When owner and successful plus-size fashion and beauty influencer Callie Richards moved to Nashville, she quickly noticed a missing piece amongst the city’s populous women’s clothing scene.
“I saw an ever-growing need as plus-size people were seeing themselves represented more to be able to experience shopping in the same way that their straight-sized counterparts do,” Richards says. “We felt like there was a gap in the market here not only for in-store boutiques but for a space that felt elevated and welcoming to plus-size people and gave that same boutique experience to plus-size shoppers. That’s the grain of sand that started the pearl.”
One of the very few plus-size boutiques in Nashville, Ari + Ava is a premier destination for comfortable, fashionable, and self-expressive clothing. Opened in early June, this East Nashville flagship is all about honesty, wearability, and flair. Here, shoppers can find a plethora of boutique-style options fit for different trends, tastes, and occasions.
Whether you’re in town visiting or a local just enjoying a day out shopping, finding must-have items that are displayed beautifully but neglect inclusive sizing seldom leaves positive feelings. At Ari + Ava, Richards and her team strive to omit that experience many plus-size individuals face.
“I use the example of strolling around the earrings section at a boutique while your friends are shopping because the only thing you can buy is accessories,” Richards says. “I think that’s sort of a universal experience for plus-size people, and I wanted to remove every negative connotation of that experience and create something that is a joy to be in.”
Prioritizing ingenuity and comfortability, each product has the model sizing listed and notes (if any) about fitting can be found in the Callie’s comments section of each product online. Ari + Ava is also dedicated to showing styles on multiple different body types and sizes.
“We have found some really incredible vendors and manufacturing partners with incredible design teams,” Richards says. “They present us with pieces that are sometimes ready to go — all we have to do is adjust the sizes to fit our size range at the boutique — and sometimes we make modifications and that allows me to be the voice of plus-size people. When we see a piece, sometimes I have to be like, ‘This needs to be a little longer’ or, ‘This needs to have some more stretch to accommodate different shapes’ or, ‘I want this print because the one you’re showing us is overdone in plus-size fashion,’ and so on. It’s fantastic because I get to work with professionals who know what works best while still advocating for plus-size folks.”
While it is only a few months old, the store is already a haven for self-love, community, and items that will keep you coming back for more. (203 N. 11th St., 803-367-1510; shopariandava.com)