A unique selection of clothing and accessories aimed at young girls all the way up to great-grandmothers are part of the fun at the Mixed Bag, a woman’s lifestyle boutique in the Wellington Marketplace.
Providing a shopping experience with a beautiful, Palm Beach feel, the team of Johnatha Gorin, Kathy Miller and Tracey Gorin-Byrne are passionate about the quality and styling of their women’s clothing and gift merchandise.
Miller explained that the store not only offers women’s dresses by local and national designers, but also a unique and charmingly fresh selection of other clothing, accessories, jewelry and gifts.
With a constant update to the items offered, the rich colors allow any woman to wear stylish fashions to a fancy polo match, horse show, golf outing, tennis game or even a trip to the beach.
The Mixed Bag has everything a fashionable female needs, featuring brands for all ages, including Gretchen Scott, Whimsy Rose, Barbara Erickson, Barbara Gerwit, Jude Connally, Oliphant, Ibkul, Love Lilly and more.
“Gretchen Scott is a New York based designer,” explained Miller, recommending her dresses, tunics and well-made pants. “They are very easy to clean and stretchy.”
All are also easy to wash on a light cycle, and everything is nicely weighted for Florida. “Great for travel, all of the fabrics in our stores are extraordinarily easy — wash, drip-and-dry care — and, not much ironing necessary,” Miller said. “It would be your choice to dry clean any of the clothing.”
The store has many repeat clients who drop by frequently.
“The women in Wellington are very happy with us because there is nothing like this, here in Wellington,” Miller said. “We will often give a customer who asks a phone call if something comes in that they particularly enjoy. They like the personal service. We take great pride and enjoy helping each of our customers.”
The clothing is pretty and a nice weight for riding, golf or tennis; with knit fabrics and close cuts, which are very slimming.
“Equestrians love the riding shirts because they are well-made and SPF 50,” Miller said. “They love to buy stylish clothing to go watch polo or Saturday Night Lights. We are a great place to find that wonderful outfit. Often, equestrians are too busy with their competitions to shop, and this is a great place, close-by, to come for great clothing to spice it up.”
That convenience factor for equestrians is how the Mixed Bag began some 16 years ago, when Gorin started selling well-made clothing on the east coast horse show circuit with all sorts of accessories. She set up shop at the Winter Equestrian Festival and now the store has year-round locations in Wellington, Jupiter, and Mystic, Conn.
About seven years ago, Miller joined the team.
“I started working at the horse show at WEF. It’s a great experience here in Wellington,” she said. “I’m passionate about this store because I just love people, and I love the color. You make such good friends by working here in Wellington. I have been in retail my whole life, and I like meeting the sales reps and learning about the companies and their backgrounds. I think it’s important to know the companies, to support them and to trust in their products.”
People with active lifestyles also admire the merchandise. “Golfers love the skorts [athletic skirts with shorts], the sun shirts and the Judy P tops, because they can go from golf or tennis to lunch, and then to the grocery store if need be, and still look really nice,” Miller said.
The Mixed Bag provides everyday essentials, as well as amazing gift items for Florida friends, things for the beach and things for the home, children’s clothing and toys, beach hats with colorful ribbons, wonderful mats for keeping the sand out of the house and so much more.
“We have all sorts of gifts, cocktail napkins, baseball hats, kids’ clothing for girls with all sorts of color and gifts for all ages,” Miller said. “We mostly have women come in. However, we do at times get husbands and men looking for that great gift for their wife or daughter. It’s a store to buy for little girls all the way up to great-grandmothers.”
Other items include well-made rain jackets with a unique sense of style for Florida showers, as well as fun tea towels, insulated cups and home wear, made in France.
Whether you are looking for a gift, something to wear to a special occasion, or you just love to shop, the team at the Mixed Bag can help you find something special.
Check out the store’s web site at www.shopthemixedbag.com for upcoming Sip-N-Shop events that take place during the winter season. The next Sip-N-Shop will be Tuesday, March 27 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5 p.m., the Mixed Bag is located in the Wellington Marketplace at 13837 Wellington Trace. For more information, call (561) 795-8976.
