Archived: May 10, 2006

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Milwaukee’s newest diva

Fred Boutique tailors to young, sassy, female clientele

By Katie Schmitt

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Milwaukee divas have a new love interest who gives them everything they want: free cocktails, pampering and lots of cute clothes.

His name is Fred, and he’s the new kid on the block on Water Street just south of the Third Ward.

Fred is Milwaukee’s newest clothing boutique for young women, young being the key word here. The clothes are skimpy, sassy and clingy — what a gal in her late teens or early 20s might wear for a night out clubbing or a hot date.

This long and narrow boutique is an explosion of color, upbeat music and feminine delights. The lounge in the front of the store has every women’s interest magazine imaginable and a refrigerator containing bottles of wine is not far away.

Fred calls itself “Milwaukee’s first affordable women’s boutique.” Obviously, owners Ron Krinn and Clai Green don’t know about Ma Jolie, Three Graces and Moxy, which offer more variety, clearance items, and clothes and accessories that appeal to wider demographics of customers.

Still, Milwaukee needs more boutiques like Fred that gear fashions and events to young, funky females who refuse to pay a lot of money for clothes they may be too modest to wear years later.

And Fred doesn’t just offer sexy little outfits and dresses, it carries cute fitted T-shirts and tank tops, cargo capris, jeans and unique printed tops as well.

Women who don’t want to worry about running into someone wearing the same outfit will find security shopping here. Fred carries very few of the same item, so whether your size is available or not is the luck of the draw.

It’s martini night every last Thursday of the month. From 6 to 10 p.m., Fred offers ladies martinis, makeovers, massages and manicures. Complimentary wine is served in the evenings other nights of the week as well.

Fred still has some kinks to work out, like offering a better selection of handbags and accessories, and adding more color to the walls. And what women’s boutique gets away with not having any shoes?

Most items cost between $20 and $60, and brands include Deep, Fumblin’ Foe, Collective Clothing and Dolce Vita. If you want to feel like you belong in an early episode of “Sex and the City,” click your stiletto heels over to Fred.

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Fred Boutique 524 N. Water St. 273-3733 Hours: Mon.-Wed.: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Thurs.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sun.: Noon-6 p.m.

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