'Funky' Hazel Daze Boutique Opens in Fairfield

The phrase "Hazel Daze" – the name of the latest shop to open in Fairfield – was coined on a train ride home from New York City.

Storeowner Lib DeNure and her family were heading back to Fairfield from the New York International Gift Fair, brainstorming names for the store they would soon be opening at the start of the Post Road.

"Daze" stems from DeNure's description of her son, Peter Aspinwall, a "mellow musician" and Norwalk Community College student. "Hazel" was the name of DeNure's grandmother.

"She was a really amazing woman...she lived through two World Wars, she wrote a book," DeNure said.

"The z's are funky," she added. "We knew it would be a little offbeat."

________________________________________________________________________________________

Want more Fairfield small business news along with events, blogs and more? Sign up for the free Fairfield Patch daily newsletter, "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. If you're a small business owner, find out how you can "claim" your free Patch listing .

________________________________________________________________________________________

The funky, family name fits the shop – a unique home boutique on 86 Post Road, made possible by the ideas and efforts of family and friends.

"All of us were getting this idea," DeNure said of opening the shop at the former site of Casablanca, a hookah lounge.

DeNure, a Fairfield resident of 17 years and former dance teacher, had been selling gifts online for the past eight years; opening the "brick and mortar" shop was the next step. The boutique opened officially on June 8.

Not only did friends and family help get the store open -- one friend built the counter the register sits on, another helped create the store's lighting, and a gardener friend created the storefront's window boxes -- but Hazel Daze sells their wares.

For example, DeNure's daughter, Amelia Aspinwall, a student at , designs bracelets, anklets, and necklaces while also helping her mother run the store.

The store sells the jewelry and photography of local artists as well as multiple jewelry and boutique lines. DeNure, feeling that affordable, unique gifts and decor were lacking in Fairfield, said the items are priced reasonably -- most under $50.

Here's a rundown of the lines you will find when you walk into Hazel Daze:

• MIYA and Co. ­– Japanese pottery
• Karma Living ­– throws, fringes, pillows
• Lolita – hand-painted wine glasses
• Maggie Bags – bags made from recycled seatbelts
• Resource Revival – items (like frames, key chains, and bottle opens) made from recycled bike chains
• Standard Specialty – stained glass lamps
• Vinylux – Recycled vinyl records transformed into clocks and mirrors

"We chose product lines that are interesting, different, and colorful," DeNure said – just like Hazel Daze.

Hazel Daze Boutique is located at 86 Post Road in Fairfield. The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Sunday and Monday. Visit the Hazel Daze official website, or contact the store by phone – 203-292-9662 or email – hazeldazeboutique@yahoo.com. You can also follow Hazel Daze on Twitter and Facebook.