lace accessorized with a wide brim brown hat is on que for Fall trend colors.
The next trend is a stunning faux fur jacket in leopard print that is ultra luxurious! Beside it are a variety of ruffled scarves that they offer:
Other displays in the boutique include interchangeable flip flop tops (also known as switchflops) and interchangeable shoe tops so you can accessorize your sandel/shoe top to your outfit. The store has several shoe brands but two prominent brands that the shop carries I will discuss.
First is, Lindsay Phillips, which have flip flops in regular style or with a lift and what's so neat is you can change your style with a snap from one style to the next. I think this is a perfect item to carry in a Southern California boutique and especially at the beach. Lindsay developed her idea of changing the style on the top and keeping the sole while still in high school. After wards, she perfected her idea and patented it in 2004.
The next shoe style are platform wedges from a company called, ONESOLE. This company was developed by Dominique McCain Barteet who wasn't a designer but a Pharmacist. She got tired of wearing uncomfortable shoes while standing for 12 hours during her work shift. You know what they say, "Necessity is the Mother of Invention." Touche' to Ms. Barteet for developing this shoe as well as finding a new career as a shoe designer. They are the original interchangeable shoe with over 1,000 changeable tops. They have different styles in the wedges and they also include clog styles. Clogs are trending now and will be even more popular in the Spring. But, the concept is the same: unsnap the top cover and add the next style, color, pattern or print. Very cute products from two entrepreneurial American women with good ideas that paid off with hard work and perseverance.
PureKnits and Jewelry from Tibetan Refugees. I have to say, the jewelry from the Tibetan Refugees have an American Indian look to them. American Indian styles are trending in the stores now, especially with accessories. I asked Lisa what was the most popular item in the boutique and she said the PureKnit scarf wraps sell a lot. The scarf is a wrap which drapes around your upper body and has one button to connect it around the mid chest. They have a variety of colors and retail for $68. I purchased one during their current sale of 20% off for $59. It is a good cause to help the Thai women and the garment is very fashionable and warm.
The store packages the merchandise in fuchsia pink bags and leopard print, which is darling. In fact, Lisa has a very feminine, romantic feel to her boutique which I adore.
I finally asked Lisa how she came up with her name for the boutique, Kathryn Aileen's, and she said, "That's my sister's name and I told her one day when I have a boutique I am going to name it after you." She kept her word and has a beautiful boutique to show.
Thank you Lisa and Sharon for all your help. Thanks to my cousin, Michele, for all the pictures.
Here is the link to the shop: kathrynsboutique.com
Kathryn Aileen's
309 Palm Street, Ste. C
Balboa, CA 92661
Ph: 949-675-5351
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