In 2000, aged just 21, Francesca Rossi opened the doors to her fashion boutique in the village of Kilmacolm, just 25 minutes from Glasgow.

Having studied fashion at college, Francesca started her career working as a school wear designer for major department stores. In her spare time, she also designed one off pieces for a friend’s boutique and when the opportunity of opening her very own boutique came up, she jumped at the chance.

Fast forward 16 years, and the boutique is still going strong. Francesca puts that down to her commitment to offering a very personal service that you won’t get on the high street. Repeat business is vitally important to her, so she prides herself on offering honest and friendly advice and using her keen eye to pick out pieces that she thinks will suit her customers.

We asked Francesca what the biggest changes have been since she opened her business:

“The way people shop has changed, and as a business owner I need to keep up with those changes. When I first started, customers bought complete coordinated outfits; trousers, skirt, jacket – every bit. People have scaled back, they are looking for separates – key pieces that augment their current wardrobe and can be worn in different ways. When I am choosing pieces to add to our collection for future seasons, I need to keep this in mind and ensure I curate a unique collection that will keep my customers coming back”.

Francesca has customers visiting her boutique from all across the country, given her enviable reputation for stocking stunning occasion wear, perfect for the Mother of the Bride or Groom. These are a different kind of shopper she says. “They may not buy on the day and choose to shop around. But by making a visit to my boutique a memorable experience, offering advice with integrity and by not giving them the “hard sell”, we see these customers returning again and again to purchase their full wedding outfits”.

Outwith this market, Francesca specialises in cruise and special occasion wear and casual separates for women of all ages. When you visit her boutique, you can expect to be given all of her 18 years’ fashion expertise and customer service excellence, leaving with stunning investment pieces of the highest quality that you will be able to wear again and again.

THREE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT FRANCESCA ROSSI BOUTIQUE

1. You can hire a huge range of stunning hats to wear for weddings, the races or any special occasion.
2. Francesca can hand make a bespoke fascinator to match your chosen outfit, make to your exact specifications
3. The shop offers a dry cleaning service, a convenient way for locals to access this service.