The “Me” Behind “A Part of Me Boutique” On Lancaster Ave: Phyllis Jones-Carter

Apr 30

*you can also reach out for a personalized appointment*

A Part of Me Boutique on the 3800 block of Lancaster Ave offers a stylish and eclectic female aesthetic in fashion and jewelry, both modern and vintage, that’s sourced from all over and appeals to both modern and vintage palates. A Part of Me Boutique also offers high-quality art and furniture that has been collected over the last 50 years.

Curator, designer, furniture refurbisher, and shop owner, Phyllis Jones-Carter, originally purchased the space after losing some of the most inspirational people in her life in a short time span: her son, Craig, her husband, Gerald, her best friend, Veronica, and Veronica’s mother, Mrs. Parks.

After grieving the loss of her son and her dear friend, Veronica, she was inspired to pay homage to them by opening the shop and naming it A Part of Me Boutique because she felt as if each piece was a part of her own fabric.

In the early days of A Part of Me, many of the items for sale were originally owned by Mrs. Parks as part of her personal collection of fashion and furniture. The paintings, to this day, mostly derive from her husband’s gallery-sized vault that he collected throughout his entire life.

a Gift Vs. a Sale

Unsurprisingly, it’s very important to Phyllis, as a fashion curator and appreciator with decades of experience, that she only sells clothes that she’d wear herself:

She picks every item in the store piece by piece, “I buy wholesale, but never bulk… always personal.”

The furniture probably even more so. Some of the pieces, even those that weren’t a part of her life before the shop have gained sentimental value to the point that it them difficult to sell, especially the furniture that she refurbishes on her own.

“It’s like having a kid, taking it from the beginning to the end, and you just hope when someone buys it that they take it to the right place, and don’t just stash it in the corner and have it stuffed with junk all over it.”

In speaking, we both noticed the comedy in the fact that she cares more for her own refurbishing work she’s done in the last five years, than for the beautiful paintings her husband collected over the course of his life.

“I’ve been enjoying them for decades, someone else can appreciate them now.”

Fashion Excursions

Since opening, she’s expanded the shop with a focus on her first love, fashion. Not only has Phyllis designed clothing herself, but she also has professional designers and stylists who create custom pieces on her behalf. She often travels to expand the collection and to continue populating the shop with fresh looks. In early February and late March, she attended six different NYC fashion shows in a week and brought back an entirely new line of Spring clothes for folks to peruse A Part of Me.

From April 12th to the 16th, she’ll be in Atlantic City at Harrah’s Hotel & Casino showcasing some of her new favorite pieces as part of a large fashion showcase.

Personally, what I love most about A Part of Me is the freebie box out front, which she fills on a weekly basis with old, worn-out clothes, and new items that were either once for sale or Phyllis felt less enthused about over the years, as style naturally evolves.

Drop In!

Be sure to check out A Part of Me Boutique in West Philly’s Powelton Village to experience one of the area’s most personal and impressive fashion, furniture, and art collections. You can stop by 3834 Lancaster Ave Wednesday through Saturday from 11am to 6pm or call 215-662-0707 to set up a personal shopping appointment!