Stepping into the diminutive courtyard of The Wardrobe at 231 D St., I was met by the vibrant purple and yellow of the boutique’s sign above the door, a colorful bouquet of flowers in a vase in the entrance, and the very stylish proprietress, Heather Caswell, who describes herself as a style coach or curator. “I’m the one who created what it is,” Caswell said, sharing that this creation is now in its 37th year.
“It also had a history before I took it over” she added, so, technically, The Wardrobe has been part of Davis for 46 years. “I moved to Davis to be part of the Blue Mango restaurant which was a worker-owned vegetarian restaurant and coffee house, and to get a Masters in nutrition.” Heather became the outreach coordinator and learned how to run a small business by being part of the Blue Mango, realizing how much she loved “building community” adding, “And I never left!” Heather also became involved in consigned clothing to help herself get through college, and this led her to the store called The Wardrobe where they were hiring and where she became a manager within a month and owned the place 3 months later.
“I recognized that there was really nothing happening for the young people and at the time I targeted the twenty-somethings in college because that’s what I was.” She built her business on “used 501 Jeans,” before she changed the complete model and started selling new clothing. “It’s been all new since the reinvention in 2000,” Caswell said, gazing at the mannequins behind us draped in lovely violets and deep purples.
“I went from funky, very hip individual style to ...
high fashion ...
it was just me being a reflection of the community’s style needs and my preferences in relationship to them...
and the location does make a difference.” Heather described her last location as a “funky building” where she also sold period costumes and ran Davis’s costume shop. And while she still sees herself as a costumer, “Instead of for Halloween it’s for every day.
” “It chose me,” she added, looking at the quaint shop, “and I chose to take on the challenge.” On Oct. 4 and 5, The Wardrobe will hold its annual Sympli Style Happening when Jacqeline Stone, “considered one of the top international stylists in the world” will be bringing the entire Sympli collection from Vancouver, Canada “so that everybody can actually experience the most incredible selection and then they get to.
..custom order sizes and colors.
” As a style curator, Heather explained that she gets to make those style choices already for people, pointing to her own lovely sleeveless top, an artist’s palette of blue, turquoise and black and her “favorite thing out of the collection.” She then glanced down as she described the skirt she was wearing as “Hepburn on the bottom.” “There are a lot of different body types out there and color schemes and so essentially, it’s a really beautiful individual style sister shopping experience.
” When asked to explain what she meant by that, Heather said that she calls this community her “style sisters,” stating that “empowered women empower women” because it’s a very empowering thing to “play dress-up with another person and as a style coach that’s what I do with my clients.” At this event you will get not only Heather’s attention but the international stylist’s attention who is “an expert on the collection..
.a very well loved favorite line for at least 15 years.” Heather describes her clients as “some of the most impactful women on the planet,” and she wants them to “look and feel their best and this is a perfect line for effortlessness in relationship to self-expression.
” “Style curator means that I present my favorite styles at The Wardrobe for my clients to choose from and not only do I present them but I put them together as favorite looks.” Heather has a newsletter titled “The Art of Becoming You,” which is also the name of her “style philosophy.” “I bring people inspiration with my emails.
..with favorite looks of the week.
..and that’s where the style sisterhood became part of what we do and quite frankly, that happened during Covid,” when Heather held a staying in business sale because it was “really complicated doing fashion because all of a sudden we didn’t even know where fashion was going.
” And now, “fashion is back.” “The whole art and act of playing dress-up was really what I got very focused and intentional with,” and this is when Heather started doing more private sessions. By being intentional Heather means that “Instead of just throwing something together to get dressed for the day, as a style coach I try to encourage people to.
..create style mantras and to also be in touch with color as a tool for mood food and how color is going to make them feel.
” Heather refers to herself as “a practicing color therapist on the side,” continuing, “California chic is how I describe our look,” and as her social media post reads, their styles are “dynamic, sassy, and a little bad assy.” “To create effortless chic actually does require time and attention” and Caswell will be happy to simplify that process for you so you don’t have to make all those decisions if you don’t want to. “It’s super fun,” she added, “like ordering a custom set of furniture for your house.
..there’s something very creative when you get to actually be introduced to my buying process.
..I’m really delighted to be playing dress-up using intentional color and style with some of my favorite people.
..it is the people in the end, that make our downtown.
” If seeing the new beautiful fall holiday collection and meeting the very stylish Heather Caswell sounds like your cup of tea, and you’re looking for unique women’s clothes ranging from petite to plus sizes, make your way to the “Style Happening” at The Wardrobe on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4 and 5 between noon and 6 p.m.
, where there may even be some “informal modeling” taking place at 3 p.m. on Friday.
There will also be a free gift with every Sympli purchase. As their announcement includes, “Designed with the modern woman in mind, The Wardrobe’s Sympli Style Happening will offer effortless elegance and timeless style to simplify your life.” ———— Fluffy Donuts is set to open at its new location in the Westlake Plaza at 1260 Lake Blvd.
on Saturday, Sept. 21, which is a day after press time for the newspaper. The longstanding Davis landmark lost its University Mall spot in August 2023 as that complex was slated for demolition, and owner Sak Sopheak has been working for months on the new spot.
———— Wednesday will be the final Davis Farmers Market Picnic in the Park of the season, running from 4 to 8 p.m. in Central Park.
The featured band will be Julie and the Jukes, playing classic blues. The popular event is every Wednesday, May through September. A local band plays each night.
There’s children’s entertainment, loads of food vendors and plenty of opportunity to gather as a community. Wednesday’s featured beer is from from Dunloe Brewing. The regular Wednesday market returns from October through April, 3-6 p.
m. in Central Park. Keep an eye out, too, for the special Pre-Thanksgiving Market on Nov.
27, 11 a.m. to 5 p.
m. Saturday hours remain unchanged; 8 a.m.
to 1 p.m. every week.
———— Also in Central Park, the next Davis Craft and Vintage Fair is set for Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Farmers Market Pavilion from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. The cooperative is a twice-a-month, open-air market for local artisans and vintage vendors, with food and live music.
———— To celebrate its 50th year, The Artery invites locals to spend the last Sunday of each month making art on G Street. This month event is "Clay Fun" with Heidi Bekebrede and Susan Shelton on Sunday, Sept. 29, from 11 a.
m. to 3 p.m.
This interactive free event for all ages will be in front of the store, at 207 G St. This event includes artists demonstrations and guidance. All materials are provided.
The event is supported in part by a grant from the city of Davis Arts and Cultural Affairs program. — New in town? Opening or closing? Having a milestone? Let us know about it at https://www.davisenterprise.
com/site/forms/announcements/new_business_announcement/ ..
