Thread, White and Blue Boutique co-owner Jennifer Ross said that flared jeans, as opposed to bell bottoms, will be in style this fall. The boutique is hosting a fashion show during the Ionia Expo on Saturday. — Submitted photo
IONIA — Thread, White and Blue Boutique and Mane Stage Salon and Spa are collaborating on a fashion show that will take place just after noon during the Ionia Expo on Saturday.
The fashion show will serve to show off all of the unique apparel for wale at the boutique, plus the hair and makeup skills of the staff at Mane Stage Salon.
Jennifer Ross and her daughter Santana Weaver are the owners of the Thread, White and Blue Boutique, which is part of Grand Ionia Antiques, 313 W. Main St. They intend to dress the models in the latest fall fashions from their store, including clothing, jewelry and shoes.
Jean jackets are in style this fall, along with long overcoats and a Frankenstein garment called a “shacket.”
“A shacket is almost like a flannel shirt, but it’s a jacket,” Ross explained. “The flannel is really soft, it’s longer and it’s got a hood.”
This fall’s fashionable pants will be high-waisted jeans with a flared or wide leg cut.
“Not bell bottoms, because bell bottoms were huge, like a big bell,” Ross said. “Flares are just a little bit wider than boot cut. Most of the jeans this season are high-waisted, but we also try to keep some high-rise and mid-rise also, because people’s bodies are different. We also carry a variety of skinny jeans and a couple of ‘boyfriend style’ cuts. There are so many different cuts and styles!”
In jewelry and shoes, the boutique will be highlighting some local businesses as well as some hard to find national brands like Corky’s shoes.
“Some of the jewelry was made by a girl in Greenville under the name ‘Sage and Clay,’” Ross said. “Another local girl makes Jonesy’s Scrunchies. We also have some boots, sandals and slip-on tennies.”
The family owned clothing store has been open less than a year. In general, Ross described the boutique’s style of clothes as “dressy but casual,” adding, “We don’t do grunge!”
“We try to pick out things that will appeal to a variety of ages and styles, for if you want to look a little nicer,” Ross said. “We try to get as much variety in things as we can, so that we can appeal to a lot of different people.”
“We curate and hand-select all of our clothing ourselves,” Weaver said. “We basically stock a little bit of everything. That way, hopefully, anyone who comes in the store will like something.”
“We’re hoping that the fashion show will be some good exposure for people of different ages to see what we have, and to see what they can put together with our clothes,” Ross continued.
The cosmetologists at Mane Stage Salon & Spa, 309 W. Main St., will be doing hair and make-up for the models during the fashion show. Salon owner Ashley Shattuck said that in the world of hair and makeup, the “natural” look is in this year.
“We have models that range from their 20s to 50s, so not everybody is going to have the same look, but ‘natural’ would be more like a boho (bohemian) look,” Shattuck explained. “We just want to make sure that the women feel good and are comfortable, that way we can display what is in style and what fall will bring us.”
During Expo, the salon will have a sale on many name brand styling products.
“We are really looking forward to this,” Shattuck said. “We have always wanted to have a fashion show, and we are really excited to be partnering with a local store. Hopefully we can do this annually, or again in the spring.”
The fashion show will take place during the Ionia Expo block party from 12:10 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
