Boutique of the Week: Fuschia

Fuschia

538 Duane St.

Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

(630) 469-7465

shopfuschia.com

Located right in downtown Glen Ellyn, Fuschia offers an impressive variety of high-end labels, bringing city fashion to the suburbs.  Owner Ashlee Rooney sat down with me to offer a peek into her world.  Fuschia has become quite a staple in the area, claiming its stake since 2004.  Ashlee explains why she opened: "I moved from the city and there was nowhere to shop."  Coming from a place where there are boutiques at every turn, a move to the suburbs was a shock to the system for Ashlee.  "There must be other people, too," she thought.  Thus, Fuschia was born.

The look is sharp and sophisticated.  Even a little Alice in Wonderland when it comes to the checkerboard floor.  Don't be fooled, though, the sleek environment comes with a warm and inviting atmosphere.  "People come here and hang out all day.  We want people to just come in and feel like they don't even have to shop," says Ashlee.  And, it's true.  Our conversation was littered with jokes and laughter.  Ashlee takes fashion seriously in that she respects the FUN of it!

She has had so much success with the Glen Ellyn location, she opened up a second store in Geneva.  Better yet, though the two stores share the same name, everything is different between the two.  "Rebecca Taylor here is different there," explains Ashlee.  Even better?  If you see something in Geneva, and you're going to Glen Ellyn, Ashlee will arrange for it to be brought over for you!  "We are like a caravan every day."  Speaking of Rebecca Taylor.... recognize the blouse from this post?  I had to stop and catch my breath when I saw it!  :)

 

If you're just as floored by the variety of pieces available as I was, it's all due to Ashlee's serious love of fashion.  "I just have a sickness and I love clothes," Ashlee explains with a certain air of melodrama.  In all seriousness, though, every single item that I saw, I wanted.  The place is packed, floor to ceiling, with the hottest labels like Milly, Rebecca Taylor, Tibi, Michael Stars, and more.  The best part is that she only orders a certain amount of pieces in each style, giving the store a whole lot of variety.  "Things come into the store every day.  It's like Christmas every day.  Our UPS man is Santa." 

Go to shop, go to hang out, go to laugh along with Ashlee, just go.  And mention that you read this blog post and get 10% off.

Boutique of the Week: Hot Mama

Hot Mama

55 South Main Street #165

Naperville, IL 60540 

(630) 995-3530

www.shopmama.com

Last week, on a particularly gorgeous beginning-of-fall day, I had the great pleasure of meeting with Lauren Rosen, the manager of the wonderful Hot Mama in Naperville.  Though everyone on staff was busy putting the store back into working order after a busy city-wide ladies' weekend, they greeted me warmly and kindly.  Lauren suggested we take it to Starbucks so that the team could get busy!

On the walk over, Lauren asked me all about my blog and life, fully anticipating that the conversation would lean toward her direction soon.  By the time we arrived at Starbucks, I felt that I was not with an acquaintance, but a friend!  

After getting settled, Lauren told me some of the basics about Hot Mama.  The company was born in 2004 in Minnesota.  Owners Megan and Mike Tamte were looking to create a place for moms to shop.  Having had a child of their own, Megan realized that shopping after a baby is hard for many reasons.  First, the baby is in tow!  And s/he gets bored!  Secondly, a body after a baby is not always the same, and shopping can be an emotionally challenging experience.  They set out to creating an environment for women to have a positive shopping experience.  "All the women who work at Hot Mama are passionate about helping women look and feel hot," explains Lauren.  Empowering messages to women are scattered about the store, on the mirrors in the fitting rooms, and on the display shelves.

Empowering women is definitely a central focus at Hot Mama.  Lauren became expressive and emotive when discussing the mission of the store and its employees.  "One of our core values is that we try to create a positive feel-good environment," she enthused.  "It's a place of women encouraging other women."  Paired with their positive disposition is a selection of truly wonderful clothes.  You'll see familiar names like Michael Stars and Autumn Cashmere interspersed with smaller boutique brands.  Quality and individuality oozes from their selection, offering women fantastic "statement pieces" to take home.  

 

One of Hot Mama's hidden talents is their expertise in fitting jeans.  Actually, the whole jeans thing is a nailed-down science!  Lauren explained proudly that when a woman walks into the store, she and her team are immediately able to guess which jeans would fit the best, and they're usually right.  They start a customer with three pairs of jeans they think would offer the best fit and go from there.  They'll be honest, but kind.  Lauren empathizes: "Women sometimes compare jeans shopping to swimsuit shopping.  That's a place that's really vulnerable for women.”  It is the combination of Hot Mama's expertise and humanity make shopping an empowering experience.

  

Lauren has even noticed a change in her own style since beginning at Hot Mama.  

-->"I feel like my personal style has evolved in that I'm so much more an accessories person than I ever was before. You can have a simple outfit, but if you have the right accessories, you can transform the entire look," she explains.  It's just the perfect thing that Hot Mama has wide selection of cute and affordable jewelry and accessories.

 

"Anything else you want the customers to know?" I asked her as we were taking our last sips of coffee and finishing up.  "We are not a maternity store!!!!!!" she answered back without pause, with a great laugh.  Though Hot Mama has plenty of things that a woman could wear in and out of pregnancy, their clothing is not specifically maternity.  Clearly, this means that non-moms are also right at home in Hot Mama.  When it comes down to it, Hot Mama has great pieces and a selection as wide as there are personal styles.  It is absolutely, most definitely, worth a trip to visit.

Bonus Perks:
#1: Animal crackers for kids.
#2: Beer for dads/husbands/boyfriends.
#3: Computer area for all of the above.
#4: Toys for all of the above.

P.S.  For extra fun at Hot Mama, schedule a private shopping party -- everyone in attendance gets 15% off!