Bangle Boulevard Brings Upscale Clothing Lines To Neligh

Landers and Patterson model some of their custom-curated boutique outfits.

Some people have a difficult time deciding the direction of their career path. For others, like Ashley (Peterson) Landers, it’s easier.

The Neligh-Oakdale alum, along with sister Audrey Patterson and mother Tracie Rudloff, have collaborated in an effort to bring a little bit of Michigan Avenue to Main Street, Neligh, NE with their clothing boutique, Bangle Boulevard.

Inside Rudloff’s Clip N Curl Salon, clients can enjoy a trim and highlight as well as a look through the latest selection of upscale, trendy, and classic clothing items and accessories. Where did the motivation for such a venture originate?

Landers admits to her obsession with fashion from a young age, and credits the times she spent with her mom and sister school shopping as the impetus to starting a clothing boutique.

“We always had such a great time together. I wanted to open a boutique where families and friends could have a fun shopping experience just like we always had.”

Citing her original idea as selling solely online, Landers soon discovered that shop owners needed an actual storefront when buying clothing items from wholesalers, thereby created the necessity of establishing a presence at the downtown Neligh salon.

“With my mom having Clip N Curl, it was the perfect opportunity to open a boutique on a smaller scale, and create that fun shopping experience locally.”

Landers discovered her love of sales as a college student at UNK while working at The Buckle. Originally a nursing student, she switched majors and earned a Technical Sales Degree in Industrial Distribution. While she still continues to enjoy her day job with the same company she’s been with since graduating, Landers, Patterson, and Rudloff opened Bangle Boulevard as their “fun job.” 

While home base is Neligh, Landers lives and works in Chicago, while Patterson works in Kearney. An online presence allows all three to contribute time and effort to the enterprise, though it can be complicated.

“The maintenance of the online store has been the most challenging. Getting pictures of all the new products we receive weekly and adding them onto the website can be difficult.”  

Those challenges aside, having a physical presence in a small town has advantages.

“We definitely appreciate the support we have received from the community for our small business.”

With the recent advent of personal online styling services like Stitch Fix, more and more women are seeing the advantages of seeking out professional styling advice—a service that the ladies of Bangle Boulevard are happy to provide.

“We have a lot of people who reach out to us who don’t have time to come in to shop, but are looking for an outfit for a specific occasion. We then hand-select pieces and style outfits for them. Mom can make a house delivery for the customer to try. This has been a popular service and allows the customer to shop in the comfort of their own home.”

In fact, this is one of the best parts of the job, says Landers. By personally hand-selecting the styles and brands that look, feel, and wear the best, customers of all shapes and sizes can enjoy the advantages of clothing that will flatter their body type and satisfy their style preferences.

It is in this vein that their traveling “Pop Up Shops” have gained increasing popularity, where clients host a fun “girls’ night” of personal shopping in their own home.

“We have done over 20 Pop Up Shops this year across Nebraska and Illinois and already have 15 scheduled for this fall. We offer great hostess rewards and provide snacks and beverages for the ultimate shopping experience.”

So whether you’re searching for the perfect chambray shirt or summer maxi dress, be sure to stop into Bangle Boulevard, or check them out online.

“Having a store in Neligh has been a lot of fun for us,” says Landers. “In the future I would love to make Bangle Boulevard my full time job.”  

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