It’s amazing the difference two weeks can make. That’s the length of time Mari Rains asked off from her job to go to Market in Dallas to find out if her dream of opening a women’s clothing boutique was viable.
“I have always been so nervous to ‘go for it’, but this time I just wasn’t afraid,” she says. Rains’ store-opening timeline was ambitious; she took her two-week buying trip in June, left her oil and gas career in August, began the store build-out in September and opened for business in October 2021.
“Once I decided what I was going to do, there was nothing that was going to get in my way,” Rains says, “so I just did it.” Rains, who for years had been a single mom, was an avid saver and characterized herself as risk-averse.
Rains’ merchandise is upscale, dressy and elegant. “Come and get your statement piece,” Rains says. “For a girly girl, it’s a perfect spot.” The shop spotlights brands such as Hudson Denim, Paige, Amanda Uprichard, Zadig and Voltaire, Free People and home decor by Jonathan Adler. You can get anything from a pair of jeans to a “forever piece” from Paris. Rains states her pieces are the pop that every wardrobe needs.
The Ella and Orchid name is a tribute to both of her granddaughters as well as Rains’ favorite flower. In an industry that has been upended since the pandemic, Rains has found consistency and success that validates her monumental efforts.
“That’s the thing about being naïve … you have no idea the level you could fail on, but every month we’ve done better than the month before.”
Shop Favorites
While most of Ella and Orchid features top design names, Rains also features a few local artists in-store, like terrariums from Boggy Creek Terrariums. Start at $55.
Canisters from Jonathan Adler — a line known for its playfully eclectic home decor — come in a range of sizes and themes. Prices vary.
Find the hidden skulls in this dress by Zadig and Voltaire. $528.
No matter the season, denim is in. Ella and Orchid carries several lines in various washes for the perfect fit. Prices vary.
