Cutting edge boutique set to open in Portland’s Old Port

Pending city permits, a beauty bar and dress boutique called Style Me Portland will be opening at 29 Wharf Street in Portland’s Old Port district on April 1, 2015.

The boutique will take the vacant space between Central Provisions and Street and Co., two of Portland’s more popular restaurants.

Style Me05Business partners and owners Erin Ovalle (pictured above left in front of 29 Wharf Street), Jessica Candage (pictured above right), and Dr. Christine Blake decided to pool their collective resources and talents in hopes of bringing something new to Portland.

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Left to right- Candage, Ovalle, and Blake.

“I wanted to open a dress boutique as I emcee a lot of events and I find it hard to buy unique dresses in Maine,” said Ovalle, who is a popular local TV news personality, “I’m a big supporter of buying local and have friends who own boutiques in town but their dress selection is limited. Maine is casual for the most part.”

Candage, who will be more focused on the beauty bar side of things, has been nominated on TheKnot.com‘s annual “best of” awards for hair/makeup for the past two years.

Before and after photos of one of Candage's clients.

Before and after photos of one of Candage’s clients.

Dr. Blake, who will be doing more of the behind the scenes stuff, is a mother of five, a dress designer, and a former Mrs. Maine.

Their goal is to create a “unique space,” with a beauty bar for makeup applications, makeup lessons, blow drying, and event hair styling.

“The boutique side of things will have work dresses, cocktail dresses, bridesmaids dresses, and prom or pageant dresses,” said Ovalle.

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“Whether you’re getting married, going for a job interview, attending a party or just want pampering – we’d love to meet you!”

Chris Shorr

About Chris Shorr

Chris is a sixth generation Portlander who loves all things Maine. He has worked with mentally ill and marginalized adults at a Portland non-profit, on a lobster boat in Casco Bay, at several high-end Portland restaurants, and at a local meat packing plant. He also ran for Portland City Council in 2013, wrote a weekly column in the now defunct Portland Daily Sun, and currently writes a weekly column in The Portland Phoenix.