Miel Boutique

It's that time of the year when we deck out on ❤️ everything 🤍
This year, I'm keeping it somewhat subtle so we can still blend in with the quiet luxury trend. The pink, red, & purple pieces you see at the shop will also blend in with our current concept 🩷

Earrings $28/each

What is everyone shopping for these days?!
Even I ask that question every year this time of the year. Well, this year, it looks like it'll be cold for another few months..
Which is probably why most of you are still interested in jackets + sweaters, right??
For the next few days, I'll be sharing some basic sweaters, jackets & more that are new + popular 🤍
With Valentine's Day coming up, we stocked up on more heart jewelry, & pink sweaters as well 💗💕

In the meantime, sharing how I'm living in the Leidon coatigan which is available in store & at the Mercantile Collective in Glendora as well!

Introducing some hot pink mixed within the all time "old money" look that's trending for another year ahead of us 💗 This hot pink blouse has the cutest feminine details such as ruffled shoulders on the prettiest balloon sleeves 💖 Slowly prepping for Valentine's Day outfits 👚

Many of you have asked about our children's line the past few days! I'm sure it's hard to point out what size you should select & so forth. To better assist, I'll provide how tall Laelle is along with her weight soon! In the meantime, please keep in mind that our sizing is true to size/slightly loose-fit.
These are currently available to stop by & check out in person at our shop, but for any other detailed questions, please feel free to DM me!

Happy shopping & thank you for all the love + support 🤍

Laelle's been such a muse to me since she was a baby because she's always had really long arms & legs & clothes just look good on her. The designer in me creeps out when the fits are so good on my almost 5 year old kid. I know some of you are thinking how important can a fit on a little kid be so special, but girl, it really is. Thanks to Lala, dressing her up was always something we did, taking photos of her outfits in the mornings were a routine...till Elia was born 🤣🤣 Now, it's nearly impossible to shoot both of them, but it didn't stop me from launching the long-awaited dream I had of curating for the littles.

We are starting off with just a handful of styles, as I'm trying to negotiate the best prices & ways to offer Korean designed & made clothing that is EXCLUSIVE to Miel. You won't be able to find any of these pieces in the US, yes including any other "Korean" shops!
The quality of the clothes is top-notch, and the designs are obvi so so cute.
If you've followed along my journey as I slowly unwrapped my personal life as a mom & asked about the girls and their outfits, it's finally here 💖

This jacket has been a crowd favorite as well as Elia's 🤍

After many years of contemplating whether I should join a co-op curated space, I finally had a chance to join the with 🌟

I never knew I'd be a part of a curated boutique of various small businesses other than my own store front, but I'm so glad I joined! Ronnie & her team really curated the businesses featured in the shop so well. The decor & displays she does are so amazing.

For my folks in or near Glendora, please do yourself a favor and swing by before you make an appt with me & make a trip to Mission Viejo!

Thanks for having us at the Mercantile!
I will be restocking this week so stay tuned 💛

A few months back, I was asked to be featured in 🍊
In my 9+ years of business, we were asked to be featured in many different "magazines" numerous times, but those "features" didn't seem legit to me. It was more of a "let me email you a questionnaire." Then you receive a "questionnaire" that you realize you're writing your own article for them, providing them with your own photo...
So then, in that case, I'll just publish my own bio on my website.. "Thanks, but no thanks."

I write this because I am honored to have a real article written not by me, a photo taken by a photographer with commercial lens capturing me (as I look 4ft tall & everyone's so concerned lol)

This is me in other people's eyes. My mother questioned my outfit numerous times, (told her I didn't want to looked "dressed up" as I realize I'm usually so much more dressed up than that 😅) and I might look 4ft tall (I'm taller than that I swear) but I love the reality of it all & the many phone calls about the items featured as well as store hours get me super excited.

Behind every small business owner, there's a much more complicated story beyond your imagination. If I worked on my senior thesis as hard as I do now 15 years ago, I might just have been Designer of the Year. But hey, life happens & I can't be happier to be a boutique owner of 10 years, with 2 little girls & so many supporters like you 💛
Thanks for following along this journey of mine. I'm forever grateful for all of you 😘

For some of us, it's a new year with new opportunities ahead. For some of us, it's another new year with an unpredicted future.

