2008 Woodie Awards
Chic clothes for that soon-to-be-graduate
Bella Luna offers high-class apparel without the long drive to the big city
Katee Stearns
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Style
"Where I grew up, there were more cows than people," Van Frankenhuyzen said. "I graduated with less than 60 kids in a public school, but I would dress to the nines when I went out with my girlfriends."
After achieving her degree in fashion marketing in Michigan., Van Frankenhuyzen managed a boutique in Seattle, Wash., where she met her husband, Ahmed. His job led them to the East Coast, where Van Frankenhuyzen saw huge opportunity in a chance to bring something new to the area.
Bangor, by Van Frankenhuyzen's standards, is a decent sized and well-populated area, and she does not feel threatened by other clothing competitors, such as the Bangor Mall.
"I don't really try to compete with the mall because I know we can't," Van Frankenhuyzen said. "The mall as far as advertising, price and quantity is beyond what we can compete with, so we get stuff they won't or can't have. We have lines that you can't find at big department stores, most you can't find around here at all."
Since Bella Luna is independently owned, Van Frankenhuyzen is able to stock her racks and shelves full of unique items that are tailored to the wants and needs of her customers. While she keeps the latest trends in mind, she doesn't feel it necessary to stick to every single one. To acquire her items, she places orders online, or attends national trade shows to get a feel for what she thinks will create the best mix of options. Skinny jeans, ballet flats and billowy tops have been among her shoppers' favorite buys since the boutique opened in November of 2007.
To keep her fashions unique to as many customers as possible, she only orders one of each size per article of clothing she orders. Understanding that young women in college are beginning to define themselves professionally, she strives to make it unlikely that more than six shoppers will walk away with the same piece of clothing - limiting a big taboo among young women who fear running into another customer in the same outfit.
After achieving her degree in fashion marketing in Michigan., Van Frankenhuyzen managed a boutique in Seattle, Wash., where she met her husband, Ahmed. His job led them to the East Coast, where Van Frankenhuyzen saw huge opportunity in a chance to bring something new to the area.
Bangor, by Van Frankenhuyzen's standards, is a decent sized and well-populated area, and she does not feel threatened by other clothing competitors, such as the Bangor Mall.
"I don't really try to compete with the mall because I know we can't," Van Frankenhuyzen said. "The mall as far as advertising, price and quantity is beyond what we can compete with, so we get stuff they won't or can't have. We have lines that you can't find at big department stores, most you can't find around here at all."
Since Bella Luna is independently owned, Van Frankenhuyzen is able to stock her racks and shelves full of unique items that are tailored to the wants and needs of her customers. While she keeps the latest trends in mind, she doesn't feel it necessary to stick to every single one. To acquire her items, she places orders online, or attends national trade shows to get a feel for what she thinks will create the best mix of options. Skinny jeans, ballet flats and billowy tops have been among her shoppers' favorite buys since the boutique opened in November of 2007.
To keep her fashions unique to as many customers as possible, she only orders one of each size per article of clothing she orders. Understanding that young women in college are beginning to define themselves professionally, she strives to make it unlikely that more than six shoppers will walk away with the same piece of clothing - limiting a big taboo among young women who fear running into another customer in the same outfit.
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Buy Salvia
posted 7/29/08 @ 5:08 PM EST
I actually kind of like the style they are making, it is unique and it saves us a drive all the way to the city.
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