Ariel Richards, after years of experience in retail and fashion, has launched her own women’s clothing boutique, Cosette, in Richmond’s Fan District. The store is situated at 427 Strawberry St. and officially opened this month.
Richards, who is 44 years old and a mother of two, previously held positions at notable fashion establishments, including a consignment shop named Worth the Wait in Virginia Beach and Philosophie in Richmond. Following her career in retail, she took a break to raise her children before deciding to pursue this business venture, driven by an inspiration to cater to local women—particularly those who are young and middle-aged mothers seeking stylish yet age-appropriate clothing.
“Women my age and slightly younger who have just had children, and even older women, they just want to feel good about themselves, find clothes that fit, that aren’t too trendy or too young but look current,” Richards expressed. Her goal is to fill a gap she perceived in Richmond’s retail landscape.
Having also worked as a stylist and managed an online business selling handmade aprons, Richards saw the opportunity to re-establish her professional identity as her children reached pre-teen age. She reflected, “Mother becomes your identity, and I was ready to find my identity again and do something that was for myself.” Her children’s enthusiasm for her new venture adds a special significance to this endeavor.
Cosette offers a range of products, including sweaters, jeans, home goods, and accessories.
Cosette, named after a beloved character from Victor Hugo’s novel *Les Misérables*, features a curated selection of women’s clothing, including sweaters, jeans, and dresses, alongside accessories and home goods. The store showcases brands such as Mia Peru, Laude the Label, and Pistola. Currently, the boutique focuses on new clothing items and does not carry shoes or accept consignment goods.
The eclectic style of the store draws from Richards’s roots in California as well as her experiences in New York City. “I’m from California, so for me the natural fibers, the easy way of dress, looking beautiful without trying too hard, is half of me. And then I also got to experience New York on buying trips with my other stores, so I love the edge and streetwear of New York, with their dark colors and their crazy mismatches and their textures,” she explained.
Occupying 970 square feet, Cosette is located on the ground floor of a property that Richards acquired through an LLC for $650,000 last year. The retail space had been previously used by Suks Alterations, which had operated there for many years.
The opening of Cosette comes at a time of shifting dynamics in the local retail market, with other apparel stores in the area also recently undergoing changes. Notably, maternity-focused shop HoneyBloom has moved to Stony Point Fashion Park, and menswear boutique R.S. Milan has expanded with a new location at Chesterfield Towne Center.