Zia Boutique: An Opportunity For More Fashion

On a Wednesday morning, the owner of Zia Clothing Outlet, Karen Kostigen, chats with a jewelry supplier while she encourages a loyal customer to “touch” a recently acquired silk jacket hanging in the newly added space of the shop.

“It was unique opportunity,” said Kostigen, who wears all the hats of the boutique shop: owner, buyer and, in a sense, personal shopper. 

Kostigen calls herself an opportunity buyer to describe the way she picks out the designer items that she buys as samples or overstock from New York City and local showrooms that will be shown her shop for almost half the price or less.

And she took the opportunity when the former Crumpets closed up shop next to her on the Trapelo Road side of Cushing Square.

“I didn’t want a double size store. I wanted it to be small and intimate and the owner of Stories wanted a small annex store here, so I took the back and she took the front.”

The extra room has allowed Kostigen to spread out and remove some of the racks that could have obstructed the shopper’s flow.

Although she added a bit more stock, she kept the shopping experience in the forefront when making the business decision on how to use the extra room.

As she is always in the store getting to know her customer and their style likes and preferences is essential. 

“I wanted to keep it intimate … I didn’t want it to be a warehouse,” she explained that the store is still cozy with a bit more “elbow room.” 

 She used the clearer space to consider how the woman she dresses, mostly in the  30 to 50 age range, shops. 

“With the racks off the floor, it gives a sense of calmness, and gives a feeling of wanting to linger on a little more and a its also place where women can contemplate,” she said.

Women can make it a full-blown shopping experience to ponder which item to purchase next: the chunky sized jewelry, the colorful winter gloves overflowing in a vintage hat box or the eye catching lace panties that come in a variety of colors that would add a spark to any day.

Kostigen bought the space in Cushing Square about seven years ago and opened in June 2004.

She chose Cushing Square for its vibrancy, family friendliness and ability to accommodate baby strolling moms, as well as the characteristic of the vintage style building with tin ceilings and wooden floors.

“There’s something about Cushing Square … I love the location,” she said.

A picture of her three children – two in college and one in high school – that she lovingly calls the “three amigos” hangs on the wall behind the counter and jewelry display. 

A wonder woman of business, she manages most aspects of the boutique. She is in the shop five days a week to greet and assist customers and is the sole buyer for the accessories and clothing, yet she is home for dinner every night, except on the popular boutique theme nights that often include tarot cards, wine and cheese.

“I do it. It’s is a challenge but I do it,” she said,

The shop is closed on Monday’s so that Kostigen can be out in the market visualizing the latest trends and styles and bringing her favorite picks back to the customers that have grown with her through they years.

“When I first started here I had customer’s that were not even engaged. So I saw them through dating, engagement, the wedding and the baby,” Kostigen beamed in telling how she dressed customer’s through their lives.

And if you are looking for something in particular Kostigen has been known to bring back goods and special items for the special woman.

Zia Clothing Outlet

91 Trapelo Rd.

(617) 484-5525

Store Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.