Category: Fashion & Shopping

Vue: New Upscale Eyeware Boutique

During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, Bloomington’s downtown Square, typically a prime retail destination, appeared subdued.

Global Gifts: Featuring Fair Trade & Holiday Presents

In 2009, when Global Gifts opened its doors on the downtown Square at 122 N. Walnut, a segment of the Bloomington community probably wasn’t familiar with the concept of fair trade.

New Comics & Collectibles Store Now in College Mall

College Mall has a new comic book, trading cards, and collectibles store. The Android’s Dungeon, located next to Target inside the mall, opened in May.

Hair Today! What’s Doing?

After a year of neglected haircuts and colors, Bloomingtonians have been returning to their local salons ready to change things up.

The Seedlings Flower Truck: Coming to a Venue Near You

Three years ago, Laura Deck had left her teaching career and was feeling lost. She grew up in a family that farmed livestock, but she always had a different type of farm in mind: a flower farm.

Wedding Dresses Galore At My Sister’s Closet’s New Discount Boutique

Tucked away behind two sets of steel doors in the back of My Sister’s Closet hides a treasure trove in what used to be a car detailing shop.

Unraveled Quilt Store: 3,000 Bolts of Fabric & More

When Lisa Stantz decided to open Unraveled Quilt Store in Spencer, Indiana, in 2016, it felt like a gift to herself. So, she made her April birthday her first day of business. “It was something big for me,” she says. “It was my special day and I just wanted to share it with my store. It’s my baby.”

Craft Happens: A Place to ‘Get Messy & Let Loose’

High school sweethearts Emily and Eric McArtor— originally from Greene County, Indiana—have always been “crafty.” Woodworking was an art that Eric’s grandfather instilled in him as a youth, and Emily’s grandmother kept her busy as a child by recycling everyday items into crafts.

Jigsaw Puzzles Acquire New Popularity During Pandemic

Like toilet paper and hand sanitizer, jigsaw puzzles sold out during the pandemic’s early days, and, according to Margaret Taylor, owner of The Book Corner, they still don’t stay in stock.

Planning a Getaway? Stuff to Take Your Stuff In

With summer here and COVID-19 vaccinations plentiful, many Bloomingtonians are planning a return to familiar activities in
a (hopefully) post-pandemic world. And that includes travel— whether a weekend getaway by car, a flight to visit faraway friends and family, or a vacation to some exotic destination.

B-town’s New Plant Boutique : ‘oak.’

When Talia Halliday, owner of Gather, opened oak. in February 2020, the plant boutique was the culmination of a vision she had long held as a shop owner.

IU Exhibit Showcases Glenn Close Costume Collection

The exhibit “Art of the Character: Highlights from the Glenn Close Costume Collection” opened on May 6 at the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University and features 56 costumes worn by actor Glenn Close in 14 productions.

New Owner at ALIBI: Fashions Favor Local Living

When Katie Whitson, owner of ALIBI, formerly Blond Genius Denim Bar, moved to Oklahoma in 2019, Bloomington business owner Stephanie Topolgus decided to purchase the boutique.

Board Games Are Popular Again

As the pandemic has shut down activities and narrowed the daily experiences of many people, tabletop games old and new have seen a resurgence. Local retailers are selling more strategy board games, role-playing games, card games, and puzzles.

Nashville Spice Company: Flavors from Around the World

While you may not currently be able to travel to far- flung exotic places, the Nashville Spice Company in neighboring Brown County, Indiana, can at least bring flavors from around the globe to you.

Silk + Steel: Sustainable Fashions Handmade Locally (PHOTO GALLERY)

With no experience in the fashion design industry, Pamela Walters and longtime friend Jean Robinson retired from Indiana University in 2018 and 2017, respectively, and decided to delve into their own clothing line, Silk + Steel.

New Morgenstern Bookstore To Open in Spring

Rick Morgenstern says he closed his independent bookstore, Morgenstern Booksellers, in 1996 after national chains Barnes & Noble and Borders squeezed him out. But he never gave up on his dream of reopening, which he plans to do in May.

ETC for the Home Reimagined: Offering More Choices and Better Prices

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many businesses to reassess their operations and perhaps alter their practices, and ETC for the Home, Bloomington’s locally owned home furnishing and interior design center, is one of them.

MASKS: The Great Christmas Stocking Stuffer of 2020

While masks started out as an unwanted piece of personal protective equipment, they’re now morphing into something else: a fashion statement.

Bloomington’s Best Bows!

At Tivoli Fashions, purchases come with a little something extra: complimentary gift wrapping by owner Cheryl Nichoalds that looks beautiful beneath the Christmas tree.

A Conversation With Dr. Pamela Whitten: Getting to Know IU’s 19th President

by Sophie Bird | Nov 30, 2021 | Features | 0

She is Indiana University’s first woman president in 201 years, but that’s not all that makes Dr. Pamela Whitten different.

Bloomington’s Latino Community: Proud, Compassionate, Hard-Working

by Sophie Bird | Nov 30, 2021 | Features | 1

As one person interviewed for this story explained, “If you’ve met one Latino … you’ve met one Latino.” That’s because to say someone is Hispanic or Latino tells little except that their family originates from a Spanish-speaking country.

Second Annual Freezefest Offers Seasonal Family Fun

by Sophie Bird | Jan 12, 2022 | Local News | 0

The second annual Freezefest will be held January 20–22 at multiple locations throughout downtown Bloomington and will offer ice sculpture displays, live ice-carving demonstrations by internationally renowned sculptors, and food trucks.

CanopyBloomington Establishes Roots with New Co-Directors and First Tree Planting

by Sophie Bird | Jan 11, 2022 | Local News | 0

Six-month old local social impact organization CanopyBloomington has found leadership to facilitate their mission to grow and sustainably manage Bloomington’s urban forest.

Community Foundation Commits $484,400 to New Hope for Families Expansion

by Sophie Bird | Jan 10, 2022 | Local News | 0

New Hope for Families announced new commitments totaling $484,400 from the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County in support of the Growing New Hope capital campaign.

Category: Fashion & Shopping

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