Couture Couture brings women's fashion to Main Street

Main Street in Over-the-Rhine will get a new contemporary women's apparel store at the end of April. Couture Couture Boutique will offer women's clothing and accessories from unique brands that most stores around the area do not offer. Owner Lynn Cotton said she has been researching the area for years and had a desire to open her store in an urban location.

"I really like downtown and I knew I wanted my store to be here as I've watched the revitalization going so well," Cotton said. "I felt a difference in the neighborhoods because a lot of people walk or bike, which makes the businesses more visible to the public."

Cotton believes her store will cater to women of all ages and hopefully bring people downtown who don't normally shop in the area. Although Cotton has done most of her research and work on her own, she has received plenty of support from neighboring OTR women owned businesses like Atomic Number 10 and Urban Eden, as well as one of the street's most recent arrivals, Park + Vine.

Atomic Number 10 owner Katie Garber said there is a need in the neighborhood for a women's apparel store. Many customers ask for other retail outlets in the area when visiting her vintage clothing store, and she is excited to send customers to another store on her street. She said that adding another unique business only strengthens Main Street's growing arts and business district.

"I think it's really important to get more businesses that are open on a daily basis because it will give people more of a chance to explore the area. The retail places in the area will always support one another because it's more of an artsy district looking for small design and fashion outlets to fill the area," Garber said.

Cotton agrees. "We all have something different to offer and none of us will be taking business from one another."

Writer: Lisa Ensminger