With the change of seasons, you might be thinking of updating your wardrobe, finding that perfect accessory for yourself or your home . . . or even thinking about a “makeunder” to streamline your beauty regime. If you are in the mood for some old-fashioned retail therapy complete with genuine and personal customer service, a drive down to La Petite Boutique Unique in Sunriver is worth it!
This intimate shop is a hidden gem in the Sunriver Village Mall, with both brand-new clothing for the entire family, along with lightly loved luxury vintage pieces from designers such as Chanel, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, Versace, Carlisle and more. Along with clothing and fabulous accessories, you can find unique home décor pieces, including vintage dinnerware from Italy and Paris and fine crystal. The boutique also carries healthy mineral sun protection from Susan Posnick that conceals imperfections better than makeup, a mineral makeup color line, as well as organic cold-pressed skincare from LEEF Organics and gifts for under $20.
According to La Petite Boutique Unique shop co-owner Stephen Marshall, each piece in the shop is hand selected. “We work with a handful of collectors, and we carry only what we love. We have things ranging from very affordable to not affordable at all,” he says. And, though nestled in a resort community, Marshall emphasizes that their shop focuses as much on locals as they do on short-term visitors.
When customers approach the shop, they are greeted by the store ambassador, a four-year-old Scottish Terrier/Dachshund mix named Ollie. Once inside, customers are in for a truly unique experience . . . personalized customer service including a genuine effort to help each discover just what they are looking for, even if it’s just a chance to browse or window shop.
With many years of experience in their respective fields, co-owners Marshall and Brett Bizik opened La Petite Boutique Unique in April.
A native Oregonian with an educational background in music and theology, Marshall is an award-winning building and interior designer and owner and principal designer for Stephen Marshall Design. A current piano instructor at the Cascade School of Music and the new choir director at Nativity Lutheran Church in Bend, Marshall wasted no time finding ways to serve in the Central Oregon community. “It’s wonderful to be able to share what I’ve learned through the years with others,” he says. “It’s just really exciting to see what comes next.”
Bizik has worked in the beauty industry for over 30 years, 20 of those in Beverly Hills at Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and more. Through the years, Bizik discovered that all of his clients shared a common goal . . . to look and feel their best, and to look younger. “I decided to become a youthfulness specialist,” Biznik explains. “What I do is certainly not superficial, however. My goal is to show people how to feel their best by celebrating and enhancing each individual's uniqueness, so they look like their best selves without looking like they are wearing any makeup at all. When you look your best, it helps you feel your best, and when you feel your best, you are happier and more loving to yourself and others.”
In addition to his experience and expertise in the makeup, beauty and fashion industry, Bizik has performed stand-up comedy on every stage of The Comedy Store in LA. So, this means that stories and impersonations find their way into the beauty sessions, providing an unexpected combination of very useful education and lots of laughter!
With their shop up and running, Bizik has begun offering “Learning on Location (LOL)”, where he brings education and laughter to customers in their home. This 2-hour private party is free with a minimum number of guests.
Style and fashion are personal, whether for yourself or your home. “Our mantra is ‘people before product, service before selling’ and fun, fun, fun,” Marshall notes. “We want to create a space and experience that makes our customers feel good about themselves. People are craving kindness, being listened to, someone who sees and hears them. Our goal is to offer that to everyone who walks through our door. The greatest gift to the creative soul is opportunity.” Step into La Petite Boutique Unique and find an opportunity to discover a style all your own.
La Petite Boutique Unique, The Village at Sunriver. 206.919.3439.
Brett’s Beauty Bits (BBB)
· Gold Lipstick A great all-purpose beauty tool (such as Santa Fe from Susan Posnick, $25 at the boutique). Use as an eye shadow, highlighter, even as a topper for other lip colors.
· Sleep On It (next four tips) Moisturize your skin before bed to nourish and help rejuvenate your skin while you sleep.
· Hair Start with clean hair and apply an essential oil blend to your clean roots before hitting the hay (such as Wild Crafted Oil from LEEF Organics, $37)!
· Application Use a dime size amount of oil, lean forward and starting at the back of the hair, work the oil into the scalp focusing only on the roots (avoid the bangs).
· Result Awaken to radiant skin and, because of the constant movement of your head on your pillow, fuller, thicker-looking hair!
"We want to create a space and experience that makes our customers feel good about themselves."
—Stephen Marshall, Co-owner of La Petite Boutique Unique