The Red Dress Boutique

I first came across The Red Dress Boutique when I was looking for outfits for sporting events. I wanted something that went beyond the normal jeans and team shirt routine, something feminine, flirty and fun. I was blown away by the selection that The Red Dress carried and it didn’t just stop at game day options. I fell in love with the wide array of casual to formal options, many in bright colours with feminine detailing. It is very evident that owner Diana Harbour reflects her love of art and fashion in her store. So I was very excited when Diana took time with C&C to do an interview on the boutique.

Q: What Inspired the Red Dress Boutique?

A: Red Dress was inspired from a LOVE of fashion. We didn’t have much money growing up so I just studied it. I read magazines, watched a show (long gone now) called Runway and it would show a different designers runway show every Saturday. I sketched outfits, covered my notebooks in cutouts and literally dreamed of a day when I could wear those pieces.

I got my first fashion job in college at a store called McKays. I apprenticed with the owner and he introduced me to the markets where everyone goes to place their orders. He actually let me pick styles for the store and even do window displays with no supervision. It was wonderful to act like it was mine and treat it as so. I learned SO Much from that job only because he let me participate in the stores appearance and success.

My major in college was English Literature with a minor in Art. I did not study fashion in college as I didn’t find it necessary. I took as electives classes I felt would help me own a business later on: accounting, metalsmithing, painting and advertising. 

Right after graduation I got married and we both went to work in cubicles at a credit card processing company. I worked there 90 days and slowly felt my dream of owning a store fading into the background. I feared staying in that cubicle for the rest of my life more than anything in the world. In life you have to choose either security or freedom and I wanted the freedom. So in those 90 days my husband and I plotted the store. We are from Columbus GA and did not want to stay in our hometown so we looked to Athens, GA. Josh graduated from UGA and I had never been so we took a weekend trip to scope out spaces. We found a small one on the first trip and made the jump.

We put our house on the market and luckily it sold in a week. We took the money from the house and secured bank loan and line of credit and I attended my first market! I made the racks that hung in the store (my metalsmithing class) and painted all the paintings for decoration. Our first space was only 1000 square feet. Tiny! 

And we couldn’t afford a new home so we slept on an air mattress in 4 different friends apartments for a whole year! We literally lived out of a suitcase. But that first year we learned so much. It is hard to run your own business. There are no 9-5 hours here. It is literally at least 65-70 hours a week of non stop working, but you are free. There is certainly no security. Some months I would panic that bills wouldn’t get paid. Other months I worried we didn’t have enough inventory. But the happiness comes from having your own schedule and no one to push you but yourself.

Check out The Red Dress Boutique Lookbook

Q: How would you describe your personal style? How does it parallel or differ from the style of the store?

A: My style is so very eclectic and honestly it reflects my mood. I do not wear black EVER (other than leggings). It depresses me. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have black dresses or blazers in the store. My wardrobe is ultra colorful and I love prints. 

For the store I have to buy for my customers.We are in a college town so I definitely buy things I personally would not wear. I still try to put my spin on it though! Bright colors, prints and lots of personality. I believe if clothes are boring you might as well not wear any 🙂 

 

Q: On Facebook you did a profile on all the faces and personalities in your store and looks like a very fun place to work! What can fans expect next for The Red Dress Boutique 

 

A:  Fans can expect a complete website redesign and store redesign coming in March! its already in the works! We have started separating the store and website inventory to have more control. Fans can expect larger photos, more accessories, SHOES and possibly some home accent items. We love our facebook fans and we want to make the web store what they want it to be. 

 

Q: In your opinion what are some go to pieces/styles that people should look for this spring?

 

A: My top 5 for spring is this:

1. A pleated skirt in a pastel color-its flattering and different and it is being seen on celebs everywhere. Spring is so much more demure and its so refreshing. 

2. A nude pump. It goes with EVERYTHING.

3. A bow blouse. They are work appropriate, cute and look great with jeans or a skirt.

4. A striped dress. Too many people think horizontal stripes make them look fat. WRONG, you have to find a striped dress that has different sized stripes all over it. It takes the eye away from the body and throws it to the pattern. 

5. A bright colored handbag: either in a coral, bright green or yellow! Let your accessories shine!

 

 

Add a bright bag to the mix this spring

Q: Do you have any favourite bloggers you follow?

A: I follow several blogs. Tuula and Cupcakes and Cashmere are two of my favorites. And of course, Cashmere and Camo. I am from the country so my roots still have me wearing overalls and flannel when not at work 🙂

 

Thanks so much to The Red Dress owner, Diana Harbour for the interview with C&C!