James holds one of her favorite clothing pieces that is available for sale at the boutique. This finely beaded 1940s red cocktail dress, readily captures the glamour and fashionable flair of the classic Big Band era. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan

FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - Owner Shawna James welcomes you into her Fair Oaks boutique to explore an eclectic collection of distinctive, hand-curated vintage clothing she can’t wait to share.

Located next to Dick’s Rancho Glass near the intersection of Madison and San Juan avenues, Parlour Vintage Clothing opened in May at 5357 San Juan Ave. The shop is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features vintage men’s and women’s clothing, along with ethically made, small batch collections.

The boutique also stocks purses, tote bags and baskets, along with fresh-cut flowers, leather goods, apothecary items, ceramics, candles and textiles.

James said her passion for vintage first started in her teens and grew stronger with age.

“In 2010 I opened a brick & mortar vintage clothing boutique in my hometown, Nevada City, a small town nestled in the foothills of the gold country of northern California,” she said.

“I named it ‘The Parlour’ after a location in a classic old black and white movie I once saw,” she said.

James later closed her Nevada store after five years with a desire to travel more. Her former brick and mortar store turned into a mobile boutique using her recreational vehicle to offer selections from a growing curated collection of vintage clothing at pop-up markets across the state.

Parlour Vintage Clothing displays more than 1,500 curated pieces, including hundreds of fashionable blouses and dresses in its retail inventory. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan

Earlier this spring, James sought out vacant retail space in Fair Oaks for her boutique and discovered a long-vacant suite at 5357 San Juan Ave. in a busy location where the communities of Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks meet would be a perfect fit for her customers.

After a complete interior refresh, the store displays more than 1,500 curated pieces, including hundreds of blouses and dresses in its inventory. A full rack of vintage jeans is sorted by size, using 45 rpm single records serving as dividers.

James said much of her current inventory of women’s clothing reflects the popular fashion trends of the 1980s and the late 1970s. All are colorfully grouped throughout the store and are size inclusive, she said.

A beautiful collection of floral and patterned women’s dresses from the 1950s, now some 70 years old are remarkably in great condition and invite a new owner to step out in classic style.

James said she accepts some items on consignment. She also still shops estate sales, keeping a sharp eye out for timeless, fashionable women’s clothing she believes her customers will be proud to wear.

One such find, available for sale is a finely beaded 1940s cocktail dress, which captures the glamour of the classic Big Band era.

The boutique also stocks purses, tote bags and baskets, along with fresh-cut flowers, leather goods, apothecary items, ceramics, candles and textiles. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan

In 2024 James launched “The Parlour Handmade” clothing line of well-loved, classic, comfortable, effortless and size-inclusive women’s styles which are made in San Francisco in small batches. All are ethically made in small batches using carefully curated fabrics, she said.

The special collection is available in a variety of selected boutiques, online through its website www.theparlourvintage.com or directly in its Fair Oaks store.

“When it came time to reproduce some of my most treasured vintage pieces and to create my own clothing line, I decided to pay tribute in my designs to all the dear women in my life who have since passed,” she said.

“I was reminded of each of my grandmothers. One was a seamstress and the other fully appreciated fashion and was quite particular in putting herself together,” she said.

The collection includes the “Elsie” wrap skirt named after her paternal grandmother and the “Velma” wrap dress, named after her great-grandmother.

Parlour Vintage Clothing is located next to Dick’s Rancho Glass, near the intersection of Madison and San Juan Avenues at 5357 San Juan Ave. in Fair Oaks. Business hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, call 530-277-2493 or follow The Parlour Vintage Clothing Boutique on Facebook (@theparlourvintage) or Instagram (@theparlourhandmade) for updates on new arrivals.