Today we’d like to introduce you to Marilyn Harris and Regina Wittenberg.
Marilyn and Regina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Regina and I both had a great interest in vintage clothing, furs, jewelry and accessories. We met at the antique mall and decided to merge. My background is history and I taught gifted and talented in Plano and my students enjoyed the articles of clothing I brought in for the different periods from my collection. I began selling to the public in McKinney in 2000. I specialized and still do in vintage jewelry and I have the largest collection I have ever seen in all my travels. I have hundreds of pieces displayed by color in my front booth at the mall. I enjoy the study of costume jewelry and love talking to various lady’s groups about the history of jewelry and how it parallels with the golden years of the fashion industry. And that is how I branched out into the fashions and accessories. Meeting Regina was quite lucky as she shares the same interest. She is professionally a seamstress and all parts of sewing and construction in that field. Our boutique can offer our customers custom alterations by a real expert in vintage fashions. A few years ago, we added vintage furs to our inventory. My father in law was a furrier and I have friends in the business so all of our furs are of the finest quality. Regina can take a customer’s old fur and turn it into a handbag, laptop case, hat or Teddy bear. Regina custom designs head pieces for weddings out of vintage materials as well as making over dresses or coats to fit a new generation. Our clothing spans 1930’s to 1980’s with a heavy emphasis on mid-century (1940’s 50’s 60’s). Our clothing is classic and will fit very nicely in any modern wardrobe. We have that one of a kind jaw dropping special occasion gown that no one else will have as well as everyday career wear to cruise wear. Our lingerie sections have gowns and robes from the 1930’s to the 1970’s. Our selections of hats span the 1920’s through 1980. In addition to jewelry both Regina and I are collectors of classic vintage handbags from turn of the century to more modern designer. We have had handbags owned by Phyllis Diller and a dress owned by Helen Hayes and a suit by ice skater Sonja Henie. In 2013, I retired from teaching to work and travel in the vintage world. We do style shows in our Tea Room, The Chocolate Angel while ladies sip a delicious high tea. One of our favorite things is to help our customers find the right outfit for their special occasion from bride to bride guest to mother of the bride we have a great selection. Last summer we helped with a wedding. The bride was wearing her grandmother’s wedding gown and she wanted each of her brides maids to wear a dress from a different decade complete with the costume jewelry and all. It was great fun. Our customers are looking for quality in the construction and fabrics and enjoy wearing good clothes that make them look and feel good. We have fabrics that they no longer make and the construction is of the highest quality. Lately there has been a renewed interest in quality of fabric and workmanship and think twice before giving away a good item. They come to Regina to redesign and repurpose the item so it can continue to be part of the wardrobe. I love to travel to shows and auctions to find vintage items. I enjoy writing and lecturing about the golden age of fashion. It is always fun to help a young lady purchase her first prom dress, or a mother of a bride finds that one of a kind outfit.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Retail business is never a smooth road. It is always a challenge to find good items at reasonable prices for our customers. Both Regina and I are Cancer survivors and we have both lost our husbands. These life events have been challenges but we have been able to lean against each other and move forward. Today our greatest challenge has been the down turn in the retail clothing market. People are just not spending the money they used to and they are not going out as much. We continue to provide quality items and enjoy teaching about the history of fashion
Please tell us about Chic Cherie Vintage Boutique at High Street Antique Mall.
We specialize in vintage fashions, furs, hats handbags and jewelry. We have fabulous hats for all kinds of occasions and our customers seek them for Kentucky Derby, Mad Hatters, Red Hats, weddings. bridal luncheons, and more. We have found gowns for people to war to award ceremonies, for album covers as well as life cycle events. Our service sets us apart. We provide custom tailoring using vintage materials to keep the integrity of the piece. We provide a connection to fur repair and storage. Most of all we have a good time helping our customers look their best and those who are collectors we enjoy helping them find the special treasures they seek. We also purchase quality vintage items
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I was lucky to grow up during the golden age of fashion and my mother and my aunts loved to dress in the latest they could find at the best prices. When one of my mother’s sisters came to visit us, she would insist on my mother dressing my sister and I up. We wore socks with ruffles, hats and gloves and were swept off to the Zodiac Room at Neiman’s Downtown to have lunch and view the fashion show. We received our lessons in proper manners while viewing the finest fashions of the day. I remember my mother and my aunts dressed up with costume jewelry, alligator bags and their fur stoles and those images have stuck with me and influence me in my business.
Contact Info:
- Address: High Street Antique Mall. 800 N Central Expressway, Plano, Texas 75074
- Website: chiccheriboutique.com
- Phone: High Street 972-509-7878. Marilyn 972-998- 2855. Regina 214- 794-3117
- Email: vintagechiccherie@gmail.com and GINAW42@gmail.com
- Facebook: Chic Cherie Vintage
Image Credit:
Marilyn Harris
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Bonnie J Hines
June 22, 2017 at 3:09 am
Marilyn is my cousin and I am so proud of her and her choices of careers. Her mom, our Aunties and Grandmother dressed like grand ladies. I think the girls in our families followed suit! Your boutique looks wonderful and I would fall in love with many items! Best of luck in continued good sales and the enjoyment in what you are doing. I hope to come visit some day.