Chic Boutique
Photos by Brooke Boucek.
0312 Chic Boutique
Owner Eve Smith and Pam Phillips work at Chic Boutique.When Eve Smith saw the bright, bold patterns of Desigual clothing in Barcelona, she knew she had to share them with her friends back home. She did just that, and now you can find the funky line along with many others in her store, Chic Boutique in the Village at Lee Branch.
“I wanted customers to be able to come in our store and go home with an entire new outfit without having to make a trip to The Summit,” Smith said.
Chic Boutique’s clothes, jewelry galore, shoes with a purpose and other items appeal to teens through women in their 40s and 50s—all in a reasonable price range. For many, it’s a convenient stop after getting a manicure at Foxy Nails next door.
“We want everyone to feel welcome to stop by and check out what our store is all about,” Smith said. “We love seeing old customers just as much as we enjoy seeing new faces.”
Beyond their clothing lines, Chic Boutique offers endless options to accessorize.
“A lot of times I just wear black and really cool pieces of jewelry to make it stand out,” Smith said.
Monogrammed jewelry by Moon and Lola has been an especially hot item for teens and girls in college. Earrings and necklaces come in gold, silver or various colored acrylics.
“The best thing about fashion is accessories,” Smith and co-worker Pam Phillips agreed. “It can really turn a boring outfit into something really fabulous.”
The clothing store doubles as an Agatha Ainsley shoe boutique, with 30 to 40 pairs in stock. Agatha Ainsley co-owner Pam Phillips had volunteered in a Crisis Pregnancy Center and has designated a portion of proceeds from each shoe for women who have suffered sexual violence and abuse.
Smith also had a background in helping others as a social worker, but even then fashion was an important part of her life. She bought Chic Boutique 12 years ago when it was located in Leeds and moved the store to Lee Branch as the new Publix was being built. Soon Phillips became a customer, and then an advisor, and now her co-owner and best friend.
Both Smith and Phillips will be glad to help anyone find the perfect outfit, including selections from their spring inventory of new espadrilles, wedges and colorful spring dresses.
“It’s fun to offer an encouraging critique to customers,” Phillips said. “We help bring the beauty from the inside to the outside.”
