Shaking It Up

A Charlotte newcomer brings a fresh women’s boutique to Colony Shopping Center

When Trish Bennett moved to Charlotte in April for her husband’s job, she knew the city would be the right place to pursue her dream of launching an upscale, women’s boutique with a celebrity vibe. Before that relocation, Bennett worked as an insurance professional in Frederick, Md., a job in which she often found herself shopping for clients who needed replacements of lost possessions. Now, those buying habits have shifted. Bennett buys the latest runway imports—from bohemian chic to edgier, rock glam—for her boutique, Doll, which opened in Colony Shopping Center in September. “At my last buying show,” Bennett says, “one of my Miami vendors saw my selections, and he said,‘You are definitely going to shake up Charlotte!’ ”

Her goal is to serve as Charlotte’s destination for cutting-edge fashion. “There are people moving here from all over the country. And they want fashion options,” Bennett says. “They want to stand out.” Bennett aligned Doll’s philosophy with her own. “My personal style philosophy is, ‘If people aren’t talking about your outfit, you need to go home and change.’ ”

Doll carries brands that are well-known in fashion circles and worn by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, and Halle Berry. Brands include: James Jeans, Ramona LaRue, SW3 Bespoke, Lanston, Rebel Yell, and Young Fabulous & Broke, among others. Prices range from $50 to $400.

The boutique is part of the Selwyn Avenue area’s evolving retail scene. This winter, Woo Cosmetics, Blo blow dry bar, Denim House, and The Sporting Gent are scheduled to open nearby, blending with popular Charlotte names such as Reid’s Fine Foods. “It’s an upscale, yet approachable area,” Bennett says. “I’m so excited Doll is a part of it.”