Tomboy Design

On a whim, my Unilocal +1 and I stopped by Tomboy while searching for a perfect party dress. There were several dresses and coats that were beautiful and stylish, and appeared to be very high quality; however, we didn’t end up making a purchase. The sales girls were very friendly, and indicated that they could make a custom dress, which is very cool (and most likely expensive). Prices were on the higher end, but you get what you pay for! I fell in love with a dress reminiscent of Mad Men, but it wasn’t my size. Definitely try out Tomboy if you are looking for a unique outfit for a special occasion.

OMG… I feel so self-​indulgent lately and I have to say I love what Tomboy does for me. Her designs are simple, tasteful and funky. Laura makes it easy to look beautiful and feel authentic in your own style. Her pieces are wardrobe builders, special events and go-​to pieces daily. Prices are of the quality you’d expect from a designer and their sales are astonishing. When you realize you get free tailoring within a year should your shape or size change, you realize you can grow (or shrink) with Tomboy Designs. My favorites in my closet right now are Tomboy pieces!

I am a cursed shopper, I do everything in reverse. I dream an outfit up in my head then I hit all the stores searching for something that only exists in my imagination. As you can imagine, this method is rarely successful. Well, I am a pretty good shopper, so I do manage to come close 40% of the time.
For the last couple years I have had a dress design in mind. Something that could go from day to night-​effortless style. I even purchased fabric for my vision. While researching a KC Mag story I remembered that Tomboy does custom work. My girlfriend also wanted a custom dress, so we visited tag team. After going over the details of the dress and taking measurements, we put down a deposit and scheduled a muslin fitting.
We returned for our fitting. My girlfriends dress was right on target, but mine needed several design adjustments. I was slightly concerned, however, Laura (owner) was very patient and accommodating. In fact, all my fears were squashed when I returned to try the final garment. It was perfect. I am extremely picky about clothing. Laura listened to everything I said and made it into a reality. My girlfriend’s dress also turned out great!
As far as custom work goes, I would really recommend having as much information as possible. Bring pictures, ask for certain finishes and hems. Also, it is a great idea to bring your own fabric. Although Tomboy carries some fabric, if you don’t find exactly what you want, you won’t be happy in the end. Compromises are fr the ready to wear, custom should be about perfection. It is not cheap. The payoff is that you have a garment that fits perfectly to your body and every nuance is to your personal preference.
Next month I am taking a male friend in to order some custom jeans. Laura has an extensive background in denim, so I can’t wait to see the results.
The store also carries ready to wear designed by the Tomboy team and from a few other designers around the country, like these great print wrap dresses from a designer in NY.
We are lucky to have this specialty boutique here in KC, so go take a look!

In essence, I adore Tomboy. I always come in here hoping, just wishing, that I like their designs and can find something that speaks to me on that higher, blissful shopping level. But alas, I still haven’t…
That doesn’t mean the store has crap in it, in fact just the opposite. They are designed and made by local designers to KC. The Tomboy crew makes all the apparel sold in the shop, and if you want, they can customize something from their racks or make something new for you. I would do this in a heartbeat, but I’m not that financially blissed. Customized clothing is something I can only dream about at the moment.
These designs are not your average, pleasing to the masses styles, but have an edgier, funkier tone. They’re the basic cut, but made with creativity – like their June dress (my favorite!). It’s a 1950’s style dress made in silk and has an embroidered neckline. Beautiful! Tomboy puts a signature flavor to most of their clothing.
So check it out, perusing is the best part! They also sell some great jewelry there that matches the personality of the clothing.