There's not a Nehru jacket in sight and tie-dye is limited to a few T-shirts, yet the month-old 60s Chicks boutique channels the era of bell bottoms, love beads and the British Invasion.
Store owner and Rancho Sahuarita resident Sharon Collins has fond memories of growing up in the 1960s. Her store's atmosphere reflects her affection with a Jackie Kennedy dressing room, Beatles memorabilia on the walls, 1960s music playing on the stereo; and retro toys and candies including jacks and wax lips. The clothing, however is all contemporary, fun fashion.
"I opened the boutique in the area because there is so much opportunity here for new businesses and few places for women to shop," Collins said. "My focus is fashion design with the baby boomer in mind. It is an intergenerational store.
"When boomers shop, they like to shop for the entire family — a shirt for their son-in-law, a toy for a grandchild, a bracelet for a niece and something for themselves as well."
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The store, at 1910 N. La Cañada Drive, is a stone's throw from the Sahuarita town line and a little south of West Duval Mine Road. It's in a salmon-color adobe-style retail complex next to Talk of the Town hair salon.
"The ladies will come over with the foils in their hair and shop," said 60s Chicks saleswoman Kim Lynch.
60s Chicks carries one-of-a-kind jackets made in Fort Mojave on Arizona's western border; vacation and cruise wear; summer shirts and crop pants; lines of Arizona-casual one- and two-piece outfits; colorful and lightweight cotton blouses, skirts and scarves from India; and California beach-print sundresses for girls and shirts for men and boys.
"The great thing about Arizona is, you can wear these things all year long," Collins said.
The store also carries costume jewelry, purses, hats and shoes for women and girls; old-school toys including space guns, kazoos, cars, harmonicas, marbles and paint sets; and retro treats such as Necco Wafers, cinnamon toothpicks, Atomic Fireballs and Chuckles.
"It's got everything in here that's different and exciting. It takes you back," Collins said. "I'm a '60s chick."
"There's not much around here yet, so it's the talk of the town," Lynch said of 60s Chicks. "People come in before their cruise, before their vacation and load up."
Elizabeth Derlein has shopped at 60s Chicks.
"I think it's real cute. We needed something like that," Derlein said.
"They have a lot of in-style clothing, casual and reasonable prices," said Jennifer Peebler, who does nails at the salon next door.
"I think it's cute and I run over there every time I have some free time and I never leave empty-handed, even if it's just a pair of earrings," said hairstylist Lorrie Balland.
When boomers shop, they like to shop for the entire family — a shirt for their son-in-law, a toy for a grandchild, a bracelet for a niece and something for themselves as well.
Sharon Collins
60s Chicks owner
