Pure Bliss for Hot Mama BFFs
February 29, 2008
Marie Green is a fashion stylist and writer from San Diego California. She is the Fashion Editor of FINE Homes and Living Magazine and her column, “Fashion Focus” has appeared in FINE Magazine as well as LaJolla Light, The Del Mar Times, Del Mar Ink, The Carmel Valley Leader, Rancho Santa Fe Record, and The Solana Beach Sun. Marie is also the co-founder of SheWants.com.
Pure bliss is the feeling you can get from finding a store that has a fantastic selection of clothing and accessories that are perfect for you. This is the reason Carmel Valley residents, Kari Miller and Debbie Powers aptly named their store Pure Bliss: The Boutique. Their merchandise totally embodies our San Diego lifestyle while looking cute yet fashionable. Located in the Torrey Hills area of Carmel Valley, this brand new boutique offers fresh brands and a friendly personal shopping experience.
The boutique has an amazing collection of tops by some of my favorite labels: Michael Stars, Hale Bob, Splendid, and Erge to name just a few. They carry some of the most popular denim brands including Tag, Taverniti So, Level 99 and Billy Blues. You’ll find a great selection of jewelry by local favorite Conchita Ramirez, as well as Dillon Rogers and Jane Tran. Pure Bliss also features purses and belts by Leatherock and Tylie Malibu. Looking for loungewear or pajamas? They have those too. Also, there is a vast selection of perennial favorite Havaiana flip flops, Broken Down hats and cashmere wraps by Chan Lu.
The owners are best friends who actually met a few years ago at the Torrey Hills dog park. Kari, a mother of two, has a background in retail and always wanted to open her own boutique and Debbie, who has three kids, has a background in business. They often talked about a joint venture and decided last year when the perfect boutique space at Torrey Corner Center opened, that they should go for it. As luck would have it, Kari’s husband is in the restaurant business and also builds commercial spaces, so he took care of the building part. Debbie and Kari’s daughters, Megan and Rylee, even join in the business by selling their own handmade scarves and bracelets.
Their goal for Pure Bliss is to sell clothing and accessory lines they actually love to wear themselves for a reasonable price. In addition, Debbie says, “We want everyone to feel comfortable coming in, looking around, trying clothes on and having fun while they are doing it. Customer service is our #1 priority.” Check out Pure Bliss in the Torrey Corner Center at the intersection of Ocean Air Drive and Carmel Mountain Road.
Hot Mama Ink, cool clothes for hot mamas, is another local fashion company founded by best friends. Andrea Green Jarrell, a mother of two children, is an award winning equestrian and former horse trainer with many professional achievements and Rachel Madewell, a mother of two puppies, is an award winning fashion salesperson. Rachel’s love of fashion, along with Andrea’s business sense prompted them to “ignite” Hot Mama Ink. In 2006, they started this great-fitting line of quality active wear, maternity wear, nursing tank tops and baby slings which mix style and comfort. Worn by many celebrities, including Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie before and during their pregnancies, this super hip line features original tattoo inspired artwork celebrating the mother/child bond with a rock and roll feel. “Just because you’re becoming a mom, doesn’t mean you have to give up any of the edgy style you have. You don’t need to trade it in for sassy or even frumpy” says Andrea. She adds, “Hot Mama is a lifestyle, a feeling, an attitude. It’s being a devoted mom and a stylish, fashion-conscious woman.”
INSIDE SCOOP: Glamourama, the fabulous annual fashion show benefiting Rady Children’s Hospital, will be at The Four Seasons Resort Aviara on March 13th at 5 PM. This year’s theme, “Springtime in Paris,” will be sure to inspire your inner French fashion diva, with a runway show straight from fashion week in Paris, as well as culinary delights from the master chefs at The Four Seasons. For tickets and more information, please go to www.rcha-ncu.org.
