Teresa shone against Marshall Field’s polished white floors like a ray of Mediterranean sunshine. She was tall, with long black hair, big brown eyes, and a smile from ear to ear. She carried herself with that certain cool, airy gravitas exercised exclusively by le donne d'Italia. At Teresa’s side beamed a 10-year-old girl.
“The department store was huge, everything was in drawers, and my experience was amazing!” said Gina Pellegrini. “My great-aunt Teresa bought me a yellow skirt, matching V-neck sweater, and a black dickie to wear underneath. I wore that outfit until it was threadbare. This is where my fashionista began: If I had money in my pocket, I would use it to go shopping.
“Shopping around the globe became my calling. I was always intrigued by how I was treated, the brands and store layouts, and of course the styles. Even as an adult, I always tried to emulate Teresa’s flair. Everything she wore seemed to flow together so seamlessly.”
By her mid-30s, Gina’s love for shopping had turned into a dream of opening her own boutique. She even had the name: Bella Gina Boutique. “My Nonna was my mentor and role model, and the one who always called me ‘Bella Gina’ in her beautiful accent,” Gina explained.
Bella Gina Boutique began as a popup: open eight hours a month and advertised only on bandit signs around town. “My niece Kristina joined and cheered me on right from the beginning,” said Gina. “When I finally found the perfect brick-and-mortar location in Eden Prairie, she and her husband Nick helped me set it up. She helped me keep my wits together when the pandemic struck just a few months after signing the lease, too.
“Now Kristina helps me decide what we bring into the store. We love going to different markets together. In addition to Minneapolis, we have traveled to Chicago and Dallas so far. Because we are different sizes, we get to try on many things while testing the fit, feel and durability of products we might source. Bella Gina Boutique is a testament to the bond between niece and auntie – and to friendship as well! I’m also very grateful to have Angela on my team. Her creative juices are always flowing with mine as we stock, merchandise, and make the shopping experience come alive for our customers.”
Gina and her team practice the same kind of customer service she experienced with Teresa so many years ago, coupled with the warm kinship that le donne del Midwest know best.
“Our customers, who are usually between the ages of 35 to 85, are always looking for something fresh and exciting,” said Gina “Many newcomers claim their palette is black, gray, and white, only to discover that any color of the rainbow can suit them just as perfectly. I love seeing a customer’s face light up when she tries on something she thought she’d never wear, and the spring in her step when she’s leaving. Those are exactly the rewards I’d hoped for when I first opened my boutique.
“We welcome and appreciate every lady who visits us. We have helped many self-professed introverts gain the confidence they need to walk out the door with something we know they’ll get compliments on. And once we’ve learned their style, we're always on the hunt for specific things we know they’ll love.”
Part of Gina’s goal includes carrying merchandise by vendors that give back to the community, such as Scout Curated Wears, a jewelry company that donates 10 percent of their profits to organizations that support women, and Pretty Simple Boutique, a local purse designer that supports juvenile diabetes nonprofits. Gina also loves vendors that offer something unique, like Charlie B, Joh Apparel, Lulu-B, Tribal, XCVI, and Insect Shield, her favorite, which lets people enjoy the great outdoors minus its worst part.
Another part of Gina’s goal is to make each guest feel like they are walking into their best friend’s closet. They get honest feedback, and imaginative suggestions that help them feel just as beautiful outside as they are inside.
Visit Bella Gina Boutique at 10165 Hennepin Town Road in Eden Prairie, or the online store at bellaginaboutique.com. Almost everything in the store is also on its website!
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