BY LEE ANN SANDWEISS

Someone passing by 402 W. 6th St. might get a sense of déjà vu. Daffodils, a women’s apparel shop, has sprung up where it flourished from 2000 to 2005. Owner Linnell Schur is back doing what she loves.

“Between 2005 and now, I was a full-time caregiver — I lost both of my parents and husband during that period,” Schur explains. “I wanted to do something fun, but I realize that I’m going to have to build this business one customer at a time.”

The Indianapolis native, who attended the Ray College of Design in Chicago, lives in Spencer, Indiana, and has worked in fashion retail since the 1970s. An avid gardener, Schur named her store after her favorite flower because she feels it signifies the essence of freshness and liveliness that she wants her store to embody.

Inside and out, Daffodils reflects Schur’s eye for design and retail background. The boutique is in a Craftsman-style house that Schur owns and gave a fresh paint job, including whimsical checkerboard trim. The cozy, richly appointed interior consists of four rooms filled with clothes that are fashionable, functional, and comfortable.

A great deal of the clothing at Daffodils is constructed of natural fibers in earth tones. The pieces are separates that either make a bold statement or deliver a new take on wardrobe basics. Many show an edgy sculptural vibe and feature unusual textures — pleats, ripples, folds, and weaves. As diverse as the pieces are, most suit a range of body types and many can be mixed and matched to create a variety of looks.

“I shop with my fingers,” says Schur, who makes frequent buying trips to New York and Dallas to search for new looks and feels by independent designers, including Jane Mohr, Krista Larson, Tina Givens, Bryn Walker, and Sophie Finzi. “My goal is to bring relaxed, sophisticated, original fashions to women in Bloomington. My customers have traditionally been women who are confident and well-traveled — mature but playful.”

Daffodils also carries an array of moderately priced accessories and jewelry, which Schur plans to expand. Her future goals include carrying accent pieces for the home and utilizing the house’s deck and garden to create a relaxing café atmosphere outdoors.

Daffodils is open Wednesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; phone 812-369-0575.