For me personally, it's really both. Miel needs more room to grow back to what it used to be, as I remain a busy mom. This means I need to work more, but I also need to focus on my growing babies. I'm just me, myself, and I, yet I have more than 3 things on my plate. I'm just a wife, mom & a boss, but I'm more than a chauffeur, a cook, & a micromanaging ceo.

More than the excitement behind the new year ahead, I'm afraid of what might go wrong against my own plans & turning 37 sounds like a horror movie.

But what can I do as I'm just me, myself, & I, here on earth where I am temporarily placed.
Who am I to complain about the future & be afraid of what can happen in my life?

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

Let 2024 be a year, abundant in faith. Let 2024 be a year where God shows you His plans vs ours. Let 2024 be a spectacular year led by the Lord ✨️

HAPPY 2024 🎉

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Kim's 🎄
It only took a whole day for me to do a Christmas post!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Your local shops like us might be open for a few hours for those of you doing last minute shopping 🛍
I'm here for another hour for my fellow shoppers looking for a gift or a cute outfit for Christmas gatherings 🎄

My kids are off this week just like yours, so we will re-open on Thursday at 3:30pm!
We will continue with our $25 & $45 sale racks, as well as $20 necklaces & rings till the new year 🎉

Please continue to support your local mom & pop shops this holiday season ❤️

This ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕞𝕒𝕤, I don't want to just share my thoughts on why you should shop small because... you already know to do so if you have shopped small before.
Instead, I want to share the reasons behind why what the small business offers is what it is.

For example, the baked goods you buy from local bakeries & farmers markets are so much more complicated than you think. These folks take so much time & effort, sprinkled with so much love, on each roll of dough, cookie shape & size, the fruits that go in the pies....etc. You can trust me when I say this bc I watch bake those goodies & it's intense. It's worth every penny you pay for & so much more. Yes your box of cookies at Costco might be so good for the little $ you pay for, but girl if you care about what goes in your mouth, spend the extra $ at your local bakery instead.

Just like that, it goes the same for me.
The last thing I want to see is your embarrassed faces at your next wedding as 3 other ladies walk in wearing the same print from Zara. I see this happen at so many events, and the looks on those faces are priceless.
Your local mom & pop shops, handmade or curated, take so much more time in creating the collection. It is thought out with you in their minds. They are unique & one-of-a-kind.

Free shipping doesn't happen everyday. In fact, It costs me a minimum $4 to mail a tiny bangle that weighs nothing, locally. With that said, it costs me $15+ to ship out a sweater. Get the idea?
When we "ship for free" out of courtesy, we are going out of our way to do yall a favor. We are not Amazon Prime and do not have to ship for free. In fact, I only ship for free after a purchase of $150 or more, but even with that, I'm spending approx 10% of that sale to ship for free, plus we pay for all the fees that are due to maintain the business.

I am here today to share the real struggles behind your favorite small businesses bc we really do so much more to offer everything we can to our customers.

But even after an essay long content, if you want to ask what deal I can offer if you buy 2 or more, I'm going to have to say "Sorry, I think you might find luck at Nordstroms Rack instead."

For those in search for unique clothing for the littles; WE have a small curation of kidswear from Korea for girls & boys in store 🤍 For those of you who know, I've been wanting to launch kidswear for about 3 years now & I finally took the leap to do so!

So many people ask me where I get the clothing I put on my kids every day, so it only made sense to share my love for Korean made clothing for the kiddos. They're not only made with quality, but are designed so well ❤️Come shop our new batch of kidswear for ages 12 months to 8 years old 😘

Will show you deets soon!

