Sweetleaf Boutique Mixes it Up

From an early age, Livia Cooper's daughters had a distinct love of fashion.

"Sometimes I wanted to put a sign up that said 'I had nothing to do with this,'" Cooper said. "If I dropped them off at nursery school they could tell when the girls dressed themselves."

Fast-forward to 2010, and Cooper and her daughters, Kelli Melucci and Randi Vogel, are the proprietors of a pair of Sweetleaf Boutique clothing shops, one in East Setauket and one in Latham, near Albany.

The trio has always loved fashion and shopping, and while Three Village has a number of clothing stores, some featuring high-end lines, they have found a niche for themselves selling unique pieces and accessories for around $100 or less.

"We love shopping but we were never bazillionaires," Melucci said. "We definitely want the quality so we wouldn't just try to be a bargain basement... As long as the quality's there, then we keep under $100."

Denim at Sweetleaf usually costs between $66 and $88. Summer dresses start at  around $40.

The store caters to women between the ages of 18 and "ageless," as Melucci says, who want an original look and feel to their wardrobe. Cooper, Melucci and Vogel do the buying together for their stores, attending trade shows and visiting showrooms, which is how the store is able to attract such a diverse demographic.

Sweetleaf originated in 2006 a few doors down from its current location. The family moved the business to 240 Main Street in East Setauket in 2008, citing the need for a better location with more parking for customers. Melucci says their new home has helped increase both traffic and sales.

"Our first location was a lot harder to notice from the street," she said. "We were kind of an afterthought. We did move mainly for the attention."

Sweetleaf also hosts trunk shows, charity events, and parties, with a special tie dye event from Say La Vie coming up this Thursday, August 12. And then there's the matter of customer service: Melucci is willing to stay open later for customers who can't shop during normal store hours. She's even made house calls.

"I'll bring stuff to your house if you want to try it on off-hours," she said. "I've gone and seen people's closets...If you show me something, I'll show you 15 different things to wear with it or seven things to do with it."

Sweetleaf's fall line is on its way; fall and spring are the store's two biggest seasons. During the December holidays, the store tends to sell more accessories like scarves, bags, and jewelry. But regardless of season, Melucci describes the store as casual and comfortable.

"When you're comfortable is when you look your best," she said.