The stars were out in West Kirby earlier this month, and it’s all thanks to Smudge Boutique!
It seems boutique owners Lauren Casey, Alison Dunn, and Carina Walsh have brought back some showbiz sparkle from their recent Hollywood trip, and their shop on Banks Road is fast becoming a go to for those looking for a style injection.
The team at Smudge Boutique have been inviting their online visitors to read all about exclusive style sessions on their blog, ‘Smudge Styles’.
Packed with fashion advice and wardrobe tips, ‘Smudge Styles’ is a brand new online feature that sees a different local celebrity visit the West Kirby store each week. VIP visitors often have a big event approaching and are after a show-stopping look, which is where stylist Lauren steps in.
In the first instalment of the blog, Lauren styled local radio and television host and presenter of YBnews, Ellie Phillips, in an outfit that was ready for the catwalk – The Very Big Catwalk, in fact, which Ellie hosted back in July.
Ellie Phillips said of her visit:
“I’d never been to West Kirby before, but it’s totally worth a visit because Smudge is the most delightful boutique. The range is amazing – I literally want every piece that they have! What makes the experience so much fun is that owners Lauren & Alison are so helpful and enthusiastic.”
Other guests to the boutique in recent weeks have included model Holly Henderson, (who recently appeared on brand new E4 show ‘Young, Free, and Single’ in her Smudge Boutique outfit) and television personality Rebeckah Vaughan; fast cementing Smudge Boutique as first choice in fashion for Merseyside’s glamour squad.
Lauren Casey, stylist at Smudge Boutique says:
“I think styling local celebs is always fun as they are outgoing with their style, so you can really experiment with looks.
“But, celebrity or not, everyone gets the same treatment here – when we’re styling we spend as much time as we can making sure the customer is happy. We also have an honesty policy here. There’s nothing worse than being told that you look great in something that doesn’t suit your shape or style. We do our best to make sure every customer looks fantastic and leaves happy.”
The women behind this popular Wirral boutique want customers to know that not only do they stock fabulous brands- such as Finders Keepers and We Are Handsome, loved by Jessica Alba and Beyonce – but also that part of their business is offering one-to-one, free styling sessions.
They started the blog to give their online following an idea of just how a styling session works; from working with a customer to find the perfect outfit, to giving the customer a fabulous shopping experience. If you are a follower of fashion, or like to stay in touch with local celebs, you can read the blog series here: http://www.smudgeboutique.com/blog/post/smudge-styles-ellie-phillips
Smudge Boutique co-owner, Lauren Casey says: ‘ The thing I most love about styling sessions is seeing people’s self-confidence soar when they find something that really flatters their shape, and they walk out the door really excited about wearing what they’ve bought. Fashion to me is so much more than clothes, it’s about representing your personality, feeling confident, and liking what you see in the mirror. A little help styling can really help that.’
In addition to celebs that they style in-store, Smudge Boutique have taken their styling services global; flying to fashion capitals such as LA to dress actresses Katy Sloane and Kate Drew-Jones.
With their Autumn/Winter collections launching soon, Smudge Boutique are very excited to share new brands with customers, having recently attended international fashion fairs like Pure London to source the hottest fashions for their shop. Lauren says:
‘Pure is one of the biggest trade shows in the UK and exhibits a massive range of brands, as well as some fab lectures and catwalk shows to get to know a little bit about the retail landscape as a whole. Some of our brands exhibit there as well so it’s good for seeing their new collections and scouting new brands too. It’s been quite tricky narrowing it down, we’d love to stock everything we love personally, but we’re really conscious of getting it right for the Smudgettes.’
The ‘Smudgettes’ is an affectionate nickname for their loyal customers, and making sure they look good is Smudge Boutique’s main aim. From always keeping their customers interests in mind when selecting brands, to styling them head to toe and leaving them feeling happy and confident with their look, everyone that shops with in store, or online, is treated like a star. Whether they need an outfit for the races, or a television appearance – the team behind Smudge Boutique are providing Merseyside women a shopping experience with that extra sparkle.