Boutique offers wild treasures

Wild Ophelia’s is a treasure chest for everybody.

By Luisa Loi • September 3, 2024 1:30 am

Despite its small size, Wild Ophelia’s is a treasure chest for everybody — the cat moms, the girls who wear pink on Wednesdays, the bohemians and the novelty fashionistas, to name a few.

Seeing a need for a trendy store where women could get styling advice on Whidbey, Owner Ameina Qazi expanded her online business of the same name by opening a boutique four months ago, nestled in the Main Street Association’s incubator space at 881 SE Pioneer Way.

Qazi’s store features clothes, accessories and decor from brands like Coach, Michael Kors, Anthropologie, Old Navy, LuluLemon and more, some used and some from past clothing lines in an effort to avoid fast fashion.

Recently, Y2K fashion has made a resurgence among Gen Z teens and adults, likely due to childhood nostalgia. Qazi, a millennial who was in the thick of her generation’s skinny jeans and velvet athleisure craze, is well familiar with the feeling, which permeates her store.

“Millennial nostalgia is my thing,” she said, showing various Juicy Couture bags and butterfly hair clips — two Y2K staples.

For those dealing with a 60s and 70s fever, Wild Ophelia’s also offers some bohemian pieces, which can include Gunne Sax dresses, macramé hangings handmade by Qazi, big rings and flowy lace dresses by Free People.

The boutique has a wide variety of whimsical statement pieces that Qazi said can be conversation starters. Frog rings, crab purses, duck backpacks, ruffled skirts, My Little Pony earrings, crochet hats for cats, corsets and vintage mink scarves, just to name a few.

With October approaching, Qazi has already set up her store in Halloween fashion, welcoming visitors with residents like the friendly skeleton Skelly Clarkson, and the vampire cats Chonk and Hamlet. Kitchen knife hair clips, pumpkin bags and pillows, cozy ghost cardigans, bloody press-on nails, cat ears and paws and candy corn earrings are only some of the spooky and magical extravaganza that can be found while browsing the store.

Qazi’s favorite is the genderbent Waldo costume, inspired by “Where’s Waldo?” Customers can also find angel wings, bunny ears, flapper girl dresses and some options for girls as well, like the mermaid or skeleton dresses.

Qazi started Wild Ophelia’s a decade ago, naming the boutique after her daughter, Ophelia, and selling clothes online at wildophelias.com.

Whether you want to take home unique pieces, get styling advice or take photos with some wild props, Wild Ophelia’s welcomes the community from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday.

“I want you to leave feeling really beautiful and good about yourself,” Qazi said.

Photo by Luisa Loi Qazi’s top picks in the store are the bags, like the duck bag depicted. Wild Ophelia’s collection also includes pumpkin, crab, and seal pup bags, to name a few.