The Suburban Tastemaker:

Zoë 

In 1995, Lisa Brock knew what the ‘burbs were missing: the city-slicker style of none other than a Fashion Institute of Technology graduate like herself. From her determination emerged Zoë, a unisex boutique hawking upscale fashion. The first shop, in Princeton, outgrew two locations before settling at 11 Hulfish Street; two years ago, Zoë spawned a 3,500 square foot sister store in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn. And when she’s not bringing couture to suburbia, she’s scouting it out in Paris, Milan, New York and Los Angeles. According to Brock, the wide-ranging assortment of designers — Emilio Pucci, Habitual, Kors and Seven For All Mankind are a few — parallels the clientele, which comprises everyone from the “precious teen to the groovy matriarch.” Zoë Princeton, 11 Hulfish Street, Princeton, NJ, 609-497-0704; Zoë DUMBO; 68 Washington Street, Brooklyn, NY, 718-237-4002; shopzoeonline.com.

The Bride’s Best Friend:

Dominique Daniela

Like most young women, Dominique Daniela dreamed of bridal dresses. Yet it was the design rather than the wedding that fueled the passion of the Italian-born Daniela, the granddaughter of clothiers. She traversed the world, studying in New York, Italy and London, before starting her own label of custom formalwear and bridal design. Her talents won her Marist College’s elite “Silver Needle Fashion Show” award for design skills and a place on the school’s fashion program advisory board. Adding to her varied roles — the entrepreneur is also a wife and mother – she works with the Y? Morrissey fashion team. Importing a “unique infusion of domestic tradition and international elegance” to her designs, Daniela works with her clients in her Manhattan and New Hope ateliers to create couture as distinct as the bride herself. Dominique Daniela, 37 North Main Street, New Hope; 215-862-2022; dominiquedaniela.com.

The Fashionable Prodigy:

Boutique Belle Abeille

While accompanying her mom on shopping trips to area boutiques in Bucks County, eight-year-old Kaitlyn Sicile fantasized about a fashion-buying career. The dream came true, in fairytale form, when Sicile toiled as a shop girl after college. The decidedly young entrepreneur — Sicile is 24 — called it fate when the owners of the former Violet & Blue in Newtown decided to sell. Now Boutique Belle Abeille, and under Sicile’s care, the store has become a style depot for both area fashionistas and, through the designs it carries, Hollywood trendsetters. In high demand are the store’s AG jeans, a favorite of Oprah’s; Lizzy Scheck jewelry, made famous on HBO’s “Sex and the City”; and Carrie Valentine bags, which have reportedly hung over the shoulders of the Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie and actress Eva Longoria.
Boutique Belle Abeille, 29 South State Street, Newtown; 215-579-1105.