Busy shoppers in westfield have found a go-to fashion boutique. Mila, established in June 2014 by Rhea Riachi, specializes in unique European clothes and personal service. Riachi grew up in her mother’s shop in Beirut, Lebanon, and learned everything about the business. As a new mom in Westfield, she grew frustrated with the local shopping and decided to open Mila, named after her young daughter. “All the moms in town are extremely busy with their kids. It’s very hard, like it was for me, to have a second to run to the mall to get a cute piece for a nice evening,” she says.
The boutique took shape in just four weeks. The crisp, white walls and no-fuss decor highlight women’s apparel from brands like Talco and Be Fun, sourced exclusively from Italy and France. Mila carries petite through plus sizes, everything from easy knit pants to tailored work blazers and date-night dresses. Their brands are “exclusive, stylish,” and, Riachi says, “well cut.” Price points are another bonus: Most items are between $75 and $200.
“When Rhea opened that store, I loved it,” says Shereen Yanni, once a devoted shopper and later an employee. “Shereen was our number 1 customer, actually,” Riachi says. So this year, when she decided to take on a partner, Yanni’s background in HR and business was a natural fit.
“When the idea came up, I was so happy to hear from Rhea,” says Yanni, a mother of two. “I jumped into it.” Riachi is the shop’s buyer, and Yanni focuses on management and the soon-to-be- launched e-commerce site.
The women are dedicated to helping clients find the perfect outfit without spending a lot of time or money. Sometimes clients even call ahead and ask them to pull outfits together in advance. “We find the right look for their body, for their character, for their personality. This is the secret to our success: Dress me up.”