Shop Girl : She Boutique aims to tempt, indulge fashionistas

She Boutique aims to tempt, indulge fashionistas

Posted by shopgirl

Posted: April 23, 2007 - 7:43 am

Tina Briley designed She Boutique to be open and airy and light -- a contrast, she says, to most retail stores. "I wanted people to feel, when they walked in, that they're not in Anchorage -- just for a second."

Listing off the labels that are hanging on glossy white hangers inside She Boutique sounds more like the roster at a slumber party or a mani-pedi get-together than a roundup of high-end women's designers.

And when I said "It's like girl porn" as a way to sum up my first peek inside, owner Tina Briley laughed and said, "Yup!"

Anchorage's newest independent boutique, which could also easily be considered the city's most upscale store, is all about indulging your designer fashion fantasies.

"I wanted it to be kind of like a mother ship," Briley said. "Kind of where you'd go to get yourself in trouble for a little bit."

From the candy pink custom-made furniture to the luscious fabrics and feminine accents on everything from wallpaper in the dressing rooms to the baby-doll dresses with delicate eyelet detailing, the store is the first step in spoiling your senses and spending your savings.

If you're familiar with the labels -- Tracy Reese, Nanette Lepore, Ella Moss, Trina Turk and Betsey Johnson to name a few -- you know these designer lines aren't for bargain hunters or casual-clothing seekers.

The boutique is in the Anchorage 5th Avenue mall but can be accessed only from the street entrance on Sixth Avenue. And the outside view from the downtown sidewalk is no match for the grandeur that's inside.

"I wanted people to feel, when they walked in, that they're not in Anchorage -- just for a second," Briley said.

The store is wide open and spacious, with a towering ceiling and crisp white walls. Finely polished gray concrete floors reflect the sparkle from crystal chandeliers and wall sconces. A plush pink oversized velvet ottoman near the front matches the pink and white Victorian-style chairs along the back wall.

The dressing rooms are designed to look like individual powder rooms, with ornate antique-looking framed mirrors and pink and white floral wallpaper.

Briley worked in retail for 16 years in Anchorage, everywhere from Jay Jacobs to Nordstrom, and she's an avid shopper. She knew her market and took inspiration from her own experiences when she set out to create the chic and sophisticated She.

"When you're a shopper (in Anchorage) like me, you get pretty frustrated because you can't find any designer clothes," Briley said. "I thought this would be a fun thing for me to do."

She's a careful not to saturate the shop with too many of each item, so she has only one or two of some of the more unique pieces.

"I want people to feel like they're the only ones who have it," she said.

There's couture detailing on the Tracy Reese pieces; fun color and edgy flair with just a hint of vintage in the Milly line; Nanette Lepore's styles are sophisticated and urban; and it's easy to fall in love with Ella Moss tunic tops and comfy-yet-feminine dresses or Rebecca Taylor's sexy suits and high-waist skirts. Briley also carries Asian-inspired jewelry and beaded handbags by Chan Luu, and Trina Turk clutches.

Even with all the chic stock, Briley has a couple more lines on the way: Chip and Pepper denim and Betsey Johnson are expected soon, and she's bringing in Isabella Fiore in June.

"The clothes are ready," she said. "They're waiting -- waiting to be tried on."

She Boutique

• LOCATION: Anchorage 5th Avenue mall, (Sixth Avenue entrance)

• PHONE: 929-5655

• HOURS: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday

Shop Girl

Archive

She Boutique aims to tempt, indulge fashionistas

Comments