This past weekend, And Then celebrated its seventh year as a Long Beach staple in women-led fashion. Holding a mix of trendy vintage and wholesale clothing, the boutique quickly became a hallmark of downtown Long Beach, tucked away in a slew of cafes, vintage shops, and other local businesses. A pink and green sign sits over a matching pink doorway, welcoming all guests into a world of fashion, art, and home goods.

For their anniversary event, they opted for a circus theme to celebrate, donning their shop with streamers and banners while employees in party hats served popcorn in festive bags. The owner, Katie Hectus, said that the shop employees recently found themselves saying, “Seven years at the circus!” and the mantra stuck. “It was a fun and silly way to celebrate the chaos,” said Hectus. “We thought it would be a fun escape for a few hours while giving us a chance to showcase some great makers and artists.” 

In the front of the shop sat custom-made crewnecks and t-shirts for the event that followed the joyful circus theme, including red, blue, and yellow earrings made by a local artist. It was a conscious and intentional decision to support artists in the area, a choice that’s reflected in the layout of the store. Everywhere you turn, you’re likely to be looking at something made or designed by an artist in the area. “The typical process involves me reaching out with a theme or idea in mind and the artists then create a piece that we use on products like tees and tote bags,” Hectus explained. “We’ve also done a few jelly collections! We, of course, always pay for the artwork and hope it’s a chance to share their work with our audience and community.” Surely enough, the event brought back loyal customers and introduced new clients to And Then, inviting various vendors to support small businesses alongside their own. Walking through the store was an experience of its own—aisles filled with assortments of knick-knacks and head-turning dresses, a booth at every corner selling sweets, tarot card readings, face painting, and more. In the back of the store, sitting amongst beautiful collections of curated vintage were two tattoo artists and a dog-friendly photo booth for shoppers to delve into when they need a break from digging through the racks for treasure. 

And Then is a great example of a good cause and great fashion, at accessible prices to the community around them. As they kick off their lucky number seven with consistent efforts to give back to others, make sure you stop by if you find yourself in the Long Beach area to get lost in their colorful garments and support women-led businesses!