Manage Your Retail Therapy in Style: 5 Local Stand-Alone Boutiques

By Erica Gleeman on February 27, 2017

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I tried to resist. I really did. I told myself over and over to abstain – from mall department stores and shopping centers. My heart would start racing, and I would practically hold my breath while driving or walking by these dens of temptation, willing myself not to turn in and feed my full-blown clothing addiction. This was no easy task, with the prettiest seasonal fashions hanging from impossibly thin mannequins that seem to be staring right at me with an inviting gaze, and with huge signs invariably blaring: “SALE! Up to 50 percent off!” I knew no sale could keep me from overspending.

But one day it hit me: Just as other challenges can be “managed” if not cured or eradicated, I could try facing my shopping addiction the same way. To start, I would no longer viewing it as a hopeless, all-or-nothing proposition.  After all, the phrase “retail therapy” exists for a solid reason. Just like drinking wine, if enjoyed to a reasonable degree, buying new clothes can definitely help the mind to de-stress. As I thought of the money I had wasted away on elaborate coffee drinks and too many late-night food stops with friends, I realized I could use those funds instead to boost my mood with some clothes shopping – and likely improve my appearance in the process. Why not change comfort eating into comfort shopping?

Still, as an addict, I had to figure out exactly how I could, after all, manage my joy of shopping to a reasonable degree. Malls were out, I realized. The temptation of running from one store to another – truly giving meaning to the expression “shop until you drop” – was too great. I scoured web sites and maps searching for stand-alone boutiques, controlled environments, where I could check out the latest fashions in one store only. Thus, I could eliminate the temptation of walking a few feet to more and more shops, and to spending even more money. Below, I compiled a list of five stand-alone boutiques in Tallahassee alone. Now I invite my friends and anyone else fighting the compulsion to over-shop to enjoy controlled retail therapy. Get stylish – but also get happy!

1) Diva’s & Devil’s House of Style

Location: 1300 N Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32303

Phone Number: (850) 580-6662

Store Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. & Sunday 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Description: Diva’s and Devil’s House of Style is definitely a secret find you won’t want to share. Drenched with vintage vibes, the shop is charming, offering an extensive range of bohemian style with free-spirited undertones. Envision a biker chick from the ’70s mixed with the heart of a hippie, and that is what you will uncover here. Similarly, Diva’s and Devil’s has a fabulous sense of interior design, leaving you in awe with the decoration inspiration. The staff is top notch, very educated on the inventory and more than happy to help find what you’re looking for. You won’t regret coming here.

Fun Fact: Diva’s and Devil’s has a stellar internship program if you’re interested in retail merchandising and product development.

2) Narcissus Boutique

Location: 1408 Timberlane Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32312

Phone Number: (850) 668-4807

Store Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. & Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Description: Narcissus Boutique is located in the Market Square Shopping Center off of Thomasville road. Narcissus is all about sophistication, fusing together an effortless style with luxury. The shop’s price point varies extensively, as they have over 200 lines, such as their own. This place has it all, anything from formal wear to beach wear.

Your shopping experience is actually something they care about; filled with southern charm, their customer service is hands down one of the best in Tallahassee. Narcissus Boutique has an essence of the classics with the contemporary flare of fun. Get a better idea of the elegant aesthetic with this visual below (shown from Tallahassee Magazine) of past fashions Narcissus offered from brand Tory Burch.

Narcissus- Tory Burch from Tallahassee Magazine on Vimeo.

Fun Fact: Lilly Pulitzer clothing has been sold in such great demand at Narcissus that Buyer/Manager Juli Downs opened Pink Narcissus as Tallahassee’s first Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store in 2011.

3) Reef Boutique

Location: 815 W Madison St, Tallahassee, FL 32304

Phone Number: (850) 727-5758

Store Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. & Sunday 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Description: Reef Boutique at Florida State University’s CollegeTown is an expansion of the boutique in Valdosta, Georgia. This boutique is in a lively area just west of Doak Campbell Stadium and north of Florida State’s campus, with food, drinks, and entertainment around.

Reef is filled with trendy fashions at an affordable price range (averaging below $50 a piece) for college students. It is the perfect spot to find your go-to happy hour outfit with flowy dresses or even to rock your casual class vibes with piko tops. The jewelry is banging; you will be obsessing over accessorizing your outfits with it. Reef even has cute wine candles available to purchase.

Fun Fact: Reef’s website and Reef Valdosta’s Instagram have additional merchandise than Reef in CollegeTown. Recently, Reef has expanded to form Itty Bitty Reef Boutique, an online boutique for babies and toddlers.

4) Henri Girl Boutique

Location: 742 W Madison St #107, Tallahassee, FL 32304

Phone Number: (850) 575-0952

Store Hours: Monday – Saturday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. & Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Description: If Express and Forever 21 had a baby, Henri Girl would be the result. Henri Girl Boutique is the perfect, trendy boutique for a college girl, without the high-end price tags. Embracing femininity with fierceness, Henri Girl has an extensive range allowing you to embrace differing styles on a daily basis including chokers, booties, bodysuits, distressed denim, and more.

Fun Fact: Tallahassee is the first Henri Girl location, now having locations in Gainesville and Orlando as well. Henri Girl has a College Brand Ambassadors Program.

5) Ooh La La Boutique

Location: 699 W Gaines St, Suite 109-2, Tallahassee, FL 32304

Phone Number: (850) 583-8980

Store Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. & Sunday 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Description: Ooh La La Boutique is anchored beneath Stadium Centre apartments, only a few minutes from Florida State’s campus. A somewhat new boutique to the scene, this place is a hidden gem with uplifting tunes in the background. Ooh La La is a mixture of trendy, laid back, and fun style featuring apparel perfect for a night out on the town or even a daytime appeal with a hint of southern charm. Ooh La La even has a selection paying tribute to school spirit with game day outfits, pleasantly complementing FSU’s garnet and gold color scheme.

Fun Fact: Ooh La La is missing out on an awesome clientele because they don’t have a website up and running.

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