Green Envy Boutique: Home To All Your Favorite Brands

09/01/2021 05:00PM ● By Kristie L. Smith Nikitin

When Green Envy says the store has all of your favorite brands in one place, they mean it. The retailer offers more than 300 clothing, jewelry, footwear, handbag, gift, and home decor labels between two locations and a robust online and social media presence. Green Envy sounds like a good-sized department store, but in reality, it is a boutique. A boutique on steroids, but a boutique nonetheless. Known for its customer service and fashion-forward selections, Green Envy is passion plus fashion that equals a dream come true for owner and client alike.

With the inception of the Stowe store in 2009, Green Envy owner Mary Lou Baraw emphasized providing personal attention to her customers. Back then, women were clamoring for mid- and high-rise jeans, and soon after, they were looking for skinny, low-rise denim. Mary Lou's objective from the beginning was not only to provide the clothing that was on-trend but also to make every shopper feel comfortable, confident, and special. To this day, Green Envy is acclaimed for its collection of premium denim and possesses the most extensive selection in New England.

Fashion Forward

Part of what it means to shop at Green Envy is tapping into Mary Lou and her team's vast knowledge of the fashion industry. The forecast for Fall 2021 is puff sleeves, very chunky boots, the classic blazer, high-rise jeans, sneakers, prairie dresses, crop tops, and layered jewelry. When pressed, Mary Lou remarks, "It is very hard to have just one" must-have item in the closet. Items on the watch list are a hooded puffer jacket, a single-breasted blazer, a cropped sweatshirt, a vest, and a popcorn sweater.

Mary Lou draws on lessons learned in her pre-Green Envy career. After studying business and marketing, she went on to work in sales, management, merchandising, and marketing, where she learned the ins and outs of all levels of retail—including national accounts. Each step was a building block for her business. Her mission is to bring some of the more elevated and fashion-forward brands to Vermont while still keeping in mind the lifestyle and values of New Englanders.

"Because of the large number of categories and designers we represent, we are often compared to a small department store (a mini-Barney's, perhaps), with a bit of an Anthropologie vibe and a country-store welcome," explains Mary Lou. However, what started as a small shop in Stowe has blossomed into an enterprise that would have large-chain department stores, well…green with envy.

The Move to Burlington

In December of 2018, shoppers in the Burlington area eagerly welcomed Green Envy to its Main Street location. Nestled near the Bay of Burlington on Lake Champlain, Green Envy's neighbors are contemporary shops, companies, and eateries with a water view and a tranquil, trendy atmosphere. The fledgling location was able to ride out the pandemic with healthy online sales and escapees from large metropolitan areas who chose the solitude of the Green Mountain state for social distancing and laying low. Like many other businesses and nonprofits, Green Envy was productive during its “downtime” and used the found hours to launch its home decor category.

This autumn, Mary Lou recommends their new line of dinner plates and bowls that come in black or white porcelain clay. Handmade artisan dishes are oven, dishwasher, and microwave safe and make staying in for dinner feel like a luxury. Green Envy also has a variety of candles to freshen the look and smell of your home—and they make great hostess gifts, too!

On your next shopping excursion, drop by 3 Main Street in Burlington and say hello to Mary Lou and her crew. Allow plenty of time to browse, try on, and chat. Enjoy the whole Green Envy experience and take home not just clothes but treasures that have been carefully curated, seemingly just for you. There's a good chance your friends will be green with envy when they see your purchases from Green Envy.