Stepping into “Scout Designer Boutique,” is like walking into a page from a fashion magazine. The store sits near the heart of downtown Pensacola, just off Palafox Place, between the bustling area of Zaragoza and Main streets. Just off the busy sidewalk, is a peaceful, fashion oasis. The modern, white décor is complemented by an array of beautiful clothes, shoes, jewelry and handbags that hang chicly along the walls and adorn the shelves and display cases.
Owner Julia Ussery is eager to help shoppers find just the right look.
“I love fashion and I’m not just in it to sell somebody something if it doesn’t look good,” said Ussery. “I probably get the most excitement when people are unsure if they can wear a certain piece. They don’t know if they can do it, then they put it on and love it! That to me is the creative part of it. You see people happy.”
Scout offers a wide range of designers and styles, including denim, T-shirts and long dresses. Ussery handpicks her products, opting for lines that appeal to a variety of customers, including fun, contemporary and conservative options.
“I really watch what’s going on in the fashion industry, and I’m always changing up my selection,” said Ussery. “They’re brands that I’m really passionate about and if I love it, I’ll pull it in.”
Ussery has been a part of the fashion industry for decades. After graduating from Pensacola’s Catholic High School and later Tulane University in Louisiana, she was accepted into one of the top fashion colleges in New York, Parsons School of Design, where she received an associates of art degree in fashion design.
She spent the next 20 years building a successful career in the highly competitive New York fashion arena, working her way up from an entry-level position right out of school, to design director for Calvin Klein. She also worked for Elie Tahari, overseeing 30 designers and more than half a dozen product lines for the renowned fashion leader.
She met her husband, attorney Brian Ussery, while they were both living in New York, but the couple decided to move back to Ussery’s hometown of Pensacola when their first child was 4-years-old. They now have two daughters, 14 and 18 years old, and the eldest will soon graduate from the IB program at Pensacola High School.
“I had great memories of growing up here, and I always wanted to come home,” said Ussery about their decision to move. “I had a job for five years where I was commuting to New York. I thought for years about starting my own business and decided to open Scout.”
Ussery has new items coming in almost daily. She has walk-in business as well as a number of regular customers who enjoy her hands-on attention and creative experience. Many are locals, others come from nearby Destin and Foley, and as far as away as Atlanta and Nashville.
“It’s creative, putting yourself together and feeling good about the way you look. That’s the way it’s really meant to be, to make people feel good.”
Scout has been a part of Downtown Pensacola for the past decade and in its current location for the past five years. Ussery celebrated the shop’s 10-year anniversary this past January and hopes to celebrate many more anniversaries in the future.
“Ten years has gone by fast, and I see myself doing this for many years to come. I do it, because I really, really love it.”Read more at:purple prom dresses uk
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