New consignment shop offers fine fashions for plus-sized women

The idea for Shirley Drapesa of Wailua Houselots to start up her own consignment shop catering to larger women came out of friends’ frustrations about not being able to find full fashions that fit.

Frustrated, they found fitting fashions faster by flying to Honolulu.

Enter Reflections Consignment, Plus, which opened Friday in Wailua Shopping Plaza, along Kuhio Highway next to TCBY and just a few minutes from the Drapesa home.

“I carry real women’s real fashions,” said Drapesa. The 850-square-foot store offers a combination of new and consigned attire mainly for women sizes seven and above, with some men’s clothing as well, she added.

The shop offers dress wear and some casual clothing, but not as casual as shorts and tank tops. Drapesa sees her new venture as more of a boutique-style shopping experience.

A formal grand opening is several months away, but the store is open now, Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. A highway sign is also coming soon.

The chance for Drapesa to start her own business came sooner than anticipated when she learned from a friend about start-up loans available through Kauai Micro of Lihu’e.

Without some financing from Kauai Micro, the business would have been more than a year from opening, she said.

Kauai Micro loans can be up to $25,000, said Larry Dressler of Kauai Micro. The financing is designed for people who have been turned down by traditional lending sources like banks and credit unions.

The chance to own and operate her own business, Drapesa hopes, will also offer her the chance to spend much more quality time with her children.

Husband Richard Drapesa, a member of the Kauai Police Department currently assigned to Hanalei, was instrumental in getting the store ready to open, she said.

For more information, please call the shop, 822-9477.