Stevie Olson was born with an eye for style. As a Tenino High School student, Stevie can remember looking forward to weekend shopping trips in downtown Olympia where she and her girlfriends would refresh their wardrobes with trendy finds from local boutiques. She remembers with particular fondness Capitol Way, with its tree-lined streets, buildings from a bygone era, and its many clothing and lifestyle shops, and imagined one day having a shop of her own on that stretch of downtown.
After graduating high school with both a diploma and a cosmetology license, the ambitious fashionista decided her next step would be to pursue her love of fashion professionally, and she applied and was accepted to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. Stevie was ready to take her love of fashion to the next level.
While a chain of romantic events put Stevie’s fashion forward goals on hold, she never left the world of couture. After high school, Stevie would reconnect with her former classmate, Jeff Olson, and the two got married. Because of this, rather than flocking to FIDM, Stevie stayed put in Thurston County where she and Jeff worked together to open Hawks Prairie Home Furnishings.
Even while they worked tirelessly to build their business from the ground up, Stevie would spend her spare minutes perusing fashion blogs and following trends on social media. Fashion was always on her mind.
By 2014, business was good and the time had come for Stevie to invest fully in her dream. As if the stars had aligned, one of Stevie’s favorite downtown Olympia storefronts had become vacant, and on April 3, 2014, LOLA Lifestyle Boutique on Capitol Way opened its doors for the first time. “It was honestly a dream come true for me, “ says Stevie. Her passion is evident the moment you step through the door.
Stevie has taken great care to curate LOLA’s inventory, thoughtfully handpicking every label and piece featured in the shop. With timeless styles from recognizable labels like Vince, Elizabeth & James, Splendid and Toms to more unique brands like Cleobella, Maison Scotch and Austrailian-based Tigerlily and Blesse’d are the Meek, as well as a growing selection of eco-conscious clothing, shoes and accessories, there’s something for everyone.
In the boutique’s first year, LOLA has become a popular high-end fashion destination not only for locals but for out-of-town style savants, too. This is because LOLA is more than just a curated collection of beautiful, quality-made wares, it’s a treat for the senses.
Featuring designer ready-to-wear and contemporary styles from national and international brands, Stevie and her staff have created a shopping experience designed to help women escape everyday stresses and indulge in the finer things in life. LOLA Lifestyle Boutique’s Events/PR Manager, Lauren Rodriguez, says LOLA creates this experience in a few different ways.
From the signature LOLA scent and the expert styling support from LOLA “stylists” to the complimentary beverages and $1.50 beer to make your — and your spouse’s — visit more enjoyable, LOLA offers its customers a premier shopping experience unlike any other, one that offers a true oasis for women, whether shopping solo or with the family. There are even toys from Captain Little for the kiddos and a comfy lounge. LOLA stylists are happy to order a healthy meal in or book a private shopping appointment for any client wanting even more from their experience. “It’s important that we create a real sense of comfort and satisfaction for our clients. We have designed an exceptional environment for an exceptional experience,” says Lauren. And, now that LOLA has started working with an experienced seamstress, the boutique offers both in-store and off-site tailoring service for clients by appointment.
Offering a range of moderately priced contemporary pieces as well as higher end ready-to-wear garments, accessories and home goods, Lauren says LOLA’s intentional and well-rounded selection reinforces what LOLA’s name suggests — it is more than a fashion boutique, it’s a lifestyle boutique. And with a growing array of eco-conscious and ethically sourced clothing and accessories to accompany their solely cruelty-free beauty products, LOLA’s inventory also caters to the eco-conscious shopper. “You don’t have to give up mindfulness to be fashionable,” says Lauren. “We want our clients to get into that type of lifestyle and image we ourselves live and are perpetuating here — that a fashionable woman can also be healthy, active and outdoorsy, and have a big heart.”
Lauren even contributes to a lifestyle blog for LOLA, touching on such topics as fashion for every age, healthy eating, living with gratitude, cruelty-free beauty, and much more. And, the range of apparel and accessories found inside perfectly outfit those living the LOLA Lifestyle. They even have yoga gear and high-end activewear, some of which is made from recycled water bottles.
Being in downtown Olympia, LOLA is also big supporter of the local shopping experience and reinforces this mentality through its many local partnerships. One example of this is LOLA’s Sip-n-Shop series — an evening of wine and shopping in downtown Olympia. Together with Marchetti Wines, Sip-n-Shop offers guests an opportunity to sip on wines while enjoying live music and couture shopping at a special event discount. Lauren says for the community to be successful as a whole it’s important for businesses to work together.
Supporting the community and giving back is important to Stevie, which is why proceeds from many of the events that LOLA hosts go to benefit local non-profits that Stevie and the LOLA gals are passionate about. “My philanthropic passion for animals as well as other charitable causes is a huge motivator for me in business,” says Stevie. “The fact that, with my business, I can give back to our community and create an impact means so much to me. It is important to us with our events to always be raising funds and awareness.”
For Stevie, LOLA Lifestyle Boutique is the realization of her greatest passions neatly packaged and located in the heart of the city that she loves. In celebration of LOLA’s one year anniversary, LOLA will host a ribbon cutting ceremony, reception and shopping event on May 4, 2015, 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The event will include light refreshments and 15 percent off for all who attend. “It’s really to thank Olympia for contributing to our success,” says Lauren.
Want to join the lifestyle? Explore LOLA Lifestyle Boutique online or shop the boutique Monday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday noon to 5:00 p.m.
Have a schedule conflict? Set a private appointment by phone at 844-GET-LOLA or emailing Lauren at events@shopatlola.com.
