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Not custom tailored, but “custom curated”, insists Camille DePedrini, while describing what types of outfits the owner and her team put together at Camille‘s on Mission St in South Pasadena. “Oftentimes, there are people who [are] in the dressing room, and they’ll say to me, ‘You know, I never would have picked that out for myself!'” DePedrini exclaims with a warm smile many of her customers are familiar with. “Often the thing that we picked out, they’ll end up getting instead of the thing that they picked for themselves.”
Established in 1998, Camille is a namesake unique fashion boutique that has stood on the Mission St East block for several years now. Originally located on Fair Oaks Ave, they pride themselves on the tasteful arrangements that enliven customer spirits. “Our store is very artful, we look at everything with an artist’s perspective,” DePedrini states, “The store is very curated, we think a lot about fabric; how it looks, how it feels, how it wears, and we buy accessories to go with all of the clothes…. Really, we’re stylists. As we’re buying, we’re put(ting) outfits together, that’s what we do for people when they come here.”
Carefully assembled displays showcase dresses, jewelry, and other accessories that embody a retro-chic style. The many ornate, yet understated, patterns on the clothing carried at Camille’s exemplify the eye for fashion, while DePedrini’s team ensures that their personalized service remains “our main attraction without a doubt,” she says, “We really, really take care of our customers. When people come in we are here for them. It’s about what they need. I have had many, many times people say to me, ‘I hate shopping. But this has been a wonderful experience.’ So that’s a real plus, they feel comfortable and relaxed. We’re not pushy, we suggest (and) we help.”
Recently, another major draw, says DePedrini, is the new online services and store, courtesy of Manager, Michelle McCauley, who helped put it all together. “If you go to the website, we are carrying more clothing for everyday wear. We were always known as a special event store, (providing) clothing for special events (but) because of the pandemic, we started carrying more clothing for everyday wear, and we still have clothing for special events. So (now) we’re both and I want people to know that’s a big deal,” DePedrini highlights. She adds that while many have adjusted to COVID protocols — many of them lifted — she continues to accommodate shoppers based on their comfort level, whether they prefer to browse online or in-person.
Another advantage to online shopping is the chance to preview items before coming to the the store, a feature that customers tell DePedrini that they love. “They love going online and looking to see what we have, and then coming in and saying, ‘I like this, this and this, I want to try it on.’ So they’re sort of pre shopping,” she notes, while mentioning the expedience it helps alleviate some customer stress as well. “When they get here, they know what they want. That actually helps people who want the quick in and out.”
For local shoppers there is also an added perk; free shipping delivery for online shoppers within a ten mile radius. Additionally, DePedrini says to keep an eye out for promotions throughout the year, with sidewalk sales and participation in the Chamber’s Al Fresco events. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for their two major annual sales in January and July. The best way to keep up-to-date with all the happenings, she says, is to sign up for the e-mail list by either coming into the store and signing up or e-mailing: camille@camilledepedrini.com.
As Camille’s celebrates its 21st year in town, DePedrini’s mission is as strong as ever, “To enjoy what you wear every day, have fun with clothing, but in an artful way. I think, sometimes, we’re afraid to have fun, to just have fun with clothing. Clothing is one way that we can have a little fun (and) adorn ourselves,” she says.
Camille is located on 1516 Mission St, South Pasadena, CA
They can be found online at camilledepedrini.com
Or call (626) 441-7868 for more information.
