Find Your Personal Style at Local Boutique Leela & Lavender

by Erin Graney | Dec 2019

A woman models clothing from leela & lavender.

Photos: Rachel Nadeau

Boutique helps customers find their style and build a modern wardrobe.

If someone asked you to describe your personal style, could you? Whether you lean toward bohemian, classic, edgy, wishy-washy, just washed or just pretty sure you haven’t already worn that this week—there’s just so much to consider. For those of us more familiar with hot chocolate than haute couture, there’s always the option of using a personal stylist.

Leela & Lavender in Maple Grove offers free personal styling sessions, so I decided to give it a go. To sign up, visit the website and fill out a form, which includes some basic questions (sizing, clothing needs and scheduling). A stylist will reach out to make an appointment. I met Angie Sunde, director of style and relationship catalyst.

Angie Sunde, a stylist at leela & lavender, helps a woman try on a pair of boots.

“My favorite thing is helping all women look and feel their best self,” Sunde says. “It is so rewarding to help women try new things that they might not have otherwise grabbed off the rack and see the excitement on their faces when they fall in love with it.” Sunde put me at ease and showed me to a fitting room, filled with several complete outfits and included Sunde’s top three basic pieces: great jeans, a basic white T-shirt and a good belt. I tried on my first outfit, Spanx pull-on pants, a breezy blouse and an oversized black car coat—which I immediately became obsessed with.

Sunde tended to size changes and brought in additional items during the session. Items included a pair of super comfy Democracy jeans, a chunky cropped sweater from Billabong and Sorel wedge booties, among other items. It took about 20 minutes, and I loved almost everything I tried on, even though Sunde’s style differs from mine. (She describes herself as street chic, loves to layer and invest in timeless pieces. I describe my style as “wearing a lot of black.”) And yes, I bought the black jacket and went outside my comfort zone by nabbing the Sorel wedges in the color “quarry.”