Along Main Street in Gordonsville, a town of 1500, you find S. H. Merrick boutique.

“I kind of over analyzed things being an ex-banker,” said Sharon Merrick, owner. “I thought if this building ever becomes available, I've always wanted to own a little dress shop, a little boutique because I love clothes.”

Soon after, Merrick was able to call that building her own, filling it with clothes eyed at New York's fashion week.

“I spend a couple weeks up there during the big fashion week and I prefer the European designers because the fabrics are so wonderful.” Merrick added, “Some people come in and say are these older clothes? I say all designers get inspiration from something whether it's a movie, old photograph, paintings.”

Merrick's inspiration: her love of fashion. And while not having worked in the clothing business before, she jokes she was always someone else's good customer.

“My vision was to look at it from a customer's point of view. It needs to be an enjoyable experience. You need to want to be here. And love the things you see, hear smell and touch.”

Merrick allows for this experience even outside her store. Each spring she puts on a fashion show fundraiser at a restaurant where guests enjoy lunch, get an up-close look at the clothing as models circulate the dining area and learn about a segment of fashion's history.

“This year we did Coco Channel, who really did define the 20th century. She invented bathing suits, pants for ladies.”

The money raised at the fashion show luncheon went to the Thoroughbred Race Horse Foundation at Montpelier.
While Merrick enjoys showcasing that European flair, she says she couldn't envision doing her dream job anywhere else but here.

“Albemarle County and this area offer so much, I mean, a University town. You can’t recreate that. It's got good health care, cultural events.”