When Courtney Shea and Katie Turner met through their kids at Saint Hugo, they never imagined a coffee date would turn into a business.
Over the years, the Bloomfield Hills moms would see each other at pickup and school events, and both took notice of each other’s style.
“Courtney and I would show up to things dressed similarly,” Katie says. “Even our husbands were like, ‘are you guys kidding me?’ But also, people in the community or at school were coming up to us separately and asking, ‘Oh my gosh, where did you get that?’ or ‘I love your outfit.’
About three years ago, the pair started going out to lunch together, and realized they had much more than clothing in common — in particular, they both loved being around people. Courtney mentioned a dream that she had of owning a boutique.
“I was telling Katie about a conversation I had with my husband, Nick,” Courtney says. “I told him I felt like I wanted to do something new, and I said, ‘Should I dye my hair or open a store?’ But I knew I couldn’t do it alone.”
Without missing a beat, Katie said, “I’ll do it with you.”
Just 18 months after that conversation — this past November — the pair opened penelope mae (penelopemae.com). Yet another shared passion: They both wanted to name their daughters Penelope, but their husbands vetoed the name.
Tucked into Birmingham’s Railroad District, penelope mae is the namesake of their dreams. Walking in, clients are enveloped in an uplifted sense of warmth — one can feel the beauty.
“We want to provide elevated ready-to-wear clothes that a woman can wear to school pickup and look put together, but can wear the same outfit with her girlfriends or out to dinner,” Katie says. “It’s about empowering women, but empowering ourselves, too.”
penelope mae’s offerings reflect the founders’ shared eye for elevated, wearable style. Courtney describes her aesthetic as “elevated casual.” Katie, by contrast, calls her own style more classic, though she credits Courtney with teaching her to punch up a neutral outfit with a simple standout piece. Together, that balance shapes the shop's curation: fine-quality clothing that’s an investment but meant to be worn for years, not tossed after a season.
The shining star of the boutique, of course, is the designer roster. Alemais and Susie Kondi, both sold exclusively at penelope mae in Michigan, along with Kallmeyer, Rohe and Lisa Yang — a cashmere label whose soft-knit sweaters have become the store’s top seller. Many of these brands were sourced through New York buying agencies before the shop even had a physical location, a leap of faith Courtney and Katie say they’re grateful the designers took on them.
The pair say the community has welcomed them with open arms — which thrills them, as they aim to be community-focused.
“We want to be a resource, especially for other local women and businesses,” Courtney says. “We’ve done quite a few trunk show pop-ups, we’ve hosted charity events and women have had Sip & Shop events with their friends, with wine and charcuterie. And we’ve talked about book clubs.” This fall and winter, shoppers can look forward to visits from Marfa Stance, a European suede and leather label bringing in jackets and skirts, and GP Embroidery, a Grosse Pointe–based artist offering on-site embroidery in December.
“Meeting everyone and learning people’s stories and bringing people together — that’s what we want this space to be about,” Courtney adds. “We want it to feel like a welcome community space for all of us women.”
That beckoning welcome emanates from the store’s warm, layered interior, with the help of Anne Strickland, owner of Anne Strickland Interiors, who filled the space with her own furniture and artwork — all of it for sale, with pieces rotating in as others sell.
“At the end of the day, we are moms, so we needed to make it work for us and work for others as well,” Courtney says. “Anne has young kids too, so she understood what we needed. She was so welcoming and really helped us bring the design we wanted to life.”
Adds Katie, “We want the boutique to feel like an extension of your home or your closet. Welcoming and warm.”
THE DETAILS
Courtney and Katie invited friends who’ve helped them during their journey of opening penelope mae. The pair asked each woman to wear their own jewelry and shoes and styled each woman around her own personality. Flowers were designed by Stems by Shanna Gorga and wine was provided by Eton Market.
- Anne Strickland (Anne Strickland Interiors) wore a colorful Alemais dress reflecting her everyday style.
- Erica Dunlap (Aeres Real Estate co-founder) wore Apiece Apart in a chartreuse tone chosen to complement her coloring.
- Angela Thomas (Aeres Real Estate co-founder) wore a Lisa Yang sweater paired with Alemais pants.
- Courtney Shea wore Kallmeyer’s Felicity Cascade skirt with the label's Chassis polo.
- Katie Turner wore Rohe, one of her personal favorite brands in the shop.