Indigo 1745

I am a speed shopper. I get frustrated sifting through racks of clothes, I find it overwhelming to try on lots of clothes, and I hate the inner monologue battle of trying to decide whether or not I should buy an item. So when I go shopping, I go with purpose and I go swiftly. At this point in my life, I have a fairly specific style which could be described as minimal and simple and hopefully also as classic and timeless. I prefer to wear mostly neutrals which affords me endless mix and match opportunities.

In addition to versatile pieces, I place considerable emphasis on comfort and functionality. I need clothes I can live in – clothes that match my busy lifestyle – and that are easy to care for. I’m not going to delude myself that I will take clothes to the dry cleaner. (Confession: I have a pile of clothes that has been sitting for over a year waiting to get dry cleaned…!)

For anyone else like me who seeks out quality, comfortable, livable, and stylish clothes, I have a store for you! Indigo 1745 is a boutique in the Bishop Arts District of Downtown Dallas – a hub of fashion and good eats! The shop is designed to feel like an extension of your own closet which made shopping much more relaxing, and I didn’t feel like rushing through as usual. The lovely owner, Denise, makes it her priority to cater to the modern woman. All the clothes are hand selected based on versatility, comfort, and style.

Denise has an eye for stocking her store with pieces you can wear all day and night. She thinks, “How many different ways can I wear that?” I definitely noticed this thought pattern as I browsed the shop. I could easily visualize wearing the items to work, to dinner, out with friends and beyond. Denise aims to find things that will fit a woman’s schedule and lifestyle, knowing that oftentimes we need to “look really good, really fast.” She pays particular attention to silhouette and softness, and you’ll notice the entire store offers clothing that is simple but gorgeous.

Like a true woman, Denise loves clothes. She also loves people as evidenced by her friendly demeanor & wealth of knowledge about her vendors. Indigo 1745 carries many designers, including some fabulous locals. One of the racks I instantly gravitated to was Folksie. Dallas designer, Julie McCullough, uses rich textures and I simply fell in love with these linen tunics. Like a work of art, each is different and can be worn a variety of ways; dress it up or down, wear it spring through fall by adding a slip, leggings, or an undershirt.

The other designer that really resonated with me was Velvet Heart: an LA based, lifestyle brand for the contemporary woman. Indigo 1745 had several shirts of theirs I was fond of: the relaxed fit and super soft fabrics were winners in my book. I ended up taking this beauty home with me.

I love that this line (and all the clothes at Indigo 1745) are made to be lived in. The top transitions with me all day long to whatever is on my schedule: the office, a lunch date with friends, a meeting, a cocktail party, dinner, and the movies.

In addition to women’s wear, Indigo 1745 also carries a selection of men’s wear, homemade beauty products, and jewelry made by local artisans. Though admittedly Denise says “jewelry is the bane of her existence” (a sentiment I fully relate to), she branches out to “feed her customers,” offering both great layering pieces and larger statement pieces. And, if you come during the winter, Denise will literally feed you with her annual supply of handmade, Quintessential Chocolates from Fredricksburg which you can taste & get “a little rush” from the liquor centers!

Follow Indigo 1745 on Instagram and Facebook for new arrivals, style advice and more!

Want a bit of a history lesson? The name of the shop hails back to the indigo plant, brought to America in the 1700s. Eliza Pigmy, a botanist in Charleston, SC, developed indigo into a cash crop while running her father’s plantation. In 1745 they produced enough indigo dye to export to England for the first time. Indigo dye creates the archetypal blue jean, and Denise knew she wanted to sell a look that fed into the American blue jean style. Like blue jeans, the tops and accessories Indigo 1745 offers can be worn on almost any occasion.