This boutique is a hat lover’s paradise, as far as a one-stop attire, especially for women, and accessories shop.
The Custom Edit’s premier edition of eclectic merchandise includes a full array of dozens and dozens of signature baseball-style hats with adjustable bands in back, complete with wording you can help choose and logos and stitched-on decals too, positioned all around the store and on a full shelf that takes up much of a wall. If you want a unique way to support your child’s team or sport, they can help you design a hat with a special message like that also.
Coming soon is a “hat bar,” called such since you will be able to make up any wording or sly saying you like, and choose front or side, within the bounds of good taste and a bit of leeway is shown there. As you can see with their tongue-in-cheek, piece of headgear showing a churchy-type lady, and the slogan “to hell I won’t!” Or, “I blame it on Nashville.” Or a margarita.
The custon hats, and more attire made for just them, can be concocted for birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, work and business events and other such occasions, to worn by all those attended who will try them on.
But there is a faith-centered approach here too. A front circular table, near the left side, says In God We Must in its cloth bracelets, and adds Make Heaven Crowded and such slogans.
There is a line of women’s apparel, such as jeans and jumpsuits, blouses and sweatshirts, and dresses too, perfect for summer or any season for that matter, specializing in longer, sleek styles. T-shirts and long clothing with a few fashionable rips in just the right places, and not the wrong ones, with hats on the top hangars to match, colorful socks near the window and other various such goods and accessories round out the mix.
Along much of the left wall is a design and decore making center, with several shelves running sideways, and also up toward the ceiling, that put on display — more hats. Early last Sunday morning, owner Jody Kreibich could be found behind that center, that includes sewing machine, making and preparing a variety of Raider-esqe football shirts for a special pre-order, foregoing church which had its service playing on the radio, and saying how she hoped to make her store more affordable than most downtown: We want to be able to have people walk out of here with three outfits for under $100. That is the benchmark.
There is a grand opening slated for the week of Aug. 11 and there will be a ribbon cutting that day at 1 p.m., with the store being open for shopping for the rest of the day after that, 1-6 p.m. The spacious front window gives you an idea of what you will find and there are also various items stacked in the center as you walk in. Door prize giveaways from the owners, and longtime Hudsonsites, will be featured all week, at the store’s great big main room and flowing into adjoining areas, including those with shelved walls and clothing and hats stacked on top, on all sides, such as back by the counter, and areas with a small step-up housing more merchandize. There also is a back shop and a fitting room, something you don’t always see these days. The actual shop itself is conventiently located along the west side of the main drag just south of Locust, for easy accessability.
Rounding out the inventory are regular, brimmed hats, necklaces and other jewelry, in partiular on either side of the checkout counter, many candles that include those with a metal framework, purses, placques and a set of kid’s items shelves. Hat themes are “sunkissed” for the nearby waterfront, beach bum and river bum, which makes one think on the Rum River in the other direction, and cowboy and patriotic.
A sign that has been on the windows announces that there are trendy styles, thoughtful gifts for every occasion, hats to create and wear and love, and the perfect finishing touches for accessories.
See The Custom Edit Boutique at 521 Second St., and on Facebook and Instagram at the same name.
Main store owner Jody Kreibich has been a teacher at EP Rock Elementary for 15 years.