EMPRESS

This week we start a short series, 'A Fashionable Note', featuring women in the entertainment business who have turned their love for fashion into a business on the side. They operate trendy boutiques. We begin with the popular radio personality Empress, a fashionista in her own right.

In the coming weeks, we will feature Spice, D'Angel and Keiva.

True fashionistas don't shop at just any boutique; they buy at an exclusive store where you have to use a password to get in.

Empress and her business partner Nadia Stanley operate Stanley & Empress Boutique, which is the only password and networking boutique in Jamaica. Empress notes that the reason behind a password store was to create something new that has not been done in Jamaica. Plus, providing a networking access to people who want to purchase exclusive pieces. She adds that the password is much like a membership card.

Password

How it works is that the password is given to several people and basically friends just pass it on to their friends. She says at times people might forget the password but because they would have developed a personal relationship with their clients, they would know them and therefore allow them to shop nonetheless.

Stanley & Empress Boutique is located in the Starapple's garden, along Hope Road, and offers customers an extraordinary shopping experience. Empress says unlike other stores, they are all about lifestyle - eat, drink and shop - hence their partnership with Starapple.

"Also, clients who are dining at the restaurant will have access to our store. Every second Sunday of the month, we host a lyme, where customers can come mingle, eat, drink and shop - it's just a holistic approach to shopping," says Empress.

To many, Empress is the entertainer, social advocate and media personality, but what some people don't know is that she has a natural eye for fashion - hence her venture into the fashion world.

Her business adventure began in 2006. Both she and Stanley worked together on a television show and one day they pondered what kind of business they could go into that both of them would like. After brainstorming they came up with a boutique. It took just three months to find a location, in Cross Roads. They called up the local designers who dressed them for the television shows and partnered with them when they wanted to start the business. Since then, the boutique has taken off.

Back then, the store was called Penthouse Loft, but to cater to the needs of their clients they decided to get a more central location. Their current home not only provides a central location, it also gives clients a touch of nature through the Starapple gardens.

Clientele

Tessanne Chin shows off her curves in this figure-flattering knitted dress designed by local designer Andesen, complemented by calabash earrings made by Kima Expression. - photos by Ian Allen/ freelance Photographer

Empress says their clientele ranges from businessmen and women and teenagers to the mature shoppers and regular fashionistas. And they cater to both men and women.

"We aim at getting our customers out of the stuffy business attire into fun yet trendy outfits made by local designers. We try to be creative hence we carry handpicked unique pieces from local designers."

She notes that about 89 per cent of outfits in their stores are from local designers and so far the boutique is stocked with more than 20 local designers' pieces.

"We are strongly adamant about supporting the local industry and working together for the betterment of our country. I hate when people say they don't wear local designs. We are just too foreign minded. Our designers have a lot of talent but how are we to grow if we don't support each other," says Empress passionately.

She reminisces that when they first told people about the concept of a password boutique doubled with local designs, many said it would not work. But, it has, and people do look good in local pieces. For Empress, nothing gives her more reward than when she is out and sees people in pieces they bought at her store. She also points out that people are of the perception that their clothes are expensive but really their prices are very competitive.

Giving back

Stanley & Empress Boutique is known to give back to their customers. As such, during the Christmas festivities they can look out for surprises and gifts. Also, they are planning to host a charity event and launch their new online store. Her hope for the future is to open more stores across the island.

All outfits are available at Stanley & Empress Boutique but if you want to purchase any of these fabulous pieces designed by local designers, you will have to get the password.

If you want to get the password for the boutique, here is a hint: it is a Swahili word, or you can email stanleyandempress@gmail.com.

Models: Tessanne Chin, Sodiann Malcolm and Koshens.

Make-up done by Jeneva Whorms from Urban Beauty, 968-0506 or 946-3809.

Send your comments to keisha.shakespeare@gleaner jm.com

Left: Tessanne Chin is an example of sheer beauty in this Mutamba design and earrings made by Tuff Like Iron. Right: Every man ought to have a nice pair of white shorts in his closet and this pair with the grey and green cotton voile shirt looks quite hot on Koshens. The shirt is designed by Anarcy and the shorts by Romiech.

Konshens wears a trendy yet simple outfit of a shirt, designed by Rojah, and a pair of shorts by Romiech.

Left: Sodiann Malcolm wears a design by Mama Yashi and earrings by Sound Chick. Both local designs can be found at Stanley & Empress Boutique. Who says you have to dress in a stuffy suit when going to a formal function. Instead, try this trendy, pin-striped, three-piece outfit. It is designed by local designer Yaad Trenz. - photos by Ian Allen/Contract Photographer

Konshens looks very hot in this green T-shirt with a zip at the side, which gives it a bit of an edge. His speaker bag and shades bring off the whole look.

Tessanne Chin looks quite sultry in black leggings and this one-shoulder top designed by Bwoybeatzz.