Bou-tique those gifts off your list

La Boutique in Lincoln City offers a truly personal approach

La Boutique in Lincoln City provides a local shopping experience like no other. But don’t just take our word for it, listen to some of the customers of Yolanda Leveque’s fine clothing and accessories boutique.

“From the first time I met Yolanda I felt like I’d known her for a long time,” Vicki Johnson said. “She makes you feel like family and carries the nicest clothes of anyone I’ve seen.”

Another fan, Susan McElvogue, said that she and her sister have become regulars at the boutique, which opened this year.

“We are delighted to find a shop in this area with upscale clothing for all age groups,” McElvogue said. “Yolanda is a very talented buyer who puts together great looks from casual to formal. She is also willing to be honest if something does not look good on you. She doesn’t try to sell you just for the sake of selling.”

Yolanda has a rich and storied background that includes work that she and her husband performed in the field of international diplomacy, which took them to such places as Armenia and Ukraine. The world travel helped her to develop a fashion-forward eye.

“Every time I returned home from being overseas, I would reinvent myself,” she said.

Yolanda was fortunate to get into the "boutique life" when they returned from Ukraine and her husband was posted in Los Angeles.

“I was very fortunate, I became the protege of a boutique owner who started in Paris, France; and through her I learned and began my new journey of expression,” she said. “To this day, we still shop together for both our boutiques and discuss forward movements in the industry.”

Yolanda continues to be well aware of fashion trends.

“I meet with designers way ahead of time and stay in constant contact because this industry is about understanding what is going to happen in the next two years,” she said. “I make it a point so that when the season comes, I’m ready.”

With designers from Spain, Belgium and other European countries as well as the US, the inventory at La Boutique is decidedly unique for the area, and Yolanda favors bold colors and sparkly accents.

“I really wanted to bring more color to the coast,” she said. “And there are studies that shiny things like rhinestones and sequins can release endorphins and bring a positive feeling.”

Positive feelings are an aspect of the boutique that Yolanda works hard to foster.

“This is the definition of what a woman’s boutique is,” she said. “After a tough day, you want to come in, have a complimentary glass of wine or espresso and relax. When you step in here you forget about how dreary it is outside and escape from whatever is out there before you go home. I want my boutique to be a place where women come relax and just to look and see what's new.”

Once they are relaxed, Yolanda gets down to her real passion: creating a new look that will bring joy to her customers.

“How you dress affects so much of how you feel,” she said. “I like to bring the beauty inside to the outside. I’m trying to get women out of their hoodies.”

Though the focus is on women’s fashion, the boutique does carry some men’s clothes and shoes.

“I recently sold a sport jacket to a man going for a job interview,” Yolanda said. “But the evening and bridal wear have slowly been growing so I’ll be increasing that inventory and decreasing the men’s options. I’ll definitely keep some men’s things though because we do get couples that come in looking for things to wear to a special event.”

The personal shopping experience even extends to ensuring original outfits.

“When women come in for a fancy occasion I make sure to find out what the event is,” she said. “That way I can make sure people don’t show up wearing the same thing. I can't promise a lady won't change her mind and show up wearing the same outfit, but I promise they both will wear it magnificently due to it being an expression of oneself, and there will be no 'who wore it better' because all women are beautiful in their own way.”

Adjusting to local resources also drives Yolanda's choices for inventory.

“Ninety-nine percent of what we have here is hand and machine wash delicate because we don’t have a dry cleaner in town,” she said. “One of our most popular designers right now is known for their a washable cashmere from Belgium.”

Women that are not used to the boutique experience are some of Yolanda's favorite customers.

“It’s so fun to have women place their trust in me and see the payoff from it,” she said. “Sometimes I have women come in that aren’t even sure what size they are, but I can basically size you by looking at you. And a lot of times people will see something on the hanger and think, ’I can’t wear that,’ but I can show them how to pull it off. I will also tell someone if something doesn’t look good on them. I wait until I get to know them first, but until then, I will say something like, ‘Let’s try this instead.’”

Being honest is especially important in a small community.

“When a woman walks out of here they are not just wearing the designer's label,” Yolanda said. “They are wearing my name, too.”

If people feel uncomfortable trying new looks with an audience, Yolanda is happy to set up special appointments, and for those that love an audience, she will also close the shop for private parties, where there will be food, beverages and lots of clothes to try on provided.

“We can make a whole event out of it,” she said.

But mostly, Yolanda wants new customers to try on her special brand of pampered shopping.

“Come in, relax and get some endorphins,” she said. “There is something here for everyone and I will love to help you find a new piece or outfit that will bring you joy, and bring the inner you to the outside.”

La Boutique is located at 565 NW Hwy. 101 in Lincoln City and is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm and on Sunday and Monday by appointment.

For more information, go to laboutiquelincolncity.com or call 541-418-5399.