As we slowly phase out of our plated jewelry to gold-filled & stainless steel jewelry, I've only been showing our new styles at select fundraisers this holiday season. Many have messaged regarding the best selling bangles, as well as the gold cuban chain necklace I've been wearing for the past couple months. I want to continue offering the plated jewelry for the holiday season at the shop before we transition.
But in the meantime, I'm wearing our new double loop stainless steel earrings (you can remove the cubic zirconia loop), thick chain necklace with purple stone (available in black, blue, green, purple, & clear stone), stainless steel bangle in gold/cubic zirconia, & my newest addition of the thick chain link ring I'm in love with (all rings are adjustble in sizing) ❤️
DM if you'd like for me to ship you anything you see! Shipping is on me ;)

I can't ask you to not shop your deals on Amazon & big name department stores, but I can ask you to find your gifts for the loved ones from all the small businesses around you 🤎
If you look around, you will find so much more mom & pop shops that have such unique items, perfect to wrap & place under the Christmas 🎄

Thank you my friends & supporters who have been shopping small early in advance, getting those gifts for the special people around us, & helping me dress for their Holiday galas & events 🥂

I am forever grateful to be your stylist, consultant, & your friend 💛
Since I never got to celebrate our 9th year in business (because I honestly forgot after running 19390238 pop-ups/fundraisers) we will be doing 20% off entirely purchase in store, along with $25, $35, & $45 sale racks downstairs in the courtyard! I'll also have a huge jewelry sale, as we start shifting our jewelry to gold-filled & stainless steel 🌟

See you tomorrow loves & have a wonderful Thanksgiving 🤎

When in doubt, wear b + w 🖤🤍

Loving the lace details on this cotton white blouse that can be worn all year long 🖤🤍

My busy schedule allowed me to change out my decor not long ago..& I've been extremely Mia from the shop. Today will have to be another one of the days where I won't make it to shop, but Kayla will be there to greet you this afternoon! In the meantime, I'll be the crazy busy lady doing her showroom pick-ups for fundraisers happening every weekend till mid Dec ❤️
Thanks for supporting us, & DM me for our next event locations!

Our faux suede cowgirl hats were the first of this style to make a huge debut of Western hats at our shop same time last year 🤠

We restocked the same style with the silver heart decor around the crown, this time in everyday colors to make this one of your daily essentials 👢

Pssst; I'll soon be offering hat customizations such as initials & illustrations with an additional charge! Stay tuned!

It was our 6th wedding anniversary a few days ago. We didn't have any plans to celebrate this year. Instead, I asked Kevin if he'd like to attend a pop-up in Playa Vista with me.
I usually do pop-ups & fundraisers alone, so it was amazing to have some help, you know?

Unfortunately, special occasions don't seem so meaningful since we've had kids. When our in laws were near by, we would plan short getaways and fancy dinners, but it's so hard having just my mom helping out with a handful of rides & babysitting.

Despite the fact that I feel this way, I'm very thankful I married such a family guy; Genuinely loves to stay home and watch the kids when I need my time to myself or work and so romantic & affectionate. Everything he is & does is the complete opposite of me, which can be very difficult at times. But how lucky am I to be able to be told how much I am loved all day everyday & understands my needs to be "alone" at times!

I wanted to remind myself of the 9 out of 10 things he does right for me, although it only takes 1 thing he does wrong to ruin it all at times, we can take a few days to remind how grateful we are to have a loving spouse that made it this far, right?!

I hope every young mom can feel less overwhelmed tonight because, girl, we are are all on the same page. We are suffering yet enjoying these times together!

What matters to you as a momtreprenuer?
I want to share some struggles as many makers share that they would love to have a retail space like us in the near future.
Well, the truth is that I do what I do because I really enjoy this & that is it at this point 👉 Back 9 years ago, retail was great. You didn't need a huge following on social media. You didn't need an online store with new arrivals posted every day. In fact, people didn't even ask about our social presence & website.
Fast forward 9 years, I'm the only boutique owner that is Korean, with a clientele that is everyone but Koreans, 🤣🤣 that has made it this far. I think I can proudly say that the bright yellow MIEL logo is fairly known to many of you in OC & that is what I'm really proud of ⭐️
There were times we were asked to sell our business & the stubborn Asian in me said "NEVER!" Do I regret it? Heck yeah! Lol. Can't lie guys...

