Women of
Style Despite their far-flung backgrounds, these women from Delray boutiques truly share a passion for fashion. By Chelsea Greenwood
december/january
Caroline Delafield, owner
Periwinkle, 339 E. Atlantic Ave., 561/279-9699, periwinkleonline.com
Loyal customers of Periwinkle describe a pervasive sense of joy and well-being in the bright downtown boutique. “We call it the ‘Periwinkle’ bubble,” says Caroline “Carrie” Delafield. “People have started to come in and say that they come here to feel good, which is the ultimate compliment. We want it to be people’s happy place.” That place has its roots in Delafield’s three girls, who were all born within three years. Leveraging her background in law and marketing (including time with Priceline and the Chicago Bulls—she has the championship ring to prove it), Delafield started a children’s clothing company, with a focus on monogramming, in her former Connecticut home. “Then Mommy started to want to shop for herself,” she says. “Now it’s 99 percent women’s. So Periwinkle has grown up.”
Now in Delray for six years (and a little over a year in its current spot), the shop brims with color and bold prints, from the wearable apparel and Florida-perfect home goods to the jaw-dropping selection of jewelry. “We really have something special for everyone,” Delafield says. Trends for The uPCominG year: “I cannot believe how much neon is still coming out—and tons of silk.” favoriTe ParT of The joB: “I get really excited when people put something on and they feel good. It gives me great satisfaction. It makes me really genuinely happy.” defininG delray sTyle: “It’s beachy and colorful—a casual, elegant chic. They use their fashion as an outlet of expression, but they don’t overthink it. That’s why Periwinkle has been so fortunate to do so well. I think we’ve hit on something. We’re kind of classic with an edge. The things you can get here you can see keeping for a long time, and there are trendy accessories that you put with it. But overall you feel good in them.”
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