METRO
New local boutiques are just a click away Meet the faces behind two local online clothing stores and learn what their businesses have to offer
OXFORD PALM
(Pictured Below): Oxford Palm founder, Hannah Onorato
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Oxford Palm was created with the minimalist fashionista in mind. Fresh off of a 2019 holiday season launch, the online boutique has flourished into a digital destination for local and national consumers. The co-founder of the Giftful app, Hannah Onorato, created the brand for those who unapologetically lean on fashion and style as a form of self-expression. Oxford Palm is housed strictly online at OxfordPalm.com, but it’s become a topic of conversation here in Lakeland. The boutique provides simple options when going for a simple look (like the Daphne straight-leg jeans or the Love You A Latte Sweater), and a few accent pieces, like the Fall For You asymmetrical skirt, to spruce up any outfit. The Lakelander caught up with Onorato and she dished on how she went from computer programmer to boutique owner, her favorite Oxford Palm items, and what we can expect for the upcoming spring season. What inspired you to start Oxford Palm? I’m a software developer, so I noticed this lack of creativity in my day-to-day, and it started to bother me. I didn’t like just working on computer programming and I felt like I wasn’t being creative. I went through this phase where I was brainstorming with [my husband] Cono, and we were trying to figure out a career I could go down where I could use my skills, be creative and incorporate fashion. We were kind of talking
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one day and realized, “Hey I should do an online boutique.” I always thought I’d do one at some point in life, so we thought I should go ahead and start it. How would you describe Oxford Palm’s style? Half of it is styles that you’ll have in your closet for years. You know, those staple pieces that you want to keep re-wearing. And then you have other pieces that are kind of fun; whether you’re going out for brunch or going on a date. Oxford Palm is just everyday clothes, things you can wear to work or out with your friends. Every once in a while, we have pieces that are a little dressier. What are some of your favorite items? We have a top called the Hannah top. We named it that because I liked it so much that I kept one for myself. It’s very much my style — it’s loose, it’s thin material, so it’s perfect for Florida. I would also say our black jumpsuit called the Franco. It’s comfortable, it’s cute, and you can wear it for a variety of things. What do you have in store for spring? We just released five new items and will be releasing five more with a new item each week. Everything is either orange or white and perfect for vacation!
OXFO R D PAL M oxfordpalm.com @shopoxfordpalm
