Vanguard

Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: Lifestyles

Fashion forward looks cover the sales floor at one of Mobile's newest boutiques, Utopia.

While distributing gifts and souvenirs to friends after a fun trip, everyone loves to say "Oh, I just picked that up at a little boutique in the city."

There is something about the atmosphere in small specialty stores, be it the prestige or the uniqueness or a number of other things, that people just love. The service seems more personal, and one does not feel like the shirt he or she is buying arrived on a truck with 200 others exactly like it.

For those shoppers who cherish the boutique feel, there is great news. The boutique experience is literally right around the corner as three little boutiques, all with their own flare, have opened in the short distance between the USA campus and Springhill College campus.

Brown Eyed Girl, located directly across the street from campus (in the shopping center with Wings to Go and Dr. Java), offers the small shop feel but with great prices. The owner, Stephanie Daniel, along with her mother, operates not only the Mobile location but also a location across the bay.

The Brown Eyed Girl serves women of all ages, but the store in Mobile caters particularly to college students. The clothes are very trendy; there are a lot of empire-waist and baby doll style tops and dresses and many of the dresses are reminiscent of the 1950s. The store carries sizes small to large in styles that would flatter many different figures. In addition to clothing, Brown Eyed Girl also carries shoes, jewelry and handbags.

The prices at Brown Eyed Girl are very reasonable. According to Daniel, "We try to buy at moderate prices." She understands that college students want quality clothes, but do not generally have an unlimited budget. Students can shop confidently knowing that they are getting good quality for a good price.

The service at Brown Eyed Girl is very pleasant. The sales people were attentive but not pushy and were quick to offer help with dressing rooms. As customers shop, the attendants hold selected clothing in a dressing room until each customer is ready to try on her final selections.

Adding together all of the elements, the store is a great place to experience the boutique feel. Not only does it have the convenient location, but it also has excellent prices.

The Brown Eyed Girl is open Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

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