WHITMAN — Ariel Koonce Fortes’ passion for fashion and motivation to start her own business began with her balance of home and work life, the result is Fashion Fun Pop — a unique boutique carrying some of the hottest trends — in a small, local and lovely location only a dash from your front door.
Owners Ariel Koonce Fortes and her husband Paul have been in business for four years and have been at their newest location 560 Washington St. in Whitman center for over a year.
Their happening hosting space gives the location an exceptional way to bring women together with a sense of community; wellness, mom’s night out, and even a recent athleisure affair have created a combination of relaxation and designer wardrobe events.
As a busy mom of two, Ariel recently announced they are expecting another baby boy in the spring. They used the event space in the shop to host and film the exciting news with a giant pop of blue.
The couple celebrated with family, friends and their Fashion Fun Pop family during a Facebook live gender reveal.
Koonce Fortes doesn’t currently carry maternity wear, however she shows off the pieces she carries in store. She accentuates her baby bump in style and can still manage her day in a perfect fall wedged heel bootie.
“You can learn to be stylish and work at being comfortable in yourself,” she said. “Give yourself a figure versus hiding your shape with baggy clothes. Show your shape.”
Her passion for fashion and motivation to start her own business began with her balance of home and work life. She loved her job in Boston at Children’s Hospital but the long commute left little family time.
The inception of the shop combines her background in business, her former career in retail, and her true self – style has always been a natural strong point.
Her clientele ranges from new moms with body transformations who want to update their wardrobe, women who want to try a trendy piece, working career women looking for new styles that assure a comfy daily commute, and special event seekers.
With sensible price points from designers all over the world Koonce Fortes attends several fashion shows in Atlanta and New York each year choosing and buying the hottest sellers in wearable trends and bringing them back to her clients.
Along with using social media such as Facebook live videos to keep in touch with her customers. She also sells online through her website.
Ariel models and discusses her apparel, even demonstrating how to restyle outfits incorporating a seasonal trend, tucking, adding a belt and offers simple ideas on bringing a favorite outfit into the next season.
For the holidays they have a wall of accessories, shoes and perfect gifts for a hostess or fashionable friend.
She loves the intimate relationship she builds with her clients working with them one to one pulling styles together and talking about what they like about a piece they are wearing.
She sees a lot of women who want to be stylish but are insecure about a part of their body.
She wants her customers to come in and find an outfit that accentuate the parts they love about themselves as well as feel great in what they are wearing.
In upcoming happenings on Oct., 2 Fashion Fun Pop is pairing up with another local business Simple Graces of East Bridgewater with hostess’ Jennifer Petricig and Stephanie O’Neill. The information on the combined style and wellness night out is available on Fashion Pop Fun’s website and Simple Graces website.
The event is complimentary with a suggested donation to Koonce Fortes charity of choice Big Brothers Big Sisters. For further information on renting space and their upcoming event in October visit fashionfunpop.com or Simple Graces Studio on Facebook.