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Boutique owner aims to put Denver on the ‘fashion map’

Some women are born with the fashion gene, while others have to work at being stylish. No matter where the women of Denver fall in this spectrum, Lauren (Hachmeister) Metz (BSBA’02) says her new boutique, Delish Demure, has something for everyone.

As a DU marketing student, she traveled to London, where she worked for Burberry. Although she was born with an eye for fashion, it was this experience that solidified her career path and her “fix for fashion.”

Fast forward to August 2008. Armed with other fashion retail experience and a business plan that was two years in the making, Metz opened a boutique in the Denver Tech Center’s Belleview Promenade.

“I didn’t want to move to New York or L.A. I wanted to develop my own store to put Denver on the [fashion] map,” she says.

She’s well on her way. Traveling to Dallas, New York and L.A. four to six times a year to keep with the trends, Metz says that Delish Demure offers fashion that can’t be found in this region, such as designer Alvin Valley, whom “all the stars wear.” In order to appeal to a wide demographic, prices range from $100–$300 for most items, although certain items can go as high as $500.

Metz also is proud of the fashion consulting and wardrobe design the store offers. Taking each woman’s lifestyle into account—whether she’s looking for work, play or night—a fashion consultant can create a “Lookbook,” which illustrates what styles go best with her body type. And if customers don’t have the time to shop, a wardrobe can be put together on their way to the store.

In addition, a borrow-a-bag-program offers customers the chance to strut around town with high-end designer bags, such as Valentino, Prada and Jimmy Choo, for $50 for a 24-hour period. Friends can get together to eat, drink and have fun while also getting fashion tips at “Indulgence Parties,” which are offered after store hours.

The name of the store is meant to be fun and playful as well. It’s bringing the styles of Marilyn Monroe—Delish—together with the styles of Audrey Hepburn—Demure—and adding a little chocolate (which is available to sample and purchase) to make it taste good. Metz adds, “It’s the most delicious chocolate you’ve had in your life.”

Metz had a desire to reach out help women “feel good about themselves” and says that owning a boutique was a way to marry this desire with fashion and business.

While there are certain things she says “classes can’t teach,” Metz is clear that owning her own business wouldn’t have been possible without the basic business background she got at DU. Having a support network helped her prepare for the rest.

So far, the first month of business has been great, she says, and there “haven’t been too many surprises.”

[Editor’s note: This story was updated to correct a typo. We regret the mistake.]

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