By Mike Steely
steelym@knoxfocus.com
The latest in women’s fashion with a flair opened last month and is already drawing customers and praise.
The Hot Southern Mess Boutique is located at 3501 Tazewell Pike in the same building as Symmetry Salon and Spa and is the creation of Amanda Love. The boutique has the latest styles and has something for just about every age. The store has a friendly staff of three that are there to help with any questions.
What’s with the name?
“I saw it on a girl’s tee shirt in Gatlinburg and told my husband (Dallas Love) that would be a cute name for a boutique,” said Amanda. Before the shop opened, she began an Instagram online boutique with photos of the styles she was offering. Due to growing popularity, the next step was to open a store. The store owner wanted somewhere her customers could come and get a hands on experience!
Amanda is a Corryton native who is seeking her doctorate in psychology and has had a passion for fashion since a very young age. She gets it from her mother who had a strong fashion sense and loved everything to do with the industry. The Instagram lookbook Amanda started and maintains continues to draw shoppers to the store where they can find unique clothes in limited quantities. “It’s awesome to have something that not every person has,” she told The Focus.
“I want every customer to know they are appreciated,” Amanda said, adding, “There is lots of parking in the back and a lot of fashion to look at and choose from. We try to do our best when pricing products, so there is something affordable for everyone! In addition, we always have a fully stocked sale rack!”
“We’re fashionable, friendly, and happy!” she said.
Much of the fashion at Hot Southern Mess comes from places like California and the store is stocked with designs that Amanda knows work well, are well made, unique and are going to last.
The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
“I like to say we’re in the heart of Fountain City, just beyond Pratts,” she said.
“Some people who come in say it looks like a doll house in here, and I don’t know about you, but that’s somewhere I’d like to be!” Amanda said.
Her Instagram site “@hotsouthernmessknox” has the fashion and pricing. New arrivals are posted and updated daily. They have more than 8,000 followers online. You can reach Hot Southern Mess Boutique at (865)304-3072.
“A lot of our customers found me on Instagram and wanted to try on fashion,” she said. The store and the Instagram page are popular with women looking for something different, fashionable, and affordable. They hope to see you soon at The Hot Southern Mess Boutique!
