We took a stroll to the French Concession, to catch up with Sara Villarreal. Sara is the owner of one of favorite boutiques, The Villa. She told us all about the inspiration behind her luxury boutique and her plans for a second location.

The Villa’s got great mod aesthetics.
I’m a huge fan of interior designer Kelly Wearstler’s work, and I drew a lot of inspiration for my boutique from her, particularly a store she designed in Palm Springs, California. Her style is inspired by the Los Angeles lifestyle and the modern glamour that LA encapsulates. I also love the fact that she’s not afraid to use color. I wanted something that felt alive, glamorous, bold–and that’s what we’ve done.

What separates your store from other lux boutiques in Shanghai?
There aren’t many high-end, multi-brand boutiques in Shanghai. The only two that existed when I first opened my store were Joyce and IT, two heavyweights from Hong Kong. A few more have popped up in the last year but they aren’t similar to The Villa. Several important factors set my store apart from the others: great customer service, an exclusive shopping environment and a portfolio of incredibly talented American designers.

How did you get involved in the industry?
I have no formal training in fashion other than it being a huge personal interest and passion. The hours I’ve spent reading, researching and shopping could easily equal several semesters of study at a fashion institute. After coming here, it didn’t take me long to recognize the serious lack in shopping options, plus I wanted to try something new.

What’s next for you?
As a businesswoman, I’m always open to new ideas and new concepts. Right now my one and only focus is continuing to perfect the store and building meaningful relationships with our clients. My plan for next year is to open a store in Beijing. They have a very fashion savvy market there. I believe that’s the next step for The Villa.

For more details about the beautiful boutique, check out the store's own website.