photo by steed media service

Long before the rhythmic sounds of East Atlanta Village's East Side Lounge captivated a crowd or its neighborhood bistros generated waiting lists, East Atlanta Village was a forgotten treasure - several blocks of charming, derelict storefronts lining Flat Shoals Ave.

"I would go over to get coffee and just sit outside and enjoy the weather," says Adrene of the historic neighborhood. "It had a lot of undeveloped potential and the personality here was very unique, unlike what I had seen in other pockets. At the time, I had been giving fashion parties in my apartment, trying to save money for my first year of law school. I saved up this money and said, 'If I could do this right out of my house, why don't I try opening a store?'"

Adrene's foresight for a fashion oasis led to her opening Pieces of Adrene, which since its inception routinely lands on the lists of Atlanta's top shopping destinations.

"Color is a very big underline of what we do here; certain colors make you feel a certain way," explains Adrene. "Every season it's a different theme for us. Fly sexy jeans, cleavage tops, cute dresses that give you a comfortable feel. The difference between me and my fellow retailers is that I actually live this stuff. I came out the womb trying to wear stilettos, hoops and cute dresses."

Every element of Adrene's vibrant boutique echoes empowerment, right down to the inspirational writings decorating the walls.

"When you have the confidence from your clothes, you have a confident personality," she opines. "You walk differently. You turn your head differently. You smile differently. You talk differently. It just changes your whole swag. I am a firm believer in [the idea that] good clothes open all doors."- adam jones

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