SUFFIELD, CT — A longtime staple in the Suffield Village shopping center has recently expanded its product offerings, following the acquisition of the inventory of a former dress shop.
Donna Chisnall, a Suffield native who founded The Salon & Boutique At the Village 18 years ago, has purchased the inventory of The Little Black Dress, a women’s specialty clothing shop formerly in the Smyth Corners plaza in Enfield. Owners Yvonne and Mike Turgeon, who started the dress shop in 2004, sold the unit in 2021.
“I had met Yvonne at the Four Town Fair in Somers,” Chisnall said. “She was a vendor there, we got to talking and I started to consign her inventory because she didn’t have a brick and mortar [at the time] and I did, so it worked very well.”
Chisnall eventually removed the boutique, but brought it back after the coronavirus pandemic, right around the time Turgeon decided to retire.
“When she retired, she had her inventory and she and her husband put out that they were looking to sell it,” she said. “It fell perfectly into place for me, because I had started carrying the same line that she does, and it just increased my inventory and opportunity. I’m very grateful for Yvonne and Mike for giving me this opportunity, and I’m really excited about it.”
Of particular pride for Chisnall is the fact all the clothing available in her shop is made in America, and is not readily available in chain outlets like Kohl’s. Among the featured lines is Jostar, a unique private label known for women’s travel wear and basic fashion items in styles that are easy to care for, functional, wrinkle-free and comfortable.
“You can get one single black dress and different items to put on and you’ve got three or four different outfits,” Chisnall said. “They have a spring line, they have a summer line and they have a winter line. Of course, they’re from California so it’s not like our winter line, so I do supplement with some other lines.”
Nearly every type of apparel is available: full length dresses, mini dresses, tea length, tank style shirts, tunic shirts, shark bite bottoms, jackets, blazers, Christmas wear with sparkle and numerous accessories. If a shopper does not find what they are looking for, Chisnall can order it and have it on hand within a week.
Special services include fundraisers, personal shopping appointments, fashion shows and fun events like personal Sip & Shops. With a full service hair salon as part of the business, customers can make the shop a one-stop destination.
“Basically you can walk in that door, get your hair done, get an outfit and a pocketbook to walk out head to toe,” she said.
For more information about the boutique, hair services or personal shopping appointments, call 860-668-4659.
