Even though it's located right next door to
one of my favorite shops in South Bend, I'd never stopped into Inspire Me! I only knew it was a boutique clothing store and not much else. I was pleasantly surprised when I entered the store; which is, really, a pretty, yellow, turreted house. Before I get too far, I should note, that Inspire Me! is decidedly a feminine boutique so just a heads up to our male readers. Since the store is located in a multi-story house, the layout is non-traditional. Rooms that that were once clearly living areas, kitchens, bathrooms, etc. are now filled, in all of their nooks and crannies, with clothing racks, artwork, and jewelry. The owner has curated an impressive selection of well-known and more-obscure brands that I guarantee you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else in the county. The clothing has been described as "upscale" but even so, I found a range of price-points.
Today, I was particularly interested in their offerings outside of clothes and found a wide variety of affordable, unique jewelry, knick-knacks for the house, cards, small paintings, and more. In my opinion, boutiques, in their ability to define their own aesthetic through the items they choose to feature, are more fun than other stores because of the potential for discovery. You just don't know quite what you might find.
Location: 528 East Colfax
Hours: Tues-Fri 10:00am-6:00pm
Website: http://www.inspiremeonline.com/index.php
Tip: There's a Granger location as well!
