Pearland friends open fashion forward and pet-friendly Rice Village store - Houston Chronicle

Longtime friends Jacki Cosgrove^[1] and Penny Packer used to pore over issues of Vogue magazine^[2] at every opportunity when they worked together a construction company, owned by Packer's husband, Phil Packer^[3] .

But when he retired, the Pearland women found themselves searching for a way to turn their fashion interests into a business.

As a result, they opened Azuz women's boutique in Rice Village in October. It's named for Packer's maiden name.

"I was going to get a job at Neiman Marcus, but Phil helped us realize our dreams," Cosgrove said.

All three collaborated, along with EDI Architects^[4] and Planners, on the store's swanky décor, including the contrasting black/gray and white walls, plush sofas and large mirrors. A handmade, curved metal clothes rack spans nearly the length of the store, creating a feeling of endless motion. Cosgrove said she saw a similar rack on the website of a Paris boutique and had it duplicated by a local metalsmith. It took nearly three months to create, she said.

An elegant artful chandelier, which is made of soft strings of metal draped together, was purchased before the store's lease was signed. Cosgrove thought it would be a finishing touch to the sophisticated women's boutique. She was right.

Shoppers can mull over finds from Australian clothing lines such as Suboo, Bless'ed Are The Meek and Bec & Bridge. There also are a few more familiar brands, such as L.A.M.B., House of Harlow^[5] , Dolce Vita and luxury leather bags by Hakeem Olajuwon^[6] 's DR34M brand. The Calvin Rocker onyx-studded jeans were made exclusively for the store, and Frankie B's python jeans and RVN Geo Jacquard leggings, a favorite of Beyoncé, are among the many edgy standouts.

Azuz also is dog friendly for shoppers with pooches in tow. Packer has a 14-year-old Yorkie mix named Max, and Cosgrove has Tiki, a 60-pound black and white rescue. The pair will soon install a station in the store where four-legged companions can drink water.

Joy Sewing

References

1. ^{^} Jacki Cosgrove (www.chron.com)


2. ^{^} Vogue magazine (www.chron.com)


3. ^{^} Phil Packer (www.chron.com)


4. ^{^} EDI Architects (www.chron.com)


5. ^{^} House of Harlow (www.chron.com)


6. ^{^} Hakeem Olajuwon (www.chron.com)