A haberdashery is a shop that traditionally sells clothing and accessories, particularly men’s goods, but Jill Elliott has made the name distinctly her own. For 25 years, her Fredericksburg boutique has reflected her love of well-made clothing, thoughtful details and pieces with a story.
Jill moved to Fredericksburg after college in 1996 and met her husband, Danny, soon after he arrived the following year. When she decided to start Haberdashery, Danny graciously cashed his small 401(k) to provide the seed money. Jill studied interior design and fashion in college and later worked closely with Carol Hicks Bolton in Fredericksburg. She enjoyed interiors, but she continued returning to clothing–especially feminine pieces, vintage finds and designs that felt different than what shoppers could find elsewhere.
With seed money in hand, Jill set out to launch her store. “I took all the money I had at the time, grabbed my mom and said, ‘Let’s go to Dallas Market and see what we can find and learn.'”
The trip introduced her to designers she would continue carrying decades later. Among the first was Nataya, whose clean lines, quality materials and intricate details matched Jill’s vision. Learning the stories behind those designers became equally important, allowing her to share them with customers.
Her first retail space was a small back room inside her father’s former Hill Country music store at 155 East Main Street. Pregnant with her first son, Tucker, Jill could step away to help shoppers while her father or a staff member held the baby.
She covered pegboard dressing-room walls with newspapers from the 1940s, creating an unusual backdrop that soon attracted attention of its own. Visitors recognized relatives and pieces of local history among the clippings.
Jill still remembers her first sale: a $68 yellow twin set. She reinvested the small profit in more merchandise. The customer later became the doctor who delivered Tucker, one of many connections that shaped the store. Today, three generations of some families shop at Haberdashery.
As Haberdashery grew from its beginnings into a prominent Main Street boutique, Jill continued following the buying philosophy that shaped her first market trip: choose what she would wear. Her creative reach expands beyond clothing with Blackchalk Home + Laundry, an eclectic home goods store, set in a historic building along Fredericksburg's Warehouse Row. There, Jill applies the same eye for distinctive finds to furniture, lighting, rugs, textiles, jewelry and objects sourced locally during her travels. Together, the two shops reflect the view that everyday surroundings, like style, should include beauty, character and an element of surprise.
Over time, Jill’s personal style has shifted from feminine and formal to classic, whimsical pieces suited to changing life stages and the Texas heat. Cotton, linen and other comfortable materials now influence her selections.
Haberdashery carries clothing for women and men, with an emphasis on lasting quality rather than fast fashion. Jill wants customers to build enduring capsule wardrobes while leaving room for playful additions through every stage of life.
Twenty-five years later, that remains the heart of Haberdashery. “I want to create an experience where you feel like you are purchasing a very special wardrobe piece,” she says. “At Haberdashery, I want clothing that makes you feel unique, makes you feel beautiful and special, with pieces that last in your closet for a long time.”
Haberdashery can be found at 221 East Main Street in Fredericksburg.
https://haberdasheryboutique.com/
“I want to create an experience where you feel like you are purchasing a very special wardrobe piece.”