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 Aileen
Dauterive has a positive, glowing energy that is, in a word, infectious.
She curls up on a cozy couch in the middle of Park Lane, her beautiful
Highland Road boutique, tucks a strand of honey-colored hair behind her
ear, and leans in to chat with me. Something about the look on her face
just tells me I'm in for a good story. Dauterive is full of them.
The history of Park Lane couldn't be recounted without knowing about
Aileen herself, as she really is the essence of her beautiful boutique.
Reared in London's Hampstead area, she cultivated a love of fashion at
an early age. "I grew up around Burberry, Hobbs shoes…beautiful,
high-end clothing," she says. Arriving in the states at 22, she landed a
job working as a personal chef, traveling between New York, Miami and
New Orleans. Soon after, she started her own catering company, working
mostly with corporate clientele. Dauterive says she loved the work: "I
really enjoy taking care of people, making sure they have what they
need…I get great satisfaction from it." No surprise, her catering
company flourished. But in 2005, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina
forced her to shut the business down and relocate with her husband and
son to Baton Rouge.
 "I didn't know
a soul," says Dauterive, pulling her legs up underneath her. "My husband
was still commuting to New Orleans for work, and I was terribly lonely."
And then, as she describes it, "A miracle happened." Aileen met Lori
Kinchen, who would quickly become her best friend and partner in Park
Lane.
It's evident, after spending only a few minutes in the company of the
two women, that they share an exceptional bond; they adore each other
and are as close as sisters. Kinchen laughs, "We work together 10 hours
a day, and you think we'd be sick of each other, but no…we literally get
home and call each other several times each night! 'What are you
doing?', 'What are you watching on TV?', just to check in." It's this
collaboration and the true spirit of women working together-helping each
other and loving what they do-that makes Park Lane work, and sets it
apart from other boutiques in the area.
 Park Lane is
a truly customer-centered store. "Everyone who comes through that door
is important, and I want her to feel that way," explains Dauterive. "It
doesn't matter how much money you plan to spend or what you're looking
for. When you leave here, I want you to leave feeling positive and
happy."
Dauterive strives to build strong, long-lasting relationships with her
shoppers. She takes the time to get to know them individually and find
out what each one likes so that she can make sure she has the perfect
pieces in stock. "I like to get to know my clients; I find out what
styles they like, what colors make them feel good, and I'll pull tops,
shoes, and everything they're looking for. If I don't have it, I'll get
it." The shop carries a variety of lines based on the preferences of its
clientele: Karina Grimaldi, Hale Bob, and Paige Novak. Shoes are in
abundance, from designers like Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman.
To be sure they are carrying the hottest and most stylish pieces of each
season, Kinchen and Dauterive travel often to Dallas and New York to
attend markets and shows. Park Lane has also teamed up with Femme Fatale
(16645 Highland Road), and carries some of their lines and vice versa.
The most lasting impression I have about Park Lane is how fabulous it
feels to be in the company of two women who love what they do and have a
genuine desire to make people happy.
"There is nothing like going to work every day with your best friend,"
says Dauterive. "I feel so blessed. I'd be lost without Lori". Kinchen
leans in, tucks a tanned leg underneath her and nods. "Aileen has an
actual identical twin, but I'm more like her real twin. We were even
born 4 days apart!"
"We are soul mates, for sure," says Dauterive. "I'm so glad we are able
to do this together." As for the future of Park Lane, It's growing fast.
They hope to continue reaching out to new clientele, and expand their
current lines and add even more. Dauterive's goal is to continue
providing upscale, personalized service to women who know fashion, but
at a price that is reasonable. She wants to offer them variety. Smiling,
she says again, "I want people to come into my shop and leave feeling
happy."
Well, it certainly worked for me.
Park Lane is located at 18291 Highland Rd. Suite 106 (Next to Hellos
Sushi on Highland). For more information please call 225.752.7890.
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