Right now, life in the boutique business isn't so easy. This is a shame, since the sales assistants, buyers and owners of indie boutiques are some of the most stylish people we've ever met. To encourage you to go out and support your local stores when you do your summer and christmas shopping this season, we've decided to shine a light on some of the covetable clothes that are sitting right on the shop floors of our favourite boutiques, as styled and modeled by the people who work there.

First up on our hit list is Melbourne favourite Alice Euphemia. Tucked away inside a Swanston Street arcade, Alice Euphemia is one of the best independent boutiques in the country. The little treasure chest stocks only locally made product, so by shopping there, you are giving full-circle support to the local fashion industry. Alice Euphemia has an impressive, and very 'Melbourne' edit from some Australian-favourite labels like Lover, Romance Was Born and Ellery,  ones to watch like Emma Mulholland and Kahlo and a seriously killer range of jewellery and accessories. For those that can't make it into store, they've also just launched an e-commerce site (which has so much distracting product we very nearly failed to post this piece).

We've asked the girls of Alice Euphemia to use the shop's stock to create their ultimate summer outfits. Here's what they've come up with:

All photography by Jared Beck.

Victoria

“In Summer I’m not one to show obvious amounts of skin (I don’t do short!) so this Livia Arena button down skirt is perfect for me. It’s a great separate that I’ve gotten a lot of wear out of since I bought it in winter and the silk linen is nice and cool in the heat.



I tend to wear lots of sheer neutrals and nude colours, but the garment has to have a bit of detail so it doesn’t look too drab or boring. This Carly Hunter blouse with the drape detail in the front works really well with high waisted pieces as it hangs over a little and creates a nice silhouette.


I’m always wearing rings – Julia deVille is my favourite. I’m wearing her claw ring, bone ring and also a special ring she designed especially for Alice Euphemia. The faceted onyx rose bracelet is also by Julia, with a clasp cast from the leg of a turtledove leg and painted with white enamel paint. A little macabre but I see the romance in it. My other single solitaire was a gift from fellow Alice jeweller Michaela Bruton of A.D, and my oxidised sequin band is also by Alice jeweller Kim Victoria, who has a beautiful installation set up in store at the moment.”