Auburn is home to numerous trendy boutiques. Though there are many, each clothing store in the small Alabama town attempts to feature unique styles and individuality.
NK Boho Boutique and Ellie Clothing are established Auburn boutiques known for their affordable and trendy pieces. Both created by Natalie Gilbert and Kelly Poole, the stores seek to provide students with budget-friendly clothing and unique shopping experiences.
Gilbert and Poole graduated from Auburn in 2002 before creating Ellie Clothing, a boutique they described as fun and fashion-forward. For fall 2016, Poole said they are loving velvet, suede and Moto jeans.
“We launched NK after seeing the market trends move toward bohemian styles,” Poole said. “We wanted to bring affordable, boho looks to The Plains.”
Because both stores are small businesses, Poole said her responsibilities range from cleaning the floors, buying clothes or hiring new employees. Her favorite fall 2016 bohemian trends include flair jeans, chokers and off-the-shoulder tops.
Auburn’s newest boutique is Charming Oaks, created by an Auburn graduate whose family has been in the clothing industry for more than 100 years. Shelby Cohan was running a store in Montgomery when she was convinced to help create the boutique. Only five weeks existed between the time she said yes to the opening day.
“I don’t think fashion has an age,” Cohan said. “When we opened, I said whether you’re 14 or 64, I want you to come in and find something. I want items that cross generations; this doesn’t have to be a college boutique or a student’s outfit.”
Currently the general manager and a buyer, Cohan said her personal fashion icons are her grandmothers. When she was younger, she said she used to dress up in their pearls and high-heels. She said she admired the ways they always presented themselves.
Charming Oaks has everything from cut-out velvet jumpsuits to game day staples. It is also one of the only boutiques in Auburn to carry extended sizes. Cohan said some of her favorite fall trends include bell sleeves, snakeskin-print items and anything 90s-inspired.
Cohan’s original background was in accessories and home goods, so she hopes to bring knick-knacks and gift items to the boutique soon. Growing up, Cohan said her quirky style kept her ahead of the trends and helped shape her fashion identity.
“I’ve always been the one where if there was this strange outfit, it was the one that my friends always said, ‘Well, Shelby would wear it,’” Cohan said. “I was taking my grandfather’s pins and putting them on my jean jacket in 1986 and now patches are coming back in.”
Located on Magnolia Ave, Therapy has been present for some time. According to Mckenzie Shaffer, the current COO, Therapy aims to cater to the college crowd as well as Auburn locals by incorporating long-lasting staples with trendier, cheaper items.
Shaffer graduated from Auburn in 2013 after working for Therapy throughout her college years. She majored in apparel merchandising and production and became full-time after finishing her degree. Shaffer’s responsibilities include buying stock, inventory management and visual merchandising.
For day-to-day outfit inspiration, Shaffer said she looks to Instagram bloggers and Pinterest boards because of their accessibility and timeliness.
“I like mixing classic pieces with trendy pieces,” Shaffer said. “I love super distressed jeans with a classic blouse or tailored micro-flair jeans with something really trendy on top. I would say my style is equivalent with Therapy’s and what we try to create here.”
Shaffer and her coworkers currently have their eyes on a pair of over-the-knee grey suede boots. Their favorite fall trends include chokers layered with necklaces, a lot of microsuede, fringe and lace-up anything.
Because it is a college boutique, Therapy’s seasonal turnover is a bit different than other stores. Their vendors cater to the fact that they need inventory quickly in the fall. Shaffer helps with the buying, often traveling to markets in Atlanta or as far as Los Angeles.
“This season, people are getting a little riskier,” Shaffer said. “Trends are following the 90s, kinda grunge, but classy at the same time. We see people layering trends and mixing styles.”
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