Uniquely You Boutique: A One-Stop Spot for Breast Cancer Fashion

Uniquely You Boutique, co-owned by sisters-in-law and Lakewood Ranch High School alumna Whitney Kitchens and Samantha Medred, was born out of a desire to help women.

“We both wanted to have a job helping people,” said Kitchens, who told Patch the boutique was inspired by her aunt’s mastectomy boutique in Pittsburgh. “When we came back from Pittsburgh and realized there was nothing like this around here, we thought ‘This is it.’”

Uniquely You, 707 60^th Ct St E., specializes in providing full breast forms, mastectomy bras and swimsuits for women who have undergone mastectomies and lumpectomies. Uniquely You also carries partial breast forms, and recently began working with Trulife, one of only two companies in the country that makes custom breast prostheses.

“A very common misconception is that reconstruction always looks just like the breast pre-surgery, but that isn’t always the case,” said Medred, a certified mastectomy fitter. “In instances like that, the partial breast forms are really great.”

The boutique carries a variety of options in weight, design, shape and size for everyday breast forms in foam and silicone, as well as breast forms specially designed for swim use. A wide selection of swimsuits with swim form pockets are available, as well as a selection of bras in a variety of styles.

“We carry at least two of every size, from AA to F, in every style so that every time a woman comes in, we can guarantee she won’t leave empty-handed,” Medred said.

The boutique carries drainage-friendly bra and camisole kits with breast puffs that women can wear from the hospital following surgery.

Kitchens and Medred sought the advice of friends who had mastectomies when they opened the boutique, opting for an intimate and cozy home-like setting with comfortable seating for clients and a generous pile of magazines to keep husbands and companions entertained while the ladies have their fittings and try on different garments.

“We don’t want women to feel like they’re walking into a doctor’s office or a retail space where they’re just a number,” Kitchens said.

“We really want the store to have that boutique feeling where each client gets one-on-one attention and walks away with something she’s happy with,” Medred added.

In addition to mastectomy-wear, Uniquely You offers eight styles of wigs, available in any color, as well as accessories and a line of skin care products that are designed for patients undergoing treatment for cancer.

Taking the advice of friends who underwent radiation and chemotherapy, Kitchens and Medred researched the best skincare products on the market, including aluminum-free deodorants and unscented moisturizing lotions.

“It’s been really helpful getting advice from our friends who have gone through treatment because they’re a great resource for the things we didn’t initially think about,” Medred said. “When we were getting started we carried some scented products, but then one of our friends mentioned how sensitive she was to different smells during treatment, so we keep the smelly stuff out of the boutique now.”

Uniquely You carries Lindi Skin products that are specially designed to replace the skin’s natural oils and soothe the burning and irritation that accompanies radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Medred and Kitchens both confess to using it for their own skin — as do their husbands, who use the lotion to soothe the cracked and bleeding hands they acquire in fishing tournaments.

“Our goal is to be a one-stop boutique for women with breast cancer,” said Kitchens, “but we carry quite a few products that could be very beneficial to anyone undergoing treatment.”

In the month since the boutique opened, they have already made memories. An elderly woman who recently came in for a fitting, put on her very own fashion show for her husband in the waiting area.

“She had so much fun trying on swimsuits and modeling them for her husband. Clients can do things like that here, and that’s what really sets us apart from doctors’ offices and other places women usually have to shop for mastectomy wear,” Kitchens said.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesday through Friday, and from noon to  6 p.m. on Tuesdays. Although scheduled appointments are preferred to guarantee best service, Uniquely You welcomes walk-ins at any time during business hours. Medred also does home fittings in both Sarasota and Manatee counties on alternating Mondays twice a month for clients who are unable to make it in to the boutique.

The boutique accepts Medicare, Aetna and several other insurance plans, and works with American Breast Care to provide breast forms free of charge for women who lack financial means.

Kitchens and Medred agree that the most rewarding part of their job is helping women feel good about their bodies during all stages of breast cancer, treatment and post-treatment.

“There is never a day when I wake up and think, ‘Oh no, I have to go to work,’” said Medred. “Every day feels really great.

To schedule a fitting at Uniquely You or for more information about products and services the boutique offers, call 941-243-37856 or email appointment@uniquelyyouflorida.com.