WS Chronicle

The first thing that probably comes to mind when you think about a boutique is high priced items with a limited selection to choose from. About two years ago, Phyllis Westerlund set out to change that narrative while also creating a safe space where women can feel comfortable while shopping. 

After working in education for over 20 years, in 2021 Westerlund decided it was time for a career change. “My daughter had just graduated from high school and my son was going into his senior year and I was teaching and that was not it. I did not want to teach,” she said. Westerlund said after giving it some thought she reached out to her close friend Carol Crook and asked if she wanted to open a plus-size boutique. 

“She said, let me pray about it and I’ll let you know. She let me know the next day and we got the ball rolling really fast,” Westerlund said. “We opened in my garage in September 2021 and we opened our first store front in December 2021.”

Westerlund and Crook said there aren’t many places in the area that cater to plus-size women and at times that can be frustrating. Crook said the need for a plus-size boutique became even more apparent during the pandemic. Most shopping had to be done online as most fitting rooms in department stores were closed. 

“I can’t just go in some place and pick something out because there’s a good chance it’s not going to fit me like I think. I really need to try everything on,” Crook continued. “And when I couldn’t, I bought maybe a few things online and I had to return every last one of them. So we wanted to create a place where women can actually come and try on the clothes.”

“As a plus-size woman, I knew there were other plus-size women who felt the same way I did,” Westerlund said. “We were confident in our products and we were confident in ourselves. I think if you put people and community first then everything else will fall in line.”

Putting the community first is what sets The Curvy Fox (TCF) apart from other boutiques and clothing stores. Both Westerlund and Crook said their goal is to make everyone who walks through the door feel good about themselves. TCF also hosts a weekly live stream where customers can get a sneak peek of what’s inside. 

“We believe big is beautiful, big is sexy, and we want women to quit looking at themselves the way the media wants to portray them,” Crook said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a 1X or a 6X, you still have value, you’re still beautiful, and Phyllis and I are trying so hard to bring that variety to our store.”

When shopping for items for TCF, Westerlund and Crook said they like to keep a lot of different styles and items for every occasion. Their motto is, “We go from Saturday night to Sunday morning and everything in between.” TCF can also order items to fit your specific taste. At times it can be hard to find vendors who carry quality clothing for plus-size women, but they’ve learned how to sift through vendors and separate the ones who can meet their needs from those who can’t. 

Ellen Forbes, founder of the One Love Strong Foundation and the Forsyth County Entertainment Awards, is a regular at The Curvy Fox. Forbes said no matter if she’s looking for a gown for the annual awards ceremony or a pair of jeans, TCF is always her first stop. She said it’s like having your own personal stylist. 

“Over half of my wardrobe is from here,” said Forbes when discussing The Curvy Fox. “I just don’t feel as comfortable in other places as I do here.”

Staying true to their commitment to the community, on Saturday, Sept. 2, The Curvy Fox will host the Starry Night Adult Prom at the SEG Jr. Conference Center. Tickets for the event are $40 and include dinner. All proceeds from the event will go toward three local nonprofits: One Love Strong, Just Hope, and Smiley’s Sweets. 

To stay up to date with the latest in fashion and to find out more about the Starry Night Adult Prom, be sure to follow The Curvy Fox on Facebook and visit the website at www.thecurvyfox boutique.com.