Columbus, Ohio USA
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Jolie Occasions Dresses Up the Short North

by Margaret Marten
September/October 2017 Issue

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Feminine fashion is clearly the focus of Jolie Occasions, the new women’s apparel store that opened in August at 864 N. High Street. Ruffles, lace, silky fabrics, and floral prints dot the landscape of dresses, rompers, and tops filling the racks. Owner Stephanie Tersigni, 26, has stocked her boutique with styles sure to satisfy shoppers looking for one-of-a-kind feminine flair. “Jolie” is the French word for pretty, so the boutique’s name says it all. The shop owner’s vision is to bring wardrobe beauty to whatever occasion invites it – at an affordable price. “From the decor, to the clothes, even the prices, I just wanted everyone to walk in and feel pretty,” said Tersigni. “That sounds kind of weird, but my product is very girly, it’s feminine. It’s also affordable.” She believes her target market of twenty-somethings and students, as well as her unique selection, complements rather than competes with the existing Short North shops.

Experience in clothing retail at Forever 21 during high school and work at a boutique while in college nourished her interest in fashion, eventually leading to a fulltime job at Express as a buyer. But it was her experience at the boutique Juniper during college in Oxford, Ohio, that truly inspired her. “I fell in love with the boutique lifestyle,” she said. “It’s very personal there, so when you buy something you feel like you’re getting that one-of-a-kind piece.” The owner taught her the ropes, and Tersigni’s passion for fashion led to membership in the Miami University Club of Fashion and Design. At that time, there was no fashion program at the school, so she balanced her studies in communications with activity in the club, which grew immensely over the next four years – from a handful of members to over 150 by the end of her senior year when she served as president (over 250 members now). The following year Miami University implemented a fashion minor (dropped the word “club” from the group name), and the annual fashion show is now one of the largest student-run shows in the country, said Tersigni. Modeling for an agency during college and for Columbus Fashion Week rounded out her experience of the industry, but living the life of a shopkeeper was her dream realized. “I thought of this entire store totally in my head and knew exactly what I wanted it to look like,” she explained. “I knew what I wanted the color, the walls, everything [to be].” A limited selection of Jolie’s merchandise is available online, but well over a dozen brands are in the store on High Street. Getting the right outfit, handbag, or jewelry into the possession of a grateful customer is what makes her day. “I love meeting new people and seeing new faces,” she said. “I just love the people here.”

Jolie Occasions, 864 N. High St., is open Tuesday through Sunday. Visit www.jolieoccasions.com or call 614-907-6367 for more information. NOTE: The shop moved across the street to 867 N. High in June 2019, its current location.

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