BUT, when I'm at fundraisers & events where so many women remember our logo, our boutique back in Costa Mesa, sharing stories of items they have purchased in the past, it's my honor & privilege to be that Korean girl who worked extra hours & took extra steps as a minority to come this far.

With my 9 year anniversary so close, I have so many things I want to disclose. But one thing I do want to share with you that 99% of the other makers/sellers DO NOT say is that retail is not always great. Rent & overhead is real. You will work even more hours than your 9 to 5 job. If you're a mom, it's even worse.
So mama's, don't just "chase after your dream." It's really not something you should just do bc you are so over your corporate job..

>>>Continued in comments....

What does shopping local mean to you? Personally, I try to visit a local roaster for coffee, or purchase gifts from mom & pop shops vs department stores. To me, every purchase you make with a small business means 193902 times more than making a purchase with one of fifty employees that work at Nordstroms. Don't get me wrong. Nordstroms needs your business to maintain their buyers & staff too. But don't get me wrong, the handful of employees that are working at your local boutique can also provide so much more attention & knowledge on what you are purchasing with them 😘
Please continue to support the small businesses inside the Union Market in Mission Viejo although we are only open Thursday to Sunday till further notice, we are providing the best products & customer service we can possibly offer 🤎

We are on reduced hours at the shop this month till further notice. The mall was bought out, so there are a few uncertain things happening, but all of the shops inside the Union Market are open Thursday to Sunday 🌟
I'll still be opening for those who DM me for specific styles to be picked up so don't be shy & please continue to support the small businesses around us 💗

I don't post much of the events I attend, but I love intimate settings with close friendors & this is another one with them 🥂

I wanted to let everyone know ahead of time, so we can make sure yall can join us on the day of!

On Oct 1st, we will be back in Newport for an intimate shopping experience, along with botox by Dr. Nasser, hosted by 🤍

I'll have a full set up with accessories & clothing, with her luxurious clean burning candles, with her one-of-a-kind statement jewelry, with quality, handcrafted hats, permanent jewelry by , with her sweets & offering ear seed, a form of acupressure, & charcuterie to go with our complimentary champagne by 🧀🍾

Join us & support your local small business this Fall 🍁

This odd weather calls for subtle, toned-down hues...doesn't it?
Well, at least for the time being 🤍🤎🖤🩶

These are a few of my favorite, best selling new arrivals at the shop!
I'm working on updating the website with them, but in the meantime, feel free to DM to purchase☆

I know September just started, but summer did start later this year...SO I'm going to extend summer vibes for a little longer! Especially with the really hot weekend ahead, I think I'll plan some weekend special instead ☀️ For those ready for colder weather feels, we do have fall vibes in store too 🍂

All of these styles are available online ✨️

Idk about you, but I just want to stay comfy this long weekend ✌️

The Utopia washed ribbed jersey pant is so good; Beautifully embroidered throughout the entire pants, front & back 🖤🤍🖤🤍

They are going quick, I only have a few pieces left so DM me if you'd like one on hold!

Feels like this year went by extra quickly for me. No one told me having toddlers 22 months apart would be this difficult 🤣 Don't get me wrong though, I highly recommend having 2 kids since it is so rewarding to watch them get along & play (meaning you get some alone time!)
For those of you new here, I'm just a 1.5 generation, Korean-American mom, hustling between her 9 year old clothing boutique & her 4.5 year old & 2.5 year old daughters...
The fashion industry has been the only industry I've worked in...so I couldn't imagine doing anything out of this bubble. I have to say that there are many times I miss working corp...(thought you'd never hear that huh 🤣) but nothing can beat being your own boss right?

Thanks for following us through our journey! It's almost our 9 year anniversary, & I can't wait to share what I plan to offer ;)

Been super quiet here, with my kids off for a short summer break from daycare last week.
Spent lots of time with them, & didn't get to show off every single new arrival, but we have tons of newness in store & a few online!
It's the "last month of summer," although we've only had heat for so long & my fellow SoCal ladies know we'll prob have a warm Christmas this year 🤣🤣🤣
Snag your not so last bits of summer outfits in store & online this month!