FASHIONS FINEST Words by Erin Peterson | Photography by Kensie Wallner Photography
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anuary 2016 has marked the six-year anniversary that Kristi Larkin took over the infamous Laurie’s boutique. Although Kristi has owned Laurie’s for short of a decade, her love of fashion began in her single digit years. She is arguably one of the most stylish women in the Fargo/Moorhead area and has a personality that can make any woman believe that the new Joseph Ribkoff wrap dress was made for her. As a little girl, Kristi recalls playing dress up in her pajamas, twisting the nighttime staple into varying outfits and modeling them for her family, who she tells me was her main influence in the decision to go into the fashion industry. She accessorized her Barbie dolls, not knowing that she was actually grooming herself to one day accessorize her clients. Needless to say, Kristi’s first calling came at a time when most of us were just learning how to read. Although it’s clear that Kristi knew exactly where her heart was, that’s not to say that she didn’t waver. When the decision came at eighteen to choose a career path, she initially pursued several majors and universities before finishing her education at NDSU with a degree in apparel and textiles. Kristi realized her values were focused on family, getting a good education, and ultimately realizing that she could be offered those opportunities at home. 48
Throughout college, Kristi worked at Laurie’s as the previous owner’s right hand, not knowing that she was being groomed to one day take over the business. Having fallen in love with the small boutique atmosphere, her passion would never stifle. However upon graduation, Kristi took a job in Minneapolis as a buyer for Dayton’s. Being a buyer had always been an aspiration for Kristi, an “I’ve made it” declaration, but working in a corporate environment necessarily wasn’t. She missed the satisfaction that she got by creating intimacy with customers at Laurie’s and wasn’t fond of the “rat race” that consisted of a metropolitan city. She soon moved home and couldn’t be happier to return to her roots. Kristi initially took a job selling clerical office personal where she gained the candidacy for pharmaceutical sales. Although she was able to give her hand a try at business and sales, her passion still
burned for the fashion industry. As fate would have it, Kristi received a call in March of 2008 from Laurie who was offering her the opportunity to take over the business where she first got her start. Kristi was eager at the opportunity, but with one suggestion in mind… that Laurie’s would consider relocation out of the mall. As Kristi was raising a young daughter, she understandably didn’t want to work the typical later nights that come with mall hours. With Laurie’s understanding in mind, she was able to get out of her mall lease and Kristi jumped in with both feet, spending her first year and a half alongside Laurie as she was preparing to take over the business after 25 years. Kristi told me that she credits much of her success to the people she surrounds herself with and is incredibly thankful to have such a positive