Published in the Oct. 2-15, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Cheri Devlin
I’ve spent the last couple of months talking about the great dining downtown Morgan Hill has to offer, but now it’s time for a little retail therapy. Who knew downtown Morgan Hill has been giving fashion advice to the rest of Silicon Valley? I hate to admit it, but until recently, I didn’t get downtown all that often to enjoy the fantastic shopping that it offers. Last month, I finally made an afternoon of it — and boy have I been missing out.
Cheri Devlin
I started by dropping in to Just G’s Boutique because I’ve been hearing a buzz that Gina Oroz Andrade, owner of Just G’s, has some of the best options in town right now. Gina decided to follow her dream of becoming a business owner and opened the intimate boutique in December 2012. Quite the change of pace after spending 15 years working for Hewlett Packard — and she’s loving every minute of it.
Gina’s wide selection of clothes and accessories made my scrambling to find an anniversary dinner outfit at the last minute seem like it was planned that way all along. She has a beautiful selection of blouses ranging from chic show stoppers, to cozy cottons, to Swarovski-blinged 49er gear. Her store features jeans for every figure and vibrant colors of full-length summer dresses that can easily be worn year round if you pair them with a knit wrap or sweater, which she also has a wide variety to choose from. When you’re getting ready to check-out, you’ll likely get caught holding up the line, trying on everything displayed on the table of unique accessories, or choosing between the “magic” wine glasses — as Gina calls them. You’ll have to stop by and ask for the backstory.
Similar to the restaurants lining Monterey Road and the adjacent streets downtown, the retail shops sprinkled in between offer something for everyone. Whether you’re antiquing for a hidden gem to complement your living room décor, scoping out name brand kids clothes at affordable prices, or trying to find that special someone in your life a new outfit that you’d never find in a department store — downtown Morgan Hill is where you’re sure to find what you need.
There are two things in particular that I love about shopping downtown — the options for women’s apparel are easily competing with some of the most fashionable boutiques in Silicon Valley. And you can visit more than half a dozen stores within a block that offer their own individual look or specialty.
After my visit in Just G’s, I walked across the street to check out the latest couture in Savvy Seconds and a selection of handbags displayed at Carta Luna. Kitty-corner from there my eye caught a beautiful orange skirt in the window at Tryst Fashion Apparel that I had to have, and of course that led to additional perusing of designer jackets and sweaters hanging on a rack out front that certainly helped complete my new look. Finally, I made my final stop at Royal Clothiers where you’re guaranteed quality men’s clothing and exceptional customer service — a solid option for the anniversary gift I needed. The best part, they’ll wrap it for you!
Cheri Devlin is a Morgan Hill resident and member of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association Board of Directors. She is a Regional Business Development Manager for a labor and employment law firm based in San Jose, but loves writing about life as a working mom. Check it out at www.talesofcorporate-mommyhood.blogspot.com/
