A new boutique joined downtown Auburn last weekend as students began returning to The Plains.
Charming Oaks opened Aug. 12 on College Street in the former GAP location, with the goal of being a more affordable option for boutique shoppers of a range of ages and body types, said store manager Shelby Cohan.
“I think that girls these days see that perfect image on the magazine cover, and I want them to walk in here and realize that we’re all different shapes and sizes and colors,” Cohan said. “And we have something in this store that will fit and make you feel good about yourself.”
Jacqueline Redd, senior in marketing, said the size range and prices caught her attention when she decided to browse the store after breakfast with friends.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting to buy something and then I fell in love with the dress,” Redd said of her first boutique purchase, adding that she initially thought the dress would be too expensive.
The store also had a “classy” feel, she said.
“It’s very well put-together,” Redd said.
Clothing and accessories come from Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Atlanta, Cohan said. She studies trend reports and monitors fashion hubs, such as New York and Dallas, to determine future clothing orders.
The boutique focuses more on college students because of the downtown location, employing and catering to young women. The pricing, specifically, is what Cohan hopes will bring returning customers.
Pricing is what got Lauren Ballard, junior in architecture, to purchase a skirt over the weekend.
“This is actually the first boutique in Auburn I’ve bought something at,” Ballard said.
And she said she’s likely to return too.
“More than I want to,” Ballard said.
Cohan said she’s pleased with the location, something that caught owner Bill Wakefield’s attention in February.
Because the space was previously a retail location, it made it a good fit for the boutique, Cohan said.
“I love that we have the big windows, the natural light, where you can see all the people,” Cohan said, adding that being near restaurants helps attract people into the stores after a meal.
The Auburn Oaks inspired the name of the store, Cohan said.
“(Wakefield) wanted something to be representative of Auburn,” she said. “I think he wanted something that was kind of rustic, and ‘charming’ just kind of went with it.”
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
