Rare November 2007

Amy Schalk loved shopping at boutiques, but she hated only being able to treat herself to one shirt or bauble at her favorite stores, so last November, she opened Soigné.

“I really wanted something that was a little more affordable,” Schalk says. “Pretty much everything I have is under two hundred dollars, and seventy- five percent of what I have is under one hundred.”

But, affordable isn’t the only operating principle at the store. Schalk also looks for quality and style, with an emphasis on the latter.

“I look for something that’s really quality that you could wear all the time, but that’s still stylish enough that you’re staying up with the trends.”

That dedication to style is apparent even in the store’s name.

“I picked Soigné because my parents picked the name,” Schalk says. “I love anything French. It means elegant or well-maintained, well-dressed.”

In picking merchandise for the Midtown Burnet Road shop, Schalk aims for pieces that are as wearable as they are fashionable – the kinds of things that become signature pieces and favorites. As the shop has settled into the neighborhood, Schalk has adjusted her inventory to fit the style of her
customers. Soigné now stocks a range of casual pieces with a few dresses and other fancy bits tossed in for good measure.

The shop itself is small, but orderly. Clothes line the walls, and purses, shoes and accessories are displayed on shelves within easy reach. All of the jewelry in Soigné is by local designers, including Foxy Fusion and Tracy Tenpenny.

Other Austin-based designers are featured prominently in the store. The collection of purses includes totes and handbags by Posh by Tori. And, Wisky Brand clothing and t-shirts are mixed in the racks with pieces by national and international lines including Voom, Hallé Bop, and Kensie Girl. Jeans
by Anoname and MEK fill a table near the center of the store. The shoes, like the other merchandise, combine style, quality, and price – none are over $100. Even as the inventory in Soigné changes and evolves, Schalk remains committed to providing an alternative to Austin’s higher-end shops.

“There’s a lot of great boutiques in Austin,” Schalk says, “But not a lot in this price range.”

Written By: Carly Kocurek