Urbanä Boutique: Where Chic Meets Affordable
by Natalie Bencivenga
April 14, 2021
Anna Bencivenga, owner of Urbanä Boutique— and my sister-in-law — has had a penchant for fashion since the day we met many years ago. A model, a buyer and now a boutique owner and entrepreneur, she studied all angles of the industry before embarking on her own shop — which recently expanded into a larger space in Oakmont — last year.
“I signed the lease two weeks before the Covid-19 shutdown,” she said. “Like many other businesses, Covid gave us the headspace and time to make the digital pivot and expand on our e-commerce presence. It has also given us the time to really build out the physical storefront to be an experience, rather than just a purchase point,” added Bencivenga.
Urbanä Boutique isn’t just a shop but embodies her mission to provide an empowering atmosphere for women of all ages and stages of life to find confidence through the conduit of affordable, unique style — with an eye for quality.
“My personal style is a little weird. You are talking to a girl who is just as comfortable wearing a tutu to the grocery store as she is in a comfy athleisure look,” said Bencivenga. “Our clients also like to have fun with their style and they aren’t afraid to take risks. They love a good bargain, but have a discerning eye.”
And that eye is also focused on local and eco-chic brands.
“At Urbanä, we truly believe that small businesses should shop with other small businesses whenever possible. Our bath and body products are all eco-friendly and sourced from local, female vendors. We have also recently begun work with a vendor out of Morocco for handmade accessories, as well as several clothing lines made in London,” said Bencivenga.
She particularly loves the new clutches from Morocco. Because they are all handmade, each one is unique for a true one-of-a-kind style. The bath bombs are a favorite, as well, and some even explode into rainbow colors in the tub, making them fun for kids and adults alike.
“If this past, crazy year has taught us anything, it is that we need one another way more than Amazon needs us. Keeping dollars as local as possible has been a real concerted effort and we think that it will be a positive outcome of this horrible situation,” she noted.
At the end of the day, Bencivenga believes that individual style is how you put things together, creating a look that is all your own. “We love it when clients bring in fun finds that we can help them style with pieces from our store. When thinking about investing in a higher-ticket item, break it down into cost per wear. If you think you’ll love that killer jacket for a decade, don’t feel guilty about spending a little more money. Restyling your look is a great way to get the most use out of your wardrobe while being eco-chic at the same time,” she said. “We are here for one another and I truly believe that this is my way to make an impact in the world... one great outfit at a time.”
Follow @shop.urbana on Instagram
Facebook: Urbanä Boutique
Shop in person: 632 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont or online HERE.
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