Etc. Editorial

Full-figured Vixen
The Voluptuous Vixen, a fashion-forward boutique that caters to women sizes 10-28, is owned by Jaclyn McCabe, who opened her store in November 2006. McCabe says she was always interested in fashion, “whether it be my punk-rock high school days or my granola grad school days, I was always trying to push the envelope.”
McCabe says she was frustrated by the lack of of-the-moment styles in her size; now that she owns the Voluptuous Vixen, she’s able to make the shopping experience “fun and satisfying for women of all ages and shapes.” McCabe says she scours showrooms in different places including Los Angeles, New York City and London. “This results in a unique boutique filled with up-and-coming designers,” she explains. Some of the brands she available include Anna Scholz, Svoboda, Tadashi, Gayla Bentley and Olivia Harper; the store carries trendy tops for $30 along with $400 ball gowns and everything in between. This fall, McCabe says that trends will include lots of color, prints and lace. London-based designer Anna Scholz’s fall collection – known for luxurious fabrics and custom prints – will arrive this month.
McCabe says she’s excited to make full-figured women feel sexy and confident. “My staff and I teach women how to shop for their shape in order to enhance the features they want.”
Information, 529-3588,  818 Chartres Street, www.thevoluptuousvixen.com.

Children’s clothes and things at Auraluz
Owned by Auraluz O’Byrne and her son, Fernando Lopez Jr., Auraluz is a colorful shop that features children’s clothes and gifts, plus linens and decorative accessories.
With its eponymous clothing line that’s hand-embroidered in Colombia and designed by O’Byrne, the shop “continually strives to offer the best products, the best customer service and a unique shopping experience,” says Lopez, who adds that his wife Laurie and his sister Beatriz Dupuy also work in the store. They also sell products by Kissy Kissy, Paty, Zutano and Gund.
O’Byrne began sewing as a child and has had a passion for clothing ever since. Forty years ago, she opened up a shop that sold only children’s items; 10 years ago Lopez, who had been working for years alongside his mother, expanded the business to include other gifts.
“The inspiration to open this store was part challenge and part satisfaction,” Lopez says. The challenge is to find unique and quality items that will appeal to a broad consumer market and the satisfaction is from seeing the customers smile when they find just what they’re looking for.”
Information, 888-3313, 4408 Shores Drive, Metairie; auraluzlinensgifts.com.