Anne Bocci in front of her Multnomah Village boutique & gallery.
Portland has its charm, and its charming neighborhoods. Multnomah Village has a particular vibe. It actually feels like a village, like a small town main-street in the midst of a larger city. There's a palpable feeing there that makes you want to just.... hang out... maybe get a haircut even if you don't need one, have some coffee, get some truffles at the old fashioned candy shop, or visit the spacious wine bar. It seems fitting that this feeling is amplified in the presence of a particular Multmomah Village proprietress. Anne Bocci, owner of her quaint, namesake boutique & art gallery, has managed to cultivate more than just "clientele," but what you might accurately describe as a fan base. It makes sense. With everyone from customers to designers, vendors, and members of the Portland fashion & accessories community, Bocci's free-flowing & effusive support has made many feel like they have a fan of their own, in Anne.
Anne with Project Runway winner and friend Seth Aaron
It seems the key, at least in part, to how Bocci's way of doing business has earned her such respect among the artists she carries, is that she's an artist herself, a long-time jewelry designer. "I try to be good to the artists & designers," Bocci says, "I know what it's like to be one, wondering where the next dollar's coming from, sending stuff away on consignment." Bocci opened her store three years ago. Back at a time when a single account really mattered, the first two apparel designers she carried were folks you probably know now. One of them was Seattle's Suzabelle, who's brilliant and evolving eye for design, and seriously detail-oriented approach to both accent and construction have me ogling just about everything she produces these days. Then there was 'some guy' from Vancouver, Washington by the name of Seth Aaron, a professional stylist and one-time boutique owner himself, who had received his first sewing machine as a gift from his wife just two years prior to the opening of Bocci's boutique, and now, as the most recent winner of Project Runway, is doing his best just to keep up with his own success. Seth has remained a steady supplier of one of a kind pieces for Bocci's boutique even as he rides a whirlwind of post-win PR and prepares for the production of his ready to wear line. "I just try to take care of Anne because she's always taken care of me," he says. Veteran Portland designer Christa Taylor, whose popular line of dresses is carried at the boutique, commented, "From the moment I met Anne I was delighted by her gracious warmth. She included me as if we had known each other for years. [She] constantly seeks the needs of her designers and clients [and] my line does well in Anne Bocci Boutique simply because there is such a competent and gracious woman behind the desk." Photographer Chrissy Weber goes on to capture Anne's personality in a way that I think sums it up nicely, "I love stopping in the boutique to chat with Anne about the art she has up. Sometimes I think she's more proud of our work than we are!"
Kim Basinger
too," Anne says, "It sounds cliche, I know, but I turned to my
girlfriend the first time I saw him and said 'That's him. That's
the guy. I'm gonna marry him.'"
Like many of Portland's independent boutique owners, Bocci is one whose personal editorial tastes, along with a strong eye for what will please her clientele, helps make Portland a truly unique and fulfilling shopping destination. Bocci, who graduated University of Oregon with degrees in Journalism and Advertising, has also been designing her own jewelry line since the 80's, with everything from modestly priced everyday looks, to high end custom pearl creations. You discover what really matters to people, and stumble onto essential parts of who they are, when you happen to ask them about something that they love more than anything else save family. Clearly, Bocci genuinely enjoys helming her boutique, and has a passion for apparel designers and their creations. Her store is stacked with some of my favorite designers. Ask her about jewelry design though, and a part of the real Anne Bocci emerges. "Is it something you enjoy doing?" I ask, "Something that you have to do?" "Oh I'll do it for the rest of my life," she replies, "I love being here and having the store, but it does take a lot of time & energy to single-handedly run the business, ...and in my heart of hearts, all I want to do is design. I could do it all day, every day."
Left: Anne Bocci French Nouveau/Art Deco necklace with pearls. Right:
Strand necklace w/red rubies, amethyst, carnelian, turquoise jade & agate.
One of Bocci's favorite aesthetics comes from a love for the flapper age of the 20s and 30s. "The boutique reflects my love of the Moulin Rouge," she says, "speak-easies, and the likes of 1920s secret gin joints filled with offbeat characters. The apparel should be fabulous, handmade and original." One of my favorite Anne Bocci Jewelry pieces would be right at home on the neck of a woman sipping a bootleg gin gimlet in a plush Chicago speakeasy, a beautiful art deco necklace pictured here. Assembled from French nouveau estate pieces, Anne works hand-drilled pearls into the piece and shows her eye for turning a theme into a very visceral reality. Another favorite speaks to Anne's serious love for gems, and I mean serious. "They're like the ultimate candy," she quips. A strand necklace featuring layers of red rubies, sparkling amethyst, carnelian and turquoise mingled with pink jade and agate."I love this necklace," she comments, "It reminds me of an ancient Egyptian piece that's regal and unapologetically flamboyant. To make it affordable I allow the customer to choose one, two, three or all six strands at $110 each strand. Then I add on the clasp at the perfect length for the customer."
You can see for yourself how Anne's love for design, and people, gets reflected both in her own work and the work of the designers & artists she carries, at a very special Multnomah Village "First Friday" this week, June 4th. Anne Bocci Boutique will celebrate its 3rd anniversary with a party and showing of local artists. You can even catch Anne Bocci Boutique designers in the Anastassia fashion show at the Multnmomah Arts Center just a few doors down on the same night, then walk right back over to the boutique for a show of Anne's jewelry, guest jewelry designer Becca Candari, artwork by Julia Peltz (whose paintings have recently appeared on the gallery walls and that I LOVE), along with apparel, art, and accessories by all those listed below and more. Enjoy complimentary snacks, wine, cocktails, and most of all, come meet the lady herself. You'll simply be glad you did.
Visit Anne Bocci on the web: Anne Bocci Boutique, Anne Bocci's Blog
Artists & Designers supported at Anne Bocci Boutique: Seth Aaron Henderson, Amai Unmei (Allison Covington Wibby), WeMa (Wendi Martin), Suzabelle (Suzie Jaberg), Ipseity (Keri Roberts), Christa-Taylor, Sha Montana Handbags, Gordon Dent Handbags and Accessories,
Nora Catherine Jewelry, Lori Presthus Jewelry, Mark Larsen Fine Paintings, Julia Peltz Fine Paintings, Elisa lazo de Valdez Photographs, Tiffin Kreger Bryant Photographs, Christina Weber Photographs, Sharon Knorr Mixed Media, Susan Najarain Encaustic Paintings
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