MalibuFox boutique opens on University Parkway

MalibuFox is now open at 5275 University Parkway.
CHARLES SCHELLE/Bradenton Herald

A women's fashion boutique whose clothes were featured in Neiman Marcus is now open on University Parkway.

Danielle Garrow, fashion designer and owner, opened MalibuFox on Monday inside the University Park Center/Market at University Town Center. The store is across from Kohl's at 5275 University Parkway, Suite 103.

"It feels good, like a sigh of relief," Garrow said inside her shop Tuesday. "Now it's finally here."

I talked to the Lakewood Ranch resident in April when she signed her lease about her passion for fashion:

Garrow's eclectic collection is inspired by Southwest Native American themes and colors and a Malibu beach vibe, she said.
"I kind of design for the Bohemian beach babe kind-of-girl," she said. That style led her to luxury department store Neiman Marcus, which ordered her line last year, a surprising deal so early in her career. The experience opened her eyes to big department store demands.
"Working with big stores is an amazing opportunity and a lot of work goes into it," Garrow said. "It's something I'm definitely not ruling out."

A grand opening celebration is set for Aug. 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the store. It will include food, giveaways and Garrow will unveil her own line of clothes.

In the meantime, she's carrying brands such as WildFox, BB Dakota, Lovers+Friends, Yumi Kim and LA Made.

The store hours are initially 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and once her staff is solidified, she expects to be open until 7 p.m. Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m.

For more, call 941-312-2439 or visit www.malibufoxshop.com and Facebook.com/MalibuFox.

Bealls expands Leoma Lovegrove line

 The Leoma Lovegrove line is expanding at Bealls starting this month. Photos provided

I'm not an expert in ladies fashion, and barely passable for men's fashion, but I acknowledge that people follow Leoma Lovegrove and her Florida art.

So with that, Bealls Department Store, headquartered in Bradenton, announced that it is expanding the impressionist-expressionist painter's splashy, kitschy artwork into more products. You'll see her bright designs on Tervis tumblers, pillows, beach towels, koozies, handbags, children's apparel, luggage, and the list seems to go on.

The initial wave of merchandise will arrive in stores this month and the full line will come in January.

"Earlier this year we introduced the Leoma Lovegrove collection in our Ladies department with an assortment of fashion tops. Our customers responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, and we listened," said Lorna Nagler, president of Bealls in a in a news release.

Lovegrove lives on Matlatcha Island, a tiny piece of land between Pine Island and Cape Coral in Lee County and also likes to paint local life plus the local cat Fred, according to her clothing labels.

A sample shirt was sent to the Herald in a press skit, showing that the shirt retails for $36, is 100 percent polyester (it feels soft), and made in China. This particular shirt features flamingos with a sign that says "You've been Flocked." Ok, then.

I had reporter Janey Tate model the sample, and we found that because of the printing process on the shirt, as soon as the material is stretched, you will see white distressed lines that split the artwork. That might not be desirable for some shoppers while others will seek out that design.

For more information, visit www.leomalovegrove.com and www.beallsflorida.com.