Twilight.
in-jean-ius’s Barnard opened her newest store, Twilight, in March 2007. “My main concern was having a boutique that provided dressier clothing than in-jean-ius,” she recently told me. “This means party dresses, sun dresses, work-appropriate clothing. At Twilight, I’m looking to highlight the feminine and beautiful. I wanted to help bring out the girl in all of us.”
Like in-jean-ius, Barnard focuses on fit, and stocks a variety of cuts and sizes flattering to all body types. Designers such as Adam and Eve, Betsey Johnson, and Solas may be found among the racks of dresses, jewelry, and handbags. And keeping with the “night out” feel, the store feels like an upscale lounge, with exposed brick walls, elegant chandeliers, and romantic drapes throughout.
While Barnard currently has a broad client base, she’s hoping to lure more older women to both stores. “A lot of times I hear, ‘oh, if only I were young again,’” she says. “I hate this statement because the clothing I buy has nothing to do with age. It is really about finding the right pieces for your body type and feeling good when you wear them.”
Start shopping: 12 Fleet St., Boston MA 02113; 617-523-8008
Christina DeFalco.
Christina DeFalco opened her boutique in 2003, and quickly made headlines with her signature t-shirts, screened with photo prints and sparkly baubles. “Inspiration for my t-shirts comes from my travels and quirky view of life,” DeFalco told me. “My current passion is using the superb Italian drawings of George Collier, a famous young Scottish artist, on sexy sheer t-shirts and dresses. I’m also having a lot of fun with flirty dresses in bright prints with purl edging.” The store’s website offers an interactive demo of current collections; it’s a great way to get a sense of what’s available before stopping by to browse in person. And, DeFalco and her sales team add little extras to keep customers coming back. Upon finding a near-perfect fitting pair of pants at the boutique, I hemmed (no pun intended) over buying. DeFalco measured my cuffs on the spot and offered to alter the pants for just an additional $10. A lifelong procrastinator when it comes to going to the tailor, I agreed; the pants were ready for pick up just two days later.
