After 20 years working in the legal profession in Columbia, Suzie Baughman decided she was ready for a change.
And she turned to one of the things she knows best: fashion for southern women.
“My husband always said I was a professional shopper anyway,” Baughman said when she brought up the idea of creating a fashion boutique in Lexington.
Now, five years later, she owns and operates Tulip Boutique, which sells a colorful array of dresses, shoes, and accessories that cater to women who want a vibrant wardrobe for everyday and special occasions.
With help from other women in the business, calling vendors of labels that she personally loves, designing the space with her husband and “watching a lot of YouTube videos,” Baughman opened a storefront in May 2021. In 2023, she expanded to double the space on Sunset Boulevard.
Tulip Boutique gets its name from her mother, whose favorite flower is the tulip. And the curated collections reflect the bright palette of the flower, with brands such as Emily McCarthy, Crosby by Mollie Burch, Elizabeth James, Sam Edelman, and Karlie.
The aesthetic ranges from “elevated basics to all things colorful.”
The brands reflect her personal taste, which has built a loyal customer base. “What I try to carry is more classic pieces you can keep in your closet forever, along with specialty pieces that are great for special events such as weddings,” she said.
You have to love color to be a regular customer. And many of them do: Women transitioning from a neutral wardrobe for work, or women looking to express themselves through color.
“I like black-and-white, too,” Baughman said. “It took a little while for me to expand my closet and to start wearing more color, especially coming from a professional setting, a corporate world, to what I do now. I can wear fun dresses every day.”
She coaxes women into expanding their fashion palette by asking them to find a color they love, then building on it.
Sometimes all it takes is a pop of color from an accessory, a shoe or a necklace, or just a pair of colorful bottoms with a black top.
“Most of the time people are very surprised at how good they feel when they add in those fun pieces.”
The store does more than just sell clothing. Tulip Boutique is a place to sit and chat. Baughman and her “Tulip Girls,” as she calls her staff, are involved in the community by sponsoring such things as The Miss SC Organization, including Mistletoe Market right here in Lexington, the American Heart Association, and hosting giveback events for a multitude of charities they are passionate about.
“I love being here and helping the customers and just getting to know people,” she said.
On May 2, the store will be celebrating its fifth anniversary, bringing in touches she used during its grand opening, with Azalea Coffee, free mimosas, a winner of a $500 shopping spree, and special gifts for customers.
When Baughman was a child, she often visited her father’s barbershop, where community members caught up with each other while getting their hair trimmed.
“Much like people coming in to chat and learning what’s going on, the community, and just being together. And I feel like I’ve created that here at Tulip,” she said.
Tulip Boutique
5175 Sunset Boulevard, #5
Lexington, SC
(803) 622-3617
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday