Kiss the Sky Boutique opened in Destin just before the coronavirus outbreak.
DESTIN – Eddie Mansfield was sitting in church when the name came to him for his second women’s clothing boutique in the Destin area, Kiss the Sky.
A name was something he prayed about after driving by his ideal location at the Plantation Commons numerous times on his way to Destin Fitness. He also wanted something more catchy than Favori Boutique, the boutique he opened six years ago at The Market Shops in Miramar Beach. The name is based off of the French word for favorite.
“I felt like the Lord sent me that Kiss the Sky name, so it must be the green light to go ahead,’” Mansfield said. “I called them up, we got in talks and I chose the space and I started decorating it.”
Mansfield made the space pretty and nice, he said – only to close its doors. He opened in February, just a month before the government mandated shutdown.
Now, he wants the community to know it’s reopened.
“I sell artwork, gifts, soaps, some perfumes, clothes – primarily women’s apparel,” Mansfield said. “It’s got a bohemian look. I like things that are a little bit more on the edgy, beachy side. (The brand) Johnny Was on the higher end and Z supply, which is on the younger, inexpensive end, and everything in between.”
The shop also offers jewelry, soy candles and women’s shoes.
Mansfield loves hand selecting items for the shop. He, his girlfriend and one of their employees have fun going to markets in Atlanta and other cities to search for merchandise, he said.
And, running a boutique is in his blood. His family is also behind the Boca Boutique & Galleries in the area.
“My mom was in the boutique business,” Mansfield said. “She had her own stores, from the time I was 5 until recently. It seemed like a good business, something I liked doing – going to market, decorating, finding clothes and jewelry. Even though I’m a man, I kind of enjoyed it.”
Decorating the shop was fun, too.
“It’s got a shabby chic look – really white and uplifting, very coastal,” Mansfield said. “We have a lot of coastal artwork. My dad’s an artist. He’s painted several pieces of new, modern art in there and I’ve bought a good bit of art from Atlanta.”
Mansfield has lived in the area since 2005. He moved to be closer to his parents and has worked at Path of Grace Women’s Recovery Homes for 10 years – currently as the managing director. He loves Destin, he said.
“I’ve always loved the beaches,” Mansfield said. “I’ve been coming here for years and I love the atmosphere in Destin – the relaxed, peaceful community that’s here. It’s nice to be in the slower paced living where you don’t have to dress up much, more casual. My stores are more casual. They’re not really business-y, more going out to dinner, relaxed, beach style clothes.”
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