After spending nine years in the world of corporate finance, Bree Reed took some of her knowledge of economics to create a business for which she felt a stronger passion: clothing for full-figured women. She did her homework, prepared a business plan, took classes and found an investor before opening Buxom Women + Fashion, in the Lower Highland neighborhood. Tonight she hosts a grand-opening party. “Plus-size women are left out of boutique shopping, so I wanted to change that,” says Reed, 33, who wears a size 16 and purchased most of her clothing online before opening her store.
“I live in the neighborhood, so when I found a storefront with a for-lease sign in the window, it was perfect,” she said.
She stocks sportswear, jeans, career clothes and dresses in size 12 to 28, with prices going from $20 to about $200. Buxom also carries accessories, and the merchandise mix changes regularly.
When it came to what to call the store, the name Buxom was suggested by a friend, and Reed loved it. “I wanted something kind of sassy, racy but not in-your-face. I was trying to think of a simple way to portray a curvaceous woman.” She wants to appeal to women from their early 20s on up. ” I have stuff my mom and grandmother would wear,” says Reed. Buxom grand opening, 5-9 p.m. today; hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, music, models and prizes, 1535 Platte St., 303-477-3095, . Suzanne S. Brown
