Business & Tech

Resident Defies Bad Economy, Opening Her Second Upscale Boutique in Fairfield

Lauren Mulligan Robak, 29, Opening Minette & Rook in Brick Walk Shopping Center Next Weekend

The economy may still be struggling, but that's not deterring a Fairfield woman from opening an upscale boutique for women and men in downtown Fairfield.

In fact, Minette & Rook, to formally open next Saturday in the Brick Walk Shopping Center, will be Lauren Mulligan Robak's second upscale store - her first, Une Minette in Wilton, will celebrate its third anniversary on Tuesday.

"I think we'll do well. We're not like anybody else in Fairfield, and being in this shopping center definitely lends a hand to us doing well because it's a very nicely-laid out shopping center," Robak, 29, said Friday, adding that the shopping center is designed to be a one-stop shopping destination for customers.

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Robak said her store, which is in the midst of a soft opening, carries exclusive lines of clothing in Connecticut that include Aoyoma Itchmoe, a French-Japanese designer of women's dresses and tops that she described as pretty, very wearable and with great "price points," and Wish Australia, an Australian women's clothing designer whom she said offered a "fun, flirty line" of dressy tops that can be worn with jeans.

Robak said Minette & Rook was the only store in Connecticut carrying Aoyoma Itchmoe and that three stores in New York and a store in Seattle also carried the line. She said her Fairfield boutique was also the only store in Connecticut to offer Wish Australia and that the designer refuses to put its line in department stores. "They want to keep it to boutiques only to keep it specialized," she said.

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Robak said it was important to carry exclusive lines of clothing. "It's important because customers know to come to us when they're looking for something specific from that company," she said. "You know you'll be able to find something exclusive no one else has and don't have to worry about a woman wearing a top you just bought 20 minutes ago."

Robak said she's also well positioned to do well in Fairfield because she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York with an associate's degree and has worked in "mom and pop" retail stores since she was 16 years old. She said she also loves to shop and look for edgy and quality lines of clothing.

"I know how to do a small business very well because I've always worked in one. I know how clothes fit...know what's good for your size and body type," she said. "Our customer service is hopefully impeccable. It better be."

Jeans' brands that Minette & Rook carries for women include Joe's Jeans, Hudson and Chip & Pepper, and the store also carries tights. She said jeans' sizes range from 25 to 32, women's clothes range from extra small to large, and sizes range from 0 to 12.

Clothing for men in Minette & Rook, 1215 Post Road, includes jeans by Lucky Brand and Tommy Bahama, which she said are brands that men know and trust, and accessories include jewelry, such as earrings, necklaces and bracelets by Alexandra Daly in Wilton that are sterling silver and gold-dipped and that include semi-precious stones; Skyn Iceland, which Robak said was a gentle solution for stressed-out skin; CB perfume, a brand that Robak said tries to have each scent evoke a memory; Tokyo Milk soaps and bath products, with perfumes and candles from Tokyo Milk soon to come; and a variety of belts.

"If you're looking for something, there's a very good chance we have it, and if we don't, we'll find it for you," Robak said.

Minette & Rook also offers personal wardrobe consultations for men and women, and Robak said the consultations would include a home visit to go through closets and determine what works and what doesn't.

Robak described her upcoming store as "weekend casual wear for men and women" and "weekend casual to cocktail, with cocktail just being for women."

The difficult economy may not be much of a detriment to Robak's new boutique.

Mary Scasino, owner of La Moda, a boutique in downtown Fairfield for 25 years that offers contemporary women's clothes and accessories, said she's been pleased with business, despite the tough economy.

"I would be lying to you if I said the economy wasn't affecting us," Scasino said, but she added that she had a strong fourth quarter and a loyal customer base. "We have a nice, strong following, and people are coming to us to see what the trend is, what trend are we following, what trend are we showing," she said.

Scasino shared Robak's assessment that people don't necessarily shop at cheaper clothing stores when times are tough because they're looking for quality and long-term value. "I'd rather spend a little bit more and have something with substance that I'm going to like for a few years," Scasino said. "We should put a little bit more time and energy into something, and you get a lot back."

Robak said nearly all of her clothes are under $200, and, if something is more than $200, it's a leather jacket and meant to be priced higher. "I don't feel the price points are bad," she said. "I don't want to skimp on quality. If you buy something cheap, you wear it once or twice and it falls apart."

Scasino said customer service she offers extends past the date of the sale and that she knows her customers and they feel comfortable shopping in her 1434 Post Road store. She likened her independent boutique's customer service to the TV sitcom, "Cheers," in which everyone called out "Norm!" when the character played by George Wendt walked into the bar.

"There's nothing like a place where they know your name," Scasino said.

Minette & Rook, Robak said, will offer 25 percent off next weekend and her formal opening date coincides with a Classic Car show in the Brick Walk Shopping Center from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. next Saturday.


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