Besos Boutique Has ‘Something in Every Size for Every Budget’

Besos Boutique Has ‘Something in Every Size for Every Budget’

By Andrea Hine, Contributing Writer

“La Pine has all different types of people, with tastes ranging from camo wear to faux suede jackets,” described Victoria Medrano Ozolins, whose new women’s clothing shop, Besos Boutique, aims to attract the entire range with “something in every size (from XS to 3X) and every budget.”

Also featuring accessories and a soon-to-be-expanded selection of shoes (“If the shoe fits, you have to buy it,” she joked), Besos Boutique reflects Ozolins’ fashion sense that was honed by working in the San Francisco Bay Area for 25 years in the legal field – and, naturally, spending a portion of that shopping. (“Me and Ann Taylor [a classic women’s apparel brand] were best friends,” claimed Ozolins.)

“I started to sell clothes online in 2014,” she recalled, “initially featuring just my own items and those of my friends, and then expanding my stock by buying from other sources. We were so successful that our garage and various rooms in our home soon overflowed with goods.”

Ozolins then transitioned to purchasing “big truck loads from Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale’s that filled our driveway with pallets” until, a decade later, she and her husband “grew tired of the rat race, and decided to move somewhere more peaceful and affordable.”

Bend, although she had “loved the town 15 – 20 years ago,” was no longer an option, so they came to La Pine seven years ago for the “space and quiet it offered – I feel like we have a park for a yard.”

While Ozolins had envisioned living contentedly in retirement, she started feeling “cabin feverish, especially as I wasn’t able to see my children and grandchildren who live in San Francisco and Los Angeles because of Covid.

“I got to know Kim Harty (owner of The Beauty Bar), who suggested I open a clothing boutique in space adjoining the salon.” And thanks to the labor of their respective husbands, it was transformed into a welcoming and cozy shop whose name (“besos” means kisses in Spanish) is a nod to Ozolins’ Hispanic heritage.

“Response from the community has been tremendous,” she said, “with my Facebook page attracting as many as 7,500 views a week. Customers regularly tell me that ‘this is just what we need in La Pine.’

“I couldn’t be happier, as I’m doing what I like,” affirmed Ozolins, “and I encourage everyone to “come shop with us and our fun pieces at the best-dressed store in town!”

(Besos Boutique is located at 51470 U.S. 97, #3A. Tel: 541.649-2929)

As retirement made her feel “cabin feverish,” Victoria Medrano Ozolins accepted an offer to open a women’s clothing boutique.

In addition to clothing suiting a range of tastes, the boutique features accessories and a soon-to-be-expanded selection of shoes.

Victoria Medrano Ozolins jokingly claims that “if the shoe fits, you have to buy it!”