From Bead Boutique to Fashionista Favorite: Cela Creations in La Grange

As many small businesses do, Cela Creations was born out of a passion—owner Angela Casaccio designed her own jewelry using beads. But now the La Grange Road boutique has grown into a one-stop fashion hub, adding a fresh line of women's clothing last year. 

The store, which started as a bead boutique, now offers shoppers a chance to pick up a dress and accessorize it with the help of the experienced staff. 

"People would come in here to get jewelry and say, 'I wish I could get a top to go with this piece,'" Casaccio said. "Now people come in here all the time and say it's their new favorite boutique."

Besides her handmade jewelry, she offers a variety of styles and designers, as well as other accessories, including handbags and scarves. 

“I had this itch to make jewelry," Casaccio said. "I was a hippie from the ‘70s, I did a little beading then. It’s very therapeutic. And it’s rewarding when you sell something that you made."

So she started making bead jewelry again, and within a month she was doing shows. She worked with her daughter at art festivals, selling the jewelry for about a year before her daughter found another job. In 2009, with her children through college, “I just said it’s my time.” So she opened the store in La Grange.

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Now the hot ticket is the clothing, which includes labels such as Elan, Mystree and Sweet Pea. Casaccio travels to arts shows coast to coast to pick out clothing. She goes to New York and Los Angeles a couple of times each year to attend markets, or fashion shows, and keep up with the latest trends, often seeing items a few seasons in advance.

“You always want something new and fresh in your store," she said. "You want to be set apart. You want to stand out.”

They said it’s easy to know what’s hot at the time—many women will come in after reading something in a magazine or seeing it on TV, and once they have a certain top it’s only a matter of time until a friend comes in looking for the same thing.

Other customers are in a hurry, just looking for something in between errands. One women knocked on the door and said, “Help! I have a date.” And every time, they say they’re able to help.

"People bring in their dresses and say, 'accessorize this,' and we do." They event display some dresses already matched with the jewelry sold in-house, just in case it catches your eye and you want the entire ensemble.

Casaccio's custom brooch bouquets have also gained notoriety, having been featured in the Style Down the Aisle bridal fashion show in Chicago and recommended by Kleinfeld Bridal as a preferred wedding vendor for its brooch bouquets. 

"You’ll always see something different here," she said. 

Ladies' Night Out Event — April 4

Cela Creations is hosting a Ladies' Night Out party from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 4 at the store. Ten percent of all purchases made that evening will go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Guests will be given champagne and light appetizers while previewing new spring collections of jewelry, accessories and designer clothing.  

Go to the events calendar for more information.