One look around Collette - with its delicate floral tops and dresses and Parisian-flavored, shabby-chic decor - and it's hard to believe the shop was once an Ed Hardy store.
The Hardy label is known for its tattoo-look clothing and gear. We're talkin' heavy on the skulls and fangs.
"There were lots of tigers to cover over," Collette owner Amy Jesionowski said with a laugh.
No trace of 'em now.
The Vibe
Collette is about as un-Ed Hardylike as it gets.
Jesionowski - who closed Paris Flea Market on Grant Road, which specialized in French and country-inspired eclectic furnishings, to open Collette - has sprinkled charming touches in the boutique. Jesionowski's sister-in-law owns the original Collette in West Lafayette, Ind.
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Clothing racks at the front of the University of Arizona Main Gate Square store, which opened Jan. 29, are Victorian-era curtain rods. Old grout trowels decorate the dressing rooms.
A sitting area by the dressing rooms sports a tall metal magazine rack and high-backed chairs that Jesionowski recovered in burlap. Black lamps with gold leaves flank the chairs. A hanging coat rack serves as a display for a sleeveless dress and a couple of purses.
Customers often comment that Collette has an Anthropologie feel, which Jesionowski takes as a compliment - although that wasn't her goal. She decorated based on what she likes and, she added with a laugh, "a lot of things I had around the garage."
The Stuff
With its shift dresses edged with flowers and lace-kissed tees, Collette has a distinct boho flavor. The boutique sells popular brands like Splendid and Free People as well as lesser-known, less-expensive lines.
Whatever it is - a splashy, ikat dress ($38), peacock-feather earrings ($28) or wide leather cuffs with leather flowers ($36) - you'll only find a handful so you don't end up seeing your new treasure everywhere you go.
Collette also carries dressier pieces. Accessories are either true vintage or new with that worn-in look, like the fleur di lis magnets ($3).
The Customer
Don't let the UA-area location fool you into thinking this is only stuff for the college-age crowd. The clothes and home accessories have wide-ranging appeal. In fact, Jesionowski said, her biggest sale to date was a 75-year-old woman who bought a lace bomber jacket for herself.
"The store appeals to anybody who's fashion-forward."
Collette
• 905 E. University Blvd. in Main Gate Square
• 622-2673
• Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; noon-6 p.m. Sundays.
Contact Kristen Cook at kcook@azstarnet.com or 573-4194.
