http://www.kiwithebeauty.com

For 16 years, She’s International Boutique has housed leading international fashions as well as up-and-coming designers who are making impactful fashion statements. Each finely constructed piece claims exquisite craftsmanship, quality fabric and materials, and for many of our brands, we are the exclusive sales locations in the United States. We take pride in creating a luxurious shopping experience for our customers and a chance to shop for a purpose.

MEET DIANE SPEAKS

Diane Speaks is the owner of She’s International Boutique since 2006. The boutique is located in the heart of Downtown Roanoke, VA.

Diane Speaks is the owner of She’s International Boutique. She was a former flight attendant who always had dreams of fashion. She convinced her love for international travels and fashion and opened She’s International Boutique in 2006.

In her youth, Diane’s family lived in various places as a military brat. She lived all over the world as her dad stationed her family all over the world including Japan, London and other countries. This inspired Diane at a very young age an affinity to travel, in which she later became a flight attendant. She was an international flight attendant for 33 years for Piedmont and US Airlines. Unfortunately during the 9/11 terrorist attack of 2001, she seen her industry go through drastic changes. She exclaimed that they were only paying the flight attendance only 40% of their salaries, which was causing financial hardships. She decided to start being creative and start the launch of having her own business.

She developed a lot of relationships in her travels and the fashion industry and used some of those relationships to help open up She’s International Boutique in 2006. She was still flying and running the boutique up until 2014, where she finally retired from the air and went full time as a boutique owner in Roanoke. Diane has retired her wings but continue to be an expert in international fashion and owning a shop where you don’t need a passport to have items from all over the world.

She’s International Boutique is Roanoke’s special charm and one of their best boutiques to shop for all international needs and desires in fashion! It’s a beautiful space boasting of 3 levels of shopping and browsing of the boutique’s inventory.

PHILIPPINE WOVEN PRODUCTS

All of these products in this section are my absolutely favorite items. I was so drawn to each and every last one of these items, Diane expressed to me they were imported from the same distributor in the Philippines.

The woven items were an eye-catcher to me from the parrot purse, to the Watermelon purse and of course the parrot and watermelon earrings. Seeing the craftsmanship of these woven products made me truly want to visit the Philippines for myself!

BESTSELLERS: TULIP BAGS

Diane has showcased her best selling items in her store are these amazing  Tulip Bags that are imported from The Netherlands (Holland).

As you can see beyond the Tulip shoulder bag , they come in a variety of other forms; coin purses & keychains. All of the bags and products come in a variety of colors. Diane has stated she gets a new set of colors every season. There is even a way to get a custom color collection, but of course that is an extra charge and it will need to be imported.

AROUND THE WORLD FASHION

Diane Speaks showcasing a beautiful t-shirt dress imported from Japan.

What makes She’s International Boutique special is that Diane still travels to various countries and handpicks each item to be added to her store. Her store, which opened 18 years ago, features clothing, jewelry, handbags, and accessories with personal styling & shopping appointments weekly.

Diane makes sure to have International flags hanging all over the boutique to showcase where some of her fashion findings originate from. Her favorite country to shop and visit is Italy!

You can walk all around the boutique and feel you have entered into another country for fashion in every corner. It was fun asking Diane and different unique products or clothing and she would respond with a different country.

She has a style for almost every taste! You can shop from around the world such as Europe, India, Asia, Africa, and even in the USA! If you want to shop by country, Diane can help you do just that, or feel free to discover a new style from a country you have yet to visit. Just know when you leave the store, you have purchased an item that will be elusive and contemporary which makes it all the most cosmopolitan in your closet!

STAR PRODUCTS & PHILANTHROPY

For 16 years, She’s International Boutique has donated around $16,000 to local charities. SIB frequently partners with United Way to assist with community needs. When a customer purchases our Star Jewelry from Istanbul, Turkey, 30% is given to United Way.

She’s International Boutique frequently participates in philanthropy, by choosing brands that participate in empowering women of color around the world to have a working wage. Along with this, SIB has supported its community by giving over $10,000 to local nonprofits to assist with charitable community needs. SIB is the only boutique of its kind in Roanoke City.

FAVORITE FASHION FINDS

All of these images I captured were things that caught my eye in the shop. It was plenty more, but you will be scrolling for hours if I posted them all.

As an earring designer, of course I seen plenty of one-of-kind styles that were impressive. I love handbags and purses with a pop of color and a little quirk. The boutique is known for fashion finds, but she also has a beauty section of body, skin & hair products that are also international as well.

Fashion Two-Piece Olive Cape & Dress

This dress had to get a feature. I also believe Ms.Diane would love to see myself own this as she expressed it is a perfect match for my eyes.

Its definitely a dress that is sure to turn heads for any upscale event or runway.

SHE’S INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADES

• She’s International Boutique is featured in the Lifetime film “A Party Gone Wrong”.

• SIB has donated hats, sleeping bags, socks, gloves, pillows, coats, and shoes to the Homeless Assitance Team for families in hardships.

• Diane Speaks personally accompanies innercity youth to museums, upscale restaurants, and introduces children to key figures of the community to spark the imagination.

• She’s International Boutique collaborated with Pillowcase Project with flight attendants in Roanoke and Salem in collecting over 900 pillowcases that were taken to Ghana. The women there were taught to create dresses from the pillowcases. The women sold the dresses creating income to support their family.

• Recently sponsored over 40 kids to visit ‘Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design’
at Taubman Museum.

What caught your eye in She’s International Boutique?