Montclair’s Walnut Street is home to some of the most popular shops and restaurants in town. Right on the corner of one of Montclair’s most popular streets is a California-inspired clothing boutique that aims to be a hub of creative activity for like-minded businesses. Velvet Lush Boutique, located at 123 Walnut Street, is a haven for those who want to be inspired by the shop’s boho vibes. Read on to learn more about this little slice of California here in Montclair.
About the Owner
Owner Tiffany Montesino has always been interested in fashion and fabrics since she was a child.
“As a child, I loved sketching and different outfits and putting things together in my head,” she said. “I loved looking through fashion magazines and catalogs.”
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Tiffany studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Philadelphia and has always been drawn to the fashion world. She finally took the leap to open her own clothing boutique in 2018 when she realized it would give her the ability to be creative and provide her the flexibility to take care of her family.
Then it came to finding a location to open up her store and Tiffany was automatically drawn to Montclair. “Montclair is a place where a small business can grow and it is a place that comes to mind when people think of a shopping destination,” she said.
She explained that she loves being in a neighborhood where there are so many other small businesses that are all growing and working hard.
The Vibe
Velvet Lush instantly feels like a Southern Californian oasis once shoppers step through the boutique’s doors. Its light green walls, wood accents, and plant decor create a relaxing space that allows the store’s clothes and accessories to shine. “The vibe of the store is very California-inspired boho chic with trendy inspiration,” Tiffany describes.
The shop keeps up with current trends offering everything from teddy style coats, and oversized flannels to chicly-styled prairie dresses. In addition to its clothing offerings, Velvet Boutique also has space for stylish accessories and home goods with items like sage sticks, candles, woven bracelets, and crystals.“We try to create the store to fit with that boho lifestyle, and a lot of it is inspired by what I like,” Tiffany said.
Creating a Space for Community + Inspiration
In addition to being a place to shop for the perfect outfit or complementary accessories, Velvet Lush is also a space for collaboration and creativity. Tiffany doesn’t only see Velvet Lush as a boutique clothing store but also as a “creative hub” where members of the community can gather and learn a new creative skill or explore a new style.
In March 2020, Velvet Lush hosted a plant workshop where participants were able to re-pot and learn how to take care of their new plant.
“It was designed in a way to get new plant moms started on their journey and it was received really well a lot of people loved it,” she said.
In addition to pop-up events, Velvet Lush will collaborate with local influencers and local designers to bring their products into the store.
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“I hope that at the end of the day I can connect with people and be that outlet for women to shop, be creative, and feel good about themselves,” Tiffany said.
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Keep up with the latest from Velvet Lush including in-store events on the store’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
