Photo by Erica Techo.
Patricia Stoddard said she hopes her boutique can help women gain confidence in themselves and their fashion choices.
About a year ago, Patricia Stoddard was at a faith convention when a stranger approached her.
“Someone came to tell me that God was going to deal with me in fashion,” Stoddard said.
At the time, she did not know what that individual meant, but it ended up being the spark that led Stoddard to opening 3 Generations Boutique in Greystone Centre.
Opening the store was centered on Stoddard’s faith, and she prayed about the idea of opening a store as well as the location where she would open it. After praying about the Greystone Centre location, Stoddard said she had a dream that showed her it was the right place.
“That same night I had a dream, because I had already seen this location, that I was in this location, dressing the walls and hanging clothes everywhere,” she said.
Since opening in July, Stoddard said she has seen great foot traffic in the store and is thankful for the women of Greystone and off U.S. 280 who will stop by to shop or just talk.
“Sometimes people need to just talk,” Stoddard said. “We’re not just using it [the store] to sell the clothes; we’re using it to talk.”
Conversation is a vital part of the shop and its message, which Stoddard said is one of encouragement. The store’s name — 3 Generations Boutique — was selected because the number 3 representing the beginning, middle and end, and “generations” represents a desire to pass a message of positivity between generations.
“The number 3 kind of identifies us as our past, our present and our future, and it’s just to be sure that where we are on this day, we are embracing ourselves completely and fully,” Stoddard said.
One way Stoddard promotes a message of confidence in shoppers is through the store’s wall of fashion confessions.
“[A fashion confession is] that one fear we may have, or we may have three or four, so we confess, ‘This is something I will not put on,’” Stoddard said. “And then we’re going to do a challenge for seven days, to wear it. Then, you never know how it turns out, but it will eventually lead to that confidence.”
While confidence in fashion might seem like a minor step, Stoddard said she believes it can flow into other areas of life and can lead shoppers to face other fears.
Overall, Stoddard said she hopes to help women express themselves through the clothing in 3 Generations Boutique. She selects mainly contemporary pieces and said she looks for good fabrics and items she typically wears. Women face criticism in fashion all the time, Stoddard said, but dressing confidently is a way to fight against that.
“We have freedom of speech in America; our voice is dominant in so many ways in our lives, so I feel like fashion is our voice, and I think we should wear it,” she said.
For more information about 3 Generations Boutique, go to 3GenerationsBoutique.com or search @3gensb on Facebook.
3 Generations Boutique
WHERE: 5510 U.S. 280, Suite 109
HOURS: Monday, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
CALL: 326-7333
WEB: 3generationsboutique.com
