It’s in the Bag: Exactly Where to Shop in San Diego
Written By: Heidi Mares Best Boutiques in San Diego
Photographer By: Matt Doheny Best Boutiques in San Diego
Representing the best in the business, we got the scoop on the women behind the top four fabulous shop spots in San Diego. From surfer chic to boho with an urban twist and simple cocktail dresses, these boutique owners reveal the best finds in their store, expected new arrivals, upcoming events and their personal favorite must-have items.
RICA BOUTIQUE
Interview With ERICA ALEXANDER, Boutique Owner
Q: How did you come up with the idea to open your own boutique?
Erica Alexander: Since I can remember, I’ve loved fashion, clothes and shopping. My first word was “shoe” and when I was 10, I covered my whole bedroom wall with fashion magazine pictures. I started working in retail when I turned 16 and worked in boutiques on and off until I graduated from college. After working a few years in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, fashion and retail once again called my name and I managed a boutique in Manhattan Beach for four years while I got my MBA. After that, I felt prepared to launch my own boutique and thought La Jolla was the perfect place to make that dream a reality!
Q: What brands can we find in your store?
EA: We pride ourselves on finding awesome brands that don’t break the bank. We also try to find brands you won’t always find at your local department stores. Some of our favorites are Indah, LA Made, Chaser, Level 99, and of course we love carrying smaller more independent California lines like Junim, Mate, 35mm, Good hYOUman, Lovers + Friends and Private Arts. We also need to give a shout out to our rad Australian lines, such as MinkPink, Spell & The Gypsy and Somedays Lovin.
Q: What demographic do you tend to market to?
EA: Our focused market is 24-38 year olds, but we love to dress women of all ages!
Q: What is your must-have item?
EA: My baby blue Balenciaga City Bag.
Q: What can we expect to see coming up in your boutique?
EA: We are planning some fun events and always looking for new up and coming clothing brands from all over the world! We are also so excited about the recent launch of our website www.shop-rica.com and are releasing our summer look book very soon!
Q: If you could explain your boutique in three words, what would you use?
EA: Bohemian. Beach. Chic.
7456 Girard Ave
La Jolla, CA 92037
858.459.0208
DOLCETTI BOUTIQUE
Interview With MINET TAYLOR AND NATALIE TAYLOR, Boutique Owners
Q: How did you come up with the idea to open up your very own boutique?
Minet Taylor & Natalie Taylor: It was our dad’s idea. He’s always encouraged us to be entrepreneurs and taught us that if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. He saw our passion for this industry and suggested the idea to us.
Q: What brands can we find in your store?
MT&NT: For women, some of our favorite lines are Keepsake, Cameo, Finders Keepers, Naven, Wildfox, BB Dakota, Rich and Skinny, Report, MinkPink and Lovers + Friends. For men we have Antony Morato, Pull-In, RNT 23 and Civil Society.
Q: What demographic do you tend to market to?
MT&NT: We seek to have something for everyone, but our primary demographic is 18-40 years old.
Q: What is your must-have item?
MT&NT: Our two vintage Louis Vuitton suitcases that we scored for $50 each at a street market in Telluride, Colorado. It was the find of a lifetime.
Q: Do you plan on adding more locations to your store?
MT&NT: We would love to! It would be a dream to have Dolcetti Boutique in all major cities around the country.
Q: What can we expect to see coming up in your boutique?
MT&NT: We are always bringing in new lines and looking for the next big thing. You can expect that we will stay on top of the latest trends and offer them at a variety of prices.
Q: If you could explain your boutique in three words, what would you use?
MT&NT: On-trend. Charming. Fun.
635 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
619.501.1559
OOH FASHIONISTA
Interview With HORTENCIA MOORE, Boutique Owner
Q: How did you come up with the idea to open your own boutique?
Hortencia Moore: I loved fashion since a very young age and always sought out creative activities. I had a swimwear line and did interior design along with other creative ventures. I was looking for something to dive into full time that would embrace my creative side through my divorce and starting a new chapter in my life and so, I decided to venture out and start a boutique. Why OOH Fashionista? Because I want my customers to feel like fashionistas. I am big on customer service and providing amazing looks all for $50 and under.
Q: What brands can we find in your store?
HM: We carry Kenneth Barlis designer apparel. He is an amazing designer who designs couture gowns. He came to me wanting to make a line of everyday wear and simple cocktail dresses, which we now sell for $50 and under. We also carry NOIA designer swimwear and Aguaclara from Peru. I love supporting local designers.
Q: What demographic do you tend to market to?
HM: My demographic consists of women with a vast range in age. I have customers as young as early teens to retired women and everything in between. I look for styles that are comfortable and can transition to different women of different ages.
Q: What is your must-have item?
HM: One of my favorite items is a Rosewater mud mask. It leaves your skin so smooth after the first use! Cleopatra used rosewater as her beauty secret and I can see why. It is sold at OOH Fashionista for only $13.80.
Q: What can we expect to see coming up in your boutique?
HM: We never re-carry a style, reducing the chances of you running into someone wearing your outfit. I keep my promise of no item, jewelry or natural skin products being above $50. I am always looking for local designers and unique jewelry making OOH Fashionista a unique find.
Q: If you could explain your boutique in three words, what would you use?
HM: Friendly. Affordable. Girly.
111 Chesterfield Dr #117
Cardiff By The Sea, CA 92007
760.230.2314
THE MOBILE BOUTIQUE OWNER
FRANCISCO, EDDIE AND ALEX BARRAGAN
of Style by F.E.A www.stylebyfea.com
Q: What inspired you to open your own styling services / business?
Style by F.E.A: We’ve always had a deep admiration for fashion and have been very passionate about it. Growing up we always dealt with our loved ones’ fashion emergencies, so becoming stylists just felt natural.
Q: What brands can we find in your personal closet?
SBF: We have a talent for finding at least one item we can’t seem to live without at every store that we set foot in, so our closets have everything from Prada to Forever 21.
Q: What demographic do you tend to market to?
SBF: We’re not exclusive to any one particular demographic, which is why we love what we do. One minute we could be styling a menswear shoot and the next minute we could be helping a starlet find the perfect red carpet look.
Q: What is your most beloved item?
SBF: We can’t live without our obscenely large sunglass collection!
Q: Do you plan on adding any more stylists to your business?
SBF: Perhaps in the future. The idea of having an army of stylists ready to tackle any fashion emergency does sound kind of amazing.
Q: What styles can we expect to see coming up in the new season that you think will make a statement?
SBF: The fall/winter runways have a lot of great, bold prints that we’re really excited about!
Q: If you could explain your style in three words, what would you use?
SBF: Eclectic. Layered. European.
Heidi is the owner and style blogger of A FASHION STATEMENT, San Diego’s premier style blog. She works in business development for public relations and enjoys collaborating with brands that match her personal style.
