Sexy, Chic, Affordable

© Sandra Silverstein / MFb

“Tiki means cute where I’m from,” says Alicia Hodgson, owner of Tiki Boutique, who is originally from a small Honduran island called Roatan. Ten years ago, from her home in Miami, Hodgson started selling clothing on ebay. When her bidders couldn’t get enough, she decided to open shop. Today Tiki is stocked with the season’s must-haves from rompers to short shorts, breezy blouses and dresses – all in Miami friendly soft to bold colors and prints.

© Sandra Silverstein / MFbThe store has a welcoming charm: a comfy leather chaise rests in the middle with magazines and Hershey kisses (for those who need a shopper’s break), fun velvet curtains drape the dressing rooms, and the walls are adorned with portraits of Marilyn Monroe and other iconic femmes.

Because Hodgson is a fan of LA’s boho-chic style, many of the store’s pieces are LA imports from such designers as Lucy Paris, Lush, and Soprano. Tiki also carries Hodgson's own hot-off-the-spool line, Dakies, a collection Hodgson started with Miami women in mind.

The women she designs and buys for is “confident, and chic… she has this air about her, she wants something sexy but also classy,” Hodgson says.

Tiki’s popular fabrics at the moment are chiffon, linen, and matte jersey. Hodgson loves working with matte jersey because of its comfortable feel and malleable form. “The pieces tend to fit well on many body types and it’s light and easy to dress up or down,” Hodgon says.

Some of Hodgson's favorite looks are a beige sundress by Lucy Paris, perfect for weekend brunches, a matte jersey cobalt blue romper by Dakies, a sultry dress with a silk chiffon floral top and white matte jersey skirt by Dakies, and uber short tan linen shorts by Love Tree paired with a loose jersey top top by Lush.

The thing thrifty fashionistas will love most are the prices. Everything in the store ranges from $30-$90, and nothing is over $100. The boutique also sells eye-catching jewelry by Andrea Cole and hand-made beaded bracelets by Hodgson’s budding fashionista niece.

» Gallery