I partnered with Liz Louize on this post.
As a plus size person, I used to be an outsider in fancy little boutiques that dot downtown areas across America. I would go in with the attitude that everything was going to be too small, and therefore irrelevant to me. I was so used to shopping in big chain stores that I didn’t know what I was missing out on.
It wasn’t until I was able to start shopping at boutiques that carried clothes in my size, did I realize how much a boutique shopping experience can benefit you. When shopping in a locally owned store you are able to really get to know the products because the sales staff will be much more knowledgeable about the clothing in the store. This can be for a couple of reasons, less inventory(which is not a bad thing) and likely the person helping you pick an item or style a look had a hand in that item coming to the store. A true boutique shopping experience is born out of customer service and the consumer(thats you and me) being able to connect with the product being sold.
Boutiques are what the owner makes it, and most shops are started because of a passion for whatever is being sold in the store. Thats what makes it so fun, each store is a reflection of the woman that loved fashion enough to start a business, maybe she loves vintage inspired pieces and wants to share them with you. Or maybe she loves denim and wants her customer to be able to experience quality jeans.
Whatever the reason, shopping a boutique that specializes in a niche that you love is a special experience. You will be able to find unique pieces, get help from a sales associate that truly knows the products, and support a local business that is likely owned by a female entrepreneur(girl power!).
If you have been following me for awhile then you know that I am a shopper. And being a plus size woman, most of my shopping consists of ordering from online retailers. And don’t get me wrong I love my online shops, but when it comes to buying statement pieces sometimes you need to try it on first, so you can adjust sizes, see if it will fit the way you think etc…
One of my go to boutiques in the Detroit area is Liz Louize, this is a plus size boutique with a special talent for keeping quality statement pieces in stock. Remember that blog post I wrote about how I always find the best pieces right before we leave? Yeeeahhh this was one of those skirts. I found this 20 dollar beauty on my way to the checkout lane, LOL. Pleats, and lace, ANNNDDDDD its black my favorite color! I wanted to style it in an elevated chic way, so I paired this lingerie-esque skirt with a velvet top and my favorite leopard clutch.
On my last trip to the store I found a Joseph Ribkoff top that I couldn’t resist, I love the soft white top with lace statement sleeves. This piece is so feminine, I styled it with a pair of black strappy heels and some ripped Good American jeans. I wanted to balance the feminine top with some edgier jeans and my favorite Target heels.
I never would have ordered these pieces from an online store, I would have passed right by both. But being able to shop in a boutique and feel the fabrics and see the drama these pieces bring firsthand had me purchasing both.
This post is in collaboration with Liz Louize.