By Anna Gustafson
Eliot Castillo knows fashion.
The man who just opened LASH Bayside Boutique on Bell Boulevard for years styled celebrities, including Usher, Jennifer Lopez and Naomi Campbell when he helped to run Lounge, a high-end clothing store in SoHo.
After Lounge was bought out by Victoria’s Secret about two years ago, Castillo decided he wanted to return to his roots and “bring some style” to his native Bayside.
“I wanted to bring something trendy to Bell Boulevard, which is already a classy neighborhood,” said Castillo, who grew up in Bayside. “We didn’t want girls to have to travel to Manhattan to get decent fashion.”
The LASH store, at 43-17 Bell Blvd., opened in May and includes a wide variety of women’s clothing, from brightly colored dresses to more casual tank tops and a host of accessories, including purses, earrings and necklaces. Castillo noted he wanted the merchandise to be affordable — nothing is priced more than $54.
“I’m giving everybody a deal, a bargain,” he said.
The owner, a graduate of Holy Cross High School in Flushing, said it was especially important to offer lower-priced items during economically rocky times.
“I used to be in the high-end market, but that took a dive and people are more conscious about spending now,” Castillo said. “Girls tend to wear things no more than five times when they go out, so I don’t want them to feel guilty buying something new.”
Castillo said he understands the importance of feeling unique in a world where so much clothing is mass-produced, and he only buys six of each item with the hopes of allowing girls to cultivate a wardrobe that is different from everyone else.
“I don’t want girls to see what they’re wearing on someone else,” he said.
The owner pays close attention to celebrity fashion when deciding what to sell in his store, and he said he tries to be ahead of the game by offering seasonal pieces sooner than other stores. For example, he will soon offer autumn clothes as well as summer pieces.
“I get ideas from what others are doing and then concoct my own vision from that,” Castillo said.
Since the store opened its doors a couple weeks ago, Castillo said they have been very busy.
“The girls have responded really well,” he said.
More than just the fashion, Castillo said the store allows him to spend time in his hometown.
“It feels good that I can give something back to the neighborhood,” he said.
Reach reporter Anna Gustafson by e-mail at agustafson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
