As the adorable boutique Swanky & Swag celebrates its first year in business, owner and visionary Whitney Boger couldn’t be happier with how her dream has unfolded.
“Our first year has been great,” smiles Whitney. “It’s been overwhelming, with all the support from the community. We have held several holiday events and ladies nights, and have been able to meet and connect with so many women and other local businesses owners in our area.”
Add to that a celebration on October 25 and 26 to commemorate year one – and the perfect chance to visit the boutique for the first time if you haven’t yet sampled their enviable Southern style, and ever-changing inventory that never disappoints.
The vision to blend Whitney’s hair salon and boutique idea was a match made in heaven, and combined with her passion for interacting with people, and her contagious creative spirit, has resulted in a successful business venture and the fulfillment of a happy personal goal.
Whitney’s journey into the retail arena began with her love for jewelry making and has become a local treasure where clients find items they wouldn’t find anywhere else, with styles to fit varied tastes, and sizes that range from small to plus size. She’s also driven to keep prices affordable and accessible to a wide range of customers. If you’re a Swanky & Swag regular, you’ve grown to love how Whitney’s own vintage style shines through, and the boutique has added several new lines over the past year.
“We’ve added Charleston Rice Beads, made in Charleston, SC, which customers love,” says Whitney. With a color palette that mirrors the beauty of Charleston and a vintage look that pays tribute to the city’s history, these beads have become a hit with mothers and daughters alike, making them ideal to pass down as gifts.
There’s also top-selling Sheila Fajl jewelry, a line of beautiful, lightweight, extremely durable earrings and bangles made in Brazil. For the fall season, Whitney has listened intently to special requests from customers, and found that people love super-soft fabrics, versatility, and pockets! (No surprise there, right, ladies?)
“Our clothing styles can be worn many different ways – from a day of running errands to a night on the town,” explains Whitney. “And from leopard print to snake print, we have it!”
The boutique also carries the uniquely fun Coconuts by Matisse footwear and a line of best-selling high-top sneakers that are a must for your fall wardrobe. With your favorite guys in mind, Swanky & Swag also carries a men’s line of Southern-style shirts and hats from Fieldstone Outdoor Provisions, and Old South Apparel, made right here in North Carolina!
Besides greeting you at the boutique, Swanky & Swag will be involved with several events this fall, including Southern Charm at the Farm on October 12 at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons.
“This is our fourth time participating in this event, and it gets better every single time!” says Whitney. “Look for us on “camper row” where we will be set up in our 1972 vintage Shasta camper, with a variety of clothes and jewelry ready for you to shop!” (That same day, Swanky & Swag will be participating in Forsyth WomanMagazine’s Tour de Boutique!) On November 3, the girls will be at the Divine Llama Vineyard in East Bend.
“This is our second year participating in this event, and it’s a perfect time to stock up on Christmas goodies, along with wine, food and, of course, llamas!” says Whitney.
For Whitney, the launch of Swanky & Swag has been very much a family event.
“My family – including my very patient husband – has been extremely supportive,” she says. “What fills my heart most is my eight-year-old daughter, Paisley, who watches my every move at the store and soaks in the business aspect. She has recently started crafting earrings herself, and her ‘vision’ was to bring the earrings to the store to sell, using her earnings to buy, in Paisley’s own words, a ‘bunch’ of cats! Instead, we have decided to donate a portion of the sales to give back to local animal shelters. The cost of the earrings is between $6 and $8, and she is donating $2 from every pair sold to a different animal organization in our area.”
There is clearly no shortage of family, fun, and fashion at Swanky & Swag, located at 1337 Lewisville Clemmons Road in Lewisville. Come and introduce a friend to their unique collection of clothing and accessories! Reach the salon and boutique at 336-778-0111, online at swankyandswagllc.com, and follow them on Facebook for more information on upcoming events and brand new merchandise!
