Not surprisingly, Silver’s boutique showcases a variety of styles, enough to please women ages 20 to 70 who enjoy well-fitted clothes.  

Let’s look at the word boutique. Derived from the French word for “shop,” it typically denotes exclusive designers that create small batch luxury fashions for the elite and wealthy. A boutique experience is Cinderella, and Wal-Mart is the step-sisters. However, at Sonja you can scratch the word wealthy. Her price points are well below the average boutique — a reason why she has enjoyed such continued clientele devotion. 

Another reason for her success: Sonja’s selections range from edgy tees with fanciful graphics, images and slogans (get your Gritty Tacoman T-shirt here) all the way to bejeweled cocktail dresses and flowing gowns. The longtime Tacoma resident has much pride in her city and dreamed up the aforementioned T-shirt to publicly broadcast that pride (get yours now). 

Sonja’s stock changes frequently. Silver likes to keep things fresh and features funky reading glasses, warm woolly scarves and wraps, and original jewelry designs by a local artisan. 

Run your hands across silky chemises, saucy striped cardigans, rainbow colored tanks with scalloped lace trim, and puffy vests adorned with faux fur collars and hoods. 

In one corner of the boutique, a large basket displays woven sandals and floppy hats nestled against a rack with lacy blouses, silk button-ups and mildly deconstructed blazers and jackets. The items progress into a wall of snappy dresses and towering black wedge heels with shiny buckle detail. 

Check out updated tie-dyed dresses, button clad thick sweaters and jeans for the skinny, tall, and curvy hipped. 

Common denominator? 

Items can be worn together to create a myriad of different looks, occasions and seasons. 

Drop by the Crave show — a huge holiday shopping party with tons of vendors Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Seattle’s McCaw Hall — and shop Sonja’s Clothes To Live In.

[Sonja, Clothes To Live In, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and by appointment, 2701 N. 21st St., Tacoma, 253.272.1565, www.sonjatacoma.com]