Santa Clara is not known for cutting-edge fashion trends. No, we look to the City to lead the way in that department.
But tucked away in a quiet shopping center called Franklin Mall, you will find a little shop called Ibiss Boutique that hints at the fashion potential of the South Bay.
Ibiss Boutique showcases both international and local designers. One of my favorite designers is S.I.N.D.Y. out of Watsonville, dresses and skirts with the median price of just $49.00. The S.I.N.D.Y. philosophy is that clothes should be comfortable, therefore you will find few zippers or buttons in the cotton jersey and poly-rayon designs.
You will also find Ibiss's favorite Blank Jeans. Composed of 98% cotton and 2% spandex, they fit almost everyone who tries them on. Blank Jeans are a steal for $68. Most of the boutique's trendy clothing may have a rather short shelf life, but at the price point Ibiss offers, you can afford to try something new.
Owner Ibi Oluwole is a graduate of nearby Santa Clara University. Surviving a fashion starved shopping experience at SCU, she decided to bring the locals fashion flavor.
Ibi also designs and creates her own jewelry, priced at a cheap and chic $5 to $25. Her line "Byibi" celebrates obscure shapes, with the likes of three inch octopus, one inch meat cleaver, or dangling feather earrings. There seems to be no one theme in the jewelry, but that is what's best about it– there is quite literally something for everyone.
Santa Clara is hardly the Paris of Silicon Valley. Still, it's nice to know that a few spots like Ibiss Boutique are tres chic.
Ibiss Boutique. 1231 Franklin Mall, Santa Clara, CA 95050. (408) 261-2050 www.ibiboutique.com
Corinne Phipps is the creator of Urban Darling, a wardrobe styling and closet auditing company.
