A place where everyone can Flourish
Whether you choose your clothes by color, comfort or character, Flourish Boutique in the Lincoln City Outlets will help you update your wardrobe in a way that complements the best of your personal style.
“I think the gal who needs help putting an outfit together can get that kind of positive help here more than a lot of places,” said owner Karry Blodgette. “But we don’t put pressure on people and can tell if they just want to shop in peace.”
Shopping in person has benefits beyond not having to wait for a delivery after making a purchase.
“The level of boutique service that you get in a shop like ours, we are really good at,” Blodgette said. “And we don’t care if the customer is buying a $59 dress or a $359 dress. I have invested in assuring that the selection is as broad as possible, including fabric, color and style size.”
Shopping in person also assures a good fit the first time.
“Even clothes from the same manufacturer can have a very different fit,” Blodgette said. “Our sales staff is great at helping people find things that are best for their body type.”
The style suggestions can go both ways.
“I learn from my customers, too,” Blodgette said. “Sometimes I have a customer come in in an outfit and I’m like ‘Darn, that's stinking cute.’”
As cooler weather and the gift giving season nears, Blodgette is preparing by stocking pajamas, robes and loungewear.
“I’ve also moved into some combo-sized items that would make great gifts,” she said. “Lines that are small/medium for example, so you don’t have to get the size of the person you are shopping for perfect as much.”
Gift giving is often difficult, but the staff at Flourish can help make it easier.
“The women who work here love fashion,” Blodgette said. “We know how the clothes will wash, what to pair it with and we know how to gift it if you let us.”
Blodgette is a longtime clothing store owner on the Central Coast, having previously operated a shop in Depoe Bay. And her influence on local retail has become multi-generational.
“When I originally opened this store, it was going to be a collaboration with my son, Grant,” she said. “He ended up leaving town but has since moved back and opened Better Days Vintage Co. It’s so cool to be in the same town as my adult son again.”
As the world rebounds from the supply chain issues caused by the COVID pandemic, Blodgette is relieved to be seeing a positive trend in clothes manufacturing.
“What I’m really seeing is that we have great post-pandemic fashion,” she said. “We lost some brands and others just went quiet for a little while, and now they are back.”
As someone who enjoys exploring fashion ideas but not wasting money, Blodgette is happy to be the first point of contact for a new product.
“I am a pretty cautious buyer,” she said “If something is going to fail it is going to fail for me first because I put it to the test. I’m happy to say that some of the quality is back for some of our brands and it continues to get better.”
The boutique carries more than clothing, including shoes, handbags, jewelry and more.
“We are stocking socks from novelty to cashmere blend,” Blodgette said.
“We also have a lot more gifts and smaller personal items like hair and bath and body accessories.”
Another aspect of Flourish is the multi-generational aspect of the clothes in the boutique.
“We get a lot of mother-daughter pairs shopping together, which I love,” Blodgette said.
Being part of the community is the primary thing that helps maintain her joy at being a shop owner.
“I’ve had customers come in that are now grown but that I first met as little kids, it is a beautiful journey,” she said. “Also, people often come in that are looking for a new outfit for a special reason like a wedding or graduation, and we are a part of that and I think that’s something special.”
Often away on buying trips, Blodgette feels safe leaving her shop in the hands of her staff.
“I’ve pretty much always had good staff, but we have the best team I’ve ever had right now,” she said. “We also have a staff that’s very eclectic, from conservative to funky.”
“I like clothes that bring out your personality,” Blodgette said. “Not what’s in fashion right now. Those are the pieces that are going to last for the buyer, which is what I aim for.”
Flourish Boutique is located in the Lincoln City Outlets, located at 1500 SE East Devils Lake Road. Hours are 10 am to 7 pm Monday through Saturday and !0 am to 6 pm on Sunday. For more information, go to the Flourish Boutique NW page on Facebook or call 541-614-4046.