Fashion Styles And Trends

Doug, a former aircraft mechanic for the State Department of Defense, says the couple had to learn just about everything from how to manage inventory and figuring lead time to consumer buying patterns and accounting.

They’re still on that learning curve, according to Doug, and their on-the-job education continues at “Fun ‘N’ Fashion,” a new costume and fashion jewelry store in the Kings Lake Square plaza on Davis Boulevard.

“The best way for me to make a living is to offer fair pricing on good quality jewelry,” he says. “We always dreamed of owning our own store. Now we can do that.”

Fun ‘N’ Fashion, which has been open barely a month, has been a hit among plaza regulars; Doug looks for swelling restaurant traffic as snowbirds return for season to bump up business, and is already considering expanded hours.

“The feedback has been fantastic. Customers really like our store. Many of them have told us East Naples needed a store like this one for a long time.” said Doug. “We just want to make sure they’re happy enough to come back.

The hardest thing about managing the fascinating store has been figuring out how much to buy, said Doug pointing to rubber care bracelets made popular by Lance Armstrong, as an example. “I bought three dozen on a tip from a supplier. Two weeks later, I was ordering 60 dozen,” he recalled.

Fun ‘n’ Fashion features a wide variety of designer-inspired handbags, sunglasses and watches in addition to its jewelry collections. Among its big sellers are a myriad of different Hematite magnetic bracelets and the best selection of magnetic stainless steel link bracelets in southwest Florida.

According to Doug, pain is the result of certain electric impulses and magnetics can counter those impulses and deaden pain.

“They’re very popular among golfers,” he said. “My customers swear by them.”

From Swarovski crystal to sterling silver, Fun ‘N’ Fashion is a kick for even the most jaded shopper. Big, bold, beaded necklaces are in again this year with emphasis on tans, browns and golds. Mixed in among piles of holiday and seasonal jewelry are all kinds of flirty gold and silver evening bags.

Doug said at first he questioned why the store needed to stock up on handbags, but went along with his wife’s instincts. Now, he says, he sees the wisdom of carrying a multitude of styles and colors noting handbags are a lot like shoes -- women just have to have them.

And, of course, there are other fashion accessories such as this year’s newest idea, popcorn shirts. The crinkly, puffy, crushable lightweight clothing is all the rage among trendy travelers.

Of special interest to jewelry aficionados is the Murano-style Venetian glass. Slivers of gold, copper or bronze are melted into glass to create an exotic looking medium for making bracelets, necklaces and earrings. And if that’s not enticement enough, the Gunzenhausers lay claim to one of the area’s only Venetian glass artists so customers can literally create their own jewelry designs.

“You bring in a picture or a drawing and our designer will turn it into a one-of-kind piece of jewelry,” he said.