Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor
LEFT: Denim is great any time when worn right. Try this long-sleeved jacket with beige highlights. CENTER: Georgia sports a trendy beige jacket with fringed sleeves and collar. RIGHT: This brown corduroy jacket will help keep you warm for those parties in the hills this season. It features beaded trim all around the edges. - CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
FROM AS EARLY AS AGE 14, Georgia Gray, owner of LaRen's Limited, upstairs the Dragon Court Centre on South Avenue, showed such a keen eye for what looked right on her friends, they regularly called on her for guidance in coordinating the perfect outfit. That keen eye for fashion and hair styles followed her throughout her years in the corporate world as a secretary, manager's assistant and executive assistant.
"I was always complimented for being very well put together but my admirers did not know that I nurtured a desire to be my own boss by owning my own hair salon and boutique," Ms. Gray told Flair. We were first to speak to the new store owner and receive a tour of LaRen's Limited, which opened to the public last Tuesday.
The boutique features a line of trendy, one-of-a-kind skirts, tops, jackets, jeans, handbags, belts and accessories by Fossil, Guess, Limited Express and Gap. Featuring interior design by Katrina Marzouca, the salon is spacious with shampoo and styling areas separated and both sections having their own entrances. Patrons in the store have no need to come in contact with those in the boutique and vise versa. So the woman on the go can select a new outfit after having her hair done and head for her function.
HAND-SELECTED ITEMS
"We are the only store of its kind, and all items are hand-selected by me," Ms. Gray said her competitive edge will be the excellent customer service that she plans to offer the public and the simple, yet sophisticated, ambience of LaRen's Limited. "It is my dream finally realised so I'm up to the challenge."
Ms. Gray went on to explain that she had no difficulty deciding what to stock or on choosing to target the 18-40 age group. She carefully did her research among a wide cross-section of friends and former work colleagues whom she showed samples of what she intended to carry. "Plus, people are always asking me for advice on what to wear so I filed that away for use now," she said.
Flair sought to find out if and when a line of trendy men's shirts would be added since men have such difficulty finding great-looking clothes in Jamaica. Ms. Gray said a line of shirts will come in the near future, as well as Revlon and Black Opal cosmetics.
And, realising that women have a desire to look unique, no more than three items of each style is carried.
Jacket prices start at $2,000 and run to $6,000 for higher-end designer names.
