At eclectic Arleen Bowman Boutique, shopping gets personal

The West Village is known for its independent boutiques with unique and diverse stylistic offerings. Arleen Bowman Boutique, conveniently located on Bleecker Street, is one such shop. Its eclectic merchandise includes clothing, accessories, perfumes, and small keepsakes, all from largely unknown brands.  
    
“It is a boutique in the true sense of the word,” said Arleen Bowman, the proprietor and namesake. Indeed, this location embodies the essence of what a small shop should be—its atmosphere is calming and eccentric, and patrons can enjoy shopping without feeling rushed by the staff. The shop’s simple décor adds to this sense of ease, with hunter green walls subtly accented by gold-framed paintings.     

Bowman herself immediately welcomes anyone who enters. She is friendly and attentive, and carefully selects items specifically for her customers. “Whenever I see something beautiful that somebody would like to have, I make sure to carry it,” Bowman said of her store inventory. From simple cashmere sweaters to elaborate tops and an assortment of fingerless gloves—which Bowman called “one of the best collections of fingerless gloves in the city”—the inventory and staff tries to cater to client’s individual needs.      

The West Village was a natural choice for Bowman’s boutique because of the clientele it attracts. Bowman often refers to her average customer as “a woman with a past, who is a girl with a future.” On an average day, the boutique’s visitors include everyone from teenagers to women in their seventies.

The most popular items are jeans from Peace of Cloth and Christopher Blue, which cost an average of $150, and shirts that Bowman herself designed under the Hanna G. label, which range from $65-$85. These pieces have a unifying theme of adventure and sophistication. Unfortunately, Bowman’s selections are not for those with a small budget—a top at this boutique can cost up to $325.

While Bowman originally intended to showcase only her designs in the shop, she currently carries a wide variety of unique styles from many different designers—including Johnny Was and Judy Tampa. These labels and others create a quality of clothing that shoppers can rarely find. In short, Arleen Bowman Boutique is an enticing stop for students with larger budgets looking for well-made, versatile pieces.