Looks for Vacations and More Apparel Trends at Resort and Seaside Stores

At apparel shops located near resort and seaside locations, trends are as varied as the merchandise is unique, appealing to both tourists and local shoppers alike.

At Fowler’s Boutique in Encinitas, Calif., the family-owned shop offers merchandise for all members of the family, and Owner Chris Fowler is happy to share his knowledge of area restaurants and interests along with his store’s fashion know-how.

Currently, denim, dresses and T-shirts are among the most popular apparel pieces at the store, which is located close to San Elijo State Beach. “Loungewear was what everyone was buying for the last two years, but now people are needing denim again, jeans that fit well, as well as hats and sunglasses because everyone is wary of the sun,” he noted. As to dresses, Fowler relates, “The dresses we offer are very unique, and women like unique pieces, so that helps with sales.” And he notes “T-shirts are on fire again, because good weather brings out T-shirt buyers among men.”

Fowler said he always keeps apparel choices distinctive. “We do a curation process of bringing in overseas products, sometimes from Australia, sometimes France, as well as carrying local brands and products. We like to carry items that are hard for people to find anywhere else.” And when it comes to display, Fowler’s process at his 1,100-square-foot store, is to mix and match apparel merchandise. “I don’t think anyone wants matched tops and bottoms, so creating a stylelook with our displays is effective.”

In the resort community of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Leilani Matsumoto , manager of Pueo Boutique focuses on local designers or items that are made in Hawaii. The chic women’s store, which has two locations, offers a wide selection of clothing and jewelry, including everything from comfortable sweats and T-shirts to dressy evening attire, and even a line of children’s clothing that is handmade in Maui. A number of items feature the native Hawaiian owl, or pueo, as a logo design. Currently, however, Matsumoto related that “We do really well with pants, dresses, and jumpsuits – they are all just flying off the rack. We have a lot of tourists coming in that like the native asContinued on page 52