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Brooksville's All Curves Boutique features affordable style

 
Single-shouldered tops, a current trend, is well represented among the teen-to-women's fashions at Yohanna Baez's All Curves Boutique, new in Brooksville. [Photo by Beth N. Gray]
Single-shouldered tops, a current trend, is well represented among the teen-to-women's fashions at Yohanna Baez's All Curves Boutique, new in Brooksville. [Photo by Beth N. Gray]
Published Nov. 16, 2017

BROOKSVILLE — Style and affordability compete for top billing at All Curves Boutique, a teen-to-women's clothing shop where shoppers can find fashions that "allow them to feel comfortable in their own bodies."

So says first-time entrepreneur Yohanna Baez, 37, who, at 5 feet 2, seeks out attire that makes her feel taller. In selecting a broad range of clothing to offer, Baez said she takes into account, "the mother who says I have this little weight" — she gestures to her own waist — "and I want something I can relate to."

Baez said she chose the name, All Curves, because "not all women are one style or one shape. We're not all models."

So shoppers can find sizes zero to 6X, from jumpers, rompers, shorts and over-tops to party dresses and church styles, short-short to floor-length, comfy-casual yet fashionable, to understated elegance.

Baez is alert to fashion trends, currently one-shouldered tops to stepping-out frocks, and features a large selection of tempting choices.

At the same time, Baez knows what it means to shop on a budget. "I'm a single mother myself," she noted, wearing a flowered one-shouldered blouse, $20, above snug jeans.

A flouncy-skirted party dress with sequinned top is priced at $15. A black-on-white shorts-style romper with classy gold tone belting carries a tag of $36, with plus sizes at $40.

With working women and stressed moms in mind — Baez herself is working another job until the boutique makes its way — all garments are machine wash-and-dry.

And the boutique is open until 6:30 p.m. to better serve working women.

Since Curves' July opening, the most demand from customers has been for plus sizes, the owner said. If a customer wants something not on the racks, Baez will seek it out.

"When a customer comes in, I ask them what they want," Baez said. "I want to make them part of it."

Recognizing her lack of business experience, Baez has enlisted her friend, Latalia Gomez, as a limited partner. Gomez, 43, has owned and operated a nearby beauty supply store for seven years. Of the boutique, Gomez said, "It was mostly her vision. I was her guidance."

The duo has launched an engaging marketing ploy: on Saturdays, they stage a modest drive-up thrift shop of garage-sale type goods in the parking lot at Ponti Plaza, where Curves is located. "It brings people in and lets them find us," Baez said.

As for why Baez opened a boutique in Brooksville, she said, "Every time we wanted to buy something nice, we'd have to drive to Tampa, an hour away. We wanted a little style, cute things, close to home."

Contact Beth Gray at graybethn@earthlink.net.