A Diva is only as good as her last grand adventure.
I came to this conclusion while shopping for the latest and greatest dress in a small city; after living in a very BIG city for many years. I wanted to find something that was unique and complimented my personality as well as my style of dress. I have friends in Milwaukee who often complain about there being no where to shop, and out of frustration they hit the mall, with all of its limitations and poor window displays or they give up and give their money to a mega store like “Target”. Oh La La! This must stop! Sure Forever 21 is a great location for filler pieces, but one of the first rules of style is that you NEVER buy the complete outfit off of a mannequin unless you shop boutique! How will anyone know when a Diva shows up, if she looks like the rest of the room? There are many fabulous boutiques, salons, spas, restaurants, wine bars, art dealers and festivals in this fair city to make BIG City living a breeze in this petit market- I have done the research and I am here to share it with you
As I mentioned, my return to Milwaukee from Chicago has been met with tons of criticism, mostly from people who have never visited our fair city. When people find out that I moved, I get the reaction as if I left Will Smith for Flava Flav. The follow up question is, “What’s so great about Milwaukee?” Well I could rattle off about Laverne and Shirley or The Fonz but even I wasn’t living here then, nor do those things excite me. I decided to poke around and really find out what deserves the title “Milwaukee’s Best” other than the beer; and if someone had the chance to chose between visiting Milwaukee and Chicago, why they should take 94 West.
I am here to tell you that Milwaukee has many gems in its fair city, and for a fashionista like me it is important to know where these gems are located, and how they work for me. I tend to venture downtown toward the Third Ward or on the east side, because generally you will find a new boutique among the buildings that you never noticed before. Driving down Water Street, I decided to re-visit a personal favorite Fred’s Boutique, and I was glad I did. What initially caught my eye was the vacant store with naked dress mannequins. Immediately I thought that they closed…and I was sad. Luckily for me that was not the case. They convienently moved directly next door to a dual level space. I parked my car, and trotted on in. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but let me tell you what I saw blew me away! Never before in Milwaukee have I been so taken aback by a potential shopping experience. I was standing in the perfect boutique. I felt as if I was in Soho, New York between Betsey Johnson and Rachel Roy showrooms.
The re-vamp of Fred’s Boutique offers shoppers and voyeurs alike an eyeful of color and shopping candy to devour. Every square foot of this store gave me something new, from the brilliant glam jewelry displays to the stylish garments, to the Hollywood chandeliers, the only thing missing was my personal paparazzi team.
The clothing and jewelry selection is key to the success of a fabulous boutique, but so is the layout. After seeing my excitement, Annie, the store manager asked me if I would like to see the upstairs, but I think she already knew I did. Up the staircase, into the loft I was exposed to even more unique décor. Never before have I seen a Victorian style bed in the middle of a boutique. The upstairs is designed like the bedroom of a movie star with its decorative chandeliers, fresh floral and vintage mirrors. The effect really rubs off on you while selecting garments to try on. You feel like you are a pampered star. There are amazing stylists on hand to assist you with the look, and to add accessories that take your look to the next level.
Ladies, I would like to offer the title of “Milwaukee’s Best” to Fred’s Boutique. It is the best boutique that I have seen and experienced in our fair city. Another reason to skip the mall and shop local!
