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What's Your Favorite?

A fashionable chat with Meghan Chambers, owner of Staxx Apparel.

Photo Edward Biamonte

Meghan Chambers doesn’t have a child, but she does have her own store, Staxx Boutique, which is five years old now. Chambers likens it to having a child. “It’s like having a child that never has a sitter and never goes down for bed,” explains Chambers. “I think it’s finally grown up a bit. We’re learning to walk now instead of crawl.”

In truth, Staxx has done more than just walk. The contemporary clothing store has been running since it began as an anchor at the corner of South Avenue and Walnut Street in downtown Springfield. Chambers has wanted to own a clothing store since she was very little. Perhaps that’s why she speaks with such knowledge and reflection beyond her years. “All through college and all through my schooling, I was applying it back,” she says. “I was thinking, ‘How am I going to apply this to what I want to do in the future?’ That was a key.”

As other stores have come and gone while Downtown Springfield establishes an identity, it has been Staxx that remains. The turnover might seem intimidating to some, but not to Chambers. “I loved the risk,” Chambers says. “I wanted to make it happen for our downtown because we deserve shopping downtown. There’s everything else. I enjoy the risk. I took it arms-wide-open.”

As quickly as fashion changes, Chambers’ mind is equally quick dreaming up ways to improve the store and the experience for the customers. “I love to do creative marketing,” says Chambers. Her constant creativity extends both outside of the store and back within. Coming soon, she’ll be extending the men’s side of the store, complete with a bar and a flat screen TV.

At the store’s five-year mark, Chambers aptly balances her reflections back with her constant vision forward, “It may not be the story I went to bed dreaming about every night, but we’re getting there every day.”

What's Your Favorite:

Clothing item?
“Virgins, Saints and Angels necklace.”

Designer?
“I probably go back and forth. I think that Marc Jacobs is extremely innovative. I think Calvin Klein is consistent through and through. He’s the most classic.”

Science term?
“Dissect.”

Thing about the Staxx location?
“Being downtown. Absolutely, hands down.”

Past fashion mistake?
“Oh my gosh, probably all my college years. Those were big faux pas. It’s hard to say anything’s a mistake because sometimes those mistakes that make you cringe when you see pictures are coming back out from season to season.”

Type of bagel?
“Plain bagel with salt on it. I don’t have to sprinkle it on there; it’s already there.”

Place to travel for market?
“I love Las Vegas, but I love to gamble, so it can be a problem going out to Vegas. I like LA. I like the whole laid-back feel.”

Craving?
“Big Mac. Big Mac attacks are real. Sometimes I can’t even make it out of the parking lot before I start eating them.”

Website?
“Honestly, too many to name. I like many fashion websites. I’m not as big on the  MySpace and Facebook as I should be.”

Thing to microwave?
“Popcorn.”

New summer fashion?
“I’m always a fan of the easy long maxi dresses. They’re so easy. It’s a whole outfit, you don’t have to pick a top or a bottom, it’s all one piece. You can dress it up and wear it for a wedding or wear it all day for work.”

Type of jelly bean?
“Cotton candy.”