Fashion made fun

MARSHALL - Coming soon to the Marshall area: a grand opening for Urban Hollywood, a quaint little boutique offering a mixture of trendy new fashion and old Hollywood legends.

Owner Peggy Lamote, who opened Urban Hollywood around Valentine's Day, said she is excited about the store's potential, pointing out that the variety of merchandise would continue to grow with its customers.

"We'll have a mixture of Hollywood legends and New Age stuff," Lamote said. "And I'll keep getting stuff in. I'm open to opinions if someone wants something specific."

So far, the boutique, which is located inside the Bot Appliance & Electronics store on West Main Street in Marshall, offers trendy women's clothing, including shirts, skirts and L.A. idol jeans, and jewelry, belts, bags, scarves and hair pieces.

"I want it to be an upbeat and fun place," Lamote said. "I tried to get trendy stuff, but also a variety. I especially wanted to keep prices affordable for everybody."

Lamote also has 10 prom dresses for sale in addition to a small selection of high-heeled shoes.

"It's fun to dress up," she said. "I wanted to be able to supply people with clothes for the special events that come up."

Lamote hopes to order clothing specific to the seasons or holidays, as well as for events like Snow Week or Homecoming. She also wants her sparkly dressing room area to be a fun place for people to enjoy while trying on clothing.

"Some events are getting more formal," she said. "It gets people away from the jeans and ready for the work world. Urban Hollywood, right on Main, is just an all-around boutique."

Lamote has always had a love and respect for classic Hollywood movie stars, which is why she wanted to incorporate that concept into her new store. A cardboard replica of Dorothy and Toto will great customers at the door. People can also find a variety of products, such as glassware, magnets and coasters, of stars or characters like Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe and Betty Boop.

"I wanted to have fun with fashion and old legends," Lamote said.

For a number of years, Lamote worked out of her home in Marshall, doing bookwork for multiple companies. When businesses cut back, Lamote found herself looking for new employment opportunities. It's when she realized she missed face time with the public.

"I found myself without a job because of the economy," she said. "I wanted more than just a job. I wanted to provide something to the community."

Lamote said the idea of showcasing Hollywood stars kept creeping up from the back of her mind. For more than 30 years, Lamote has carried around a well-kept scrapbook containing pictures of countless black-and-white beauties, including Ann Margaret, Elvis, John Wayne and Ricky Nelson.

"I loved the legends things," she said. "And, the admiration of it keeps going on, whether it's our generation or theirs. It's for all ages, from little kids to grandmas and grandpas. It's what we all watch today. It's fun to reminisce."

Lamote's daughter Arica is also attending college, pursuing a degree in business management.

"Arica helps decorate and rearrange in the store when she can," Lamote said. "This venture allows me to have a job, but I also look at it as allowing an opportunity to give someone else a job in the future."

Urban Hollywood also has body piercing jewelry and perfume available.

"People have told me that they don't have anywhere else they can get the jewelry around here," Peggy Lamote said. "I order from different companies and I'll keep getting stuff in."

In the near future, Lamote is also planning to designate a corner for visitors to the area. She'll also be getting in summer clothing.

Urban Hollywood is currently open Tuesday through Saturday. Customers can also look forward to the grand opening in the near future.