Fashion

[Andreatoo]

@Lipstickdiva

I think boutique can be ambiguous but in my head it's small, specialty-ish, and (generally) exclusively a single designer/manufacturer.

Boutiques are also those little shops on the boardwalk, etc., that sell clothing and chatchkes...

What term would you use for the shops I referenced?

[Spurt]

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@Andreatoo wrote:

@Lipstickdiva

I think boutique can be ambiguous but in my head it's small, specialty-ish, and (generally) exclusively a single designer/manufacturer.

Boutiques are also those little shops on the boardwalk, etc., that sell clothing and chatchkes...

What term would you use for the shops I referenced?

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@Lipstickdiva

I agree with your analysis....when I think of Boutique I think of small shops sometimes in special parts of town....that carry UNIQUE clothing ---clothing manufacturers  you don't see in Department Stores.  They also carry high end fashion jewelry and accessories...

[Spurt]

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@software wrote:

In my mind, the pupose of shopping in a boutique is to find items that are not mass-marketed & mass produced.   For example, in a department store, you can find dozens of the same blouse in every size, at every store.  All over the country. 

A boutique only buys small quantities so you don't see yourself coming & going.

Price is not necessarily higher in a boutique. 

I do shop at boutiques for a special occasion, not every day items.  And boutiques usually have great accessories you don't find everywhere.

And QVC comparing themselves to a boutique is a joke!

Maybe someone has a different opinion.

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@software

Great analysis!

[Spurt]

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@Bird mama wrote:

@Spurt

Girl I'm 5'10 and most boutiques don't have anything that fit these arms and legs of mine.  Not a boutiquie person.

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@Bird mama

If it makes you feel any better.....I'm 5'2" and they usually don't have anything that fits me either....If I pay top dollar I don't want to pay for alternations on top of it to make things fit particularly in the length (dresses, skirts and pants).....

[Spurt]

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@Andreatoo wrote:

@Spurt

good points! Especially when you consider that boutique is often synonymous with unique and special and the Q rarely offers either of those! They're trying to please too many different people at once....

As for the original question I'd have to say 'no'. Department stores are less limiting in their selections while a boutique is usually specific to a certain style or demographic of shopper, i.e., Chico's, White House/Black Market, etc...

I do like Banana Republic and Ann Taylor though......(sales!)

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@Andreatoo

I concur about your comment that QVC rarey offers anything unique and special ....in fact I think all their brands are starting to blend into one style and its difficult to tell them apart anymore...

[MacDUFF]

I shop fairly regularly in a little boutique near me, and I shop boutiques when I'm on vacation.  There is no way I would consider QVC a boutique.  No way.

[Puppy Lips]

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@MacDUFF wrote:

I shop fairly regularly in a little boutique near me, and I shop boutiques when I'm on vacation.  There is no way I would consider QVC a boutique.  No way.

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I agree.  I never see anything sold on QVC that I would consider "boutique worthy."  They like to compare themselves to boutiques to make their prices look better.  But really, their stuff is more in line with department store & big box quaility.

[MacDUFF]

@Spurt

@Puppy Lips

I would like to include an addendum to my post...LDO (many of his things, I think) and a few Simonton pieces are/were boutique-worthy...if not boutique, then high-end dept store for sure.   I have a few older sequined scarves from Joan that are very unusual and high quality.  But, for the majority of clothing here...not boutique, but middle-range dept store quality.  I agree with puppy that the Q is trying to justify some of their ridiculous prices by attempting to link themselves to boutiques...which is not happening for me at all.

[KaySD]

I do sometimes shop in all the various categories, from catalogs to outlets to department stores to smaller chains to boutiques. To me, the closest comparison to QVC is Macy's (not including the highest end departments at Macy's). Both have a range of brands and quality levels, both run frequent sales and promotions, and both have house brands that are reasonably priced. I like both. Macy's has the wider selection and overall the better sales by a pretty big margin, and of course you can try things on, if you have a local store. QVC has the videos to look at, and sometimes the easy pays are helpful on higher priced items.

[lilypad3]

I would love to shop there to support small businesses and I do for things other than clothes.  I'm very petite and boutiques to not have clothes that fit me.