Benicia’s got fashion! From wearable art to fashionable furnishings, Downtown and the Arsenal offer many choices for stylish shoppers. We asked three style questions of five downtown store owners, all who have an abundance of expertise, each with a very different, distinctive style. Clearly passionate, their answers provide insight into how they’ve been successful in a tough market. All five women will be featuring their collections in the Fashion Weekend runway show.

What Does Fashion/Style mean to you?

Christina Strawbridge, Christina S Fashion Destination:

Fashion is about self-expression, independence, and creating themes—and it’s been my livelihood since I was seventeen.

Claudia Mahrt, Be Chic Boutique

It means life, it means adventure. I love what I’m doing right now—I love the seasons, particularly the new styles coming out in the fall. When you are into fashion, it reflects in your face, and when you have something that fits you well and suits your personality, you feel good about yourself.

Leah Perry-Shelhorn, Studio 41

To me it’s all about comfort. It’s all about feeling good and being positive in your clothing.

Yvonne Armas, Miguelena

It means truly expressing your own personal style and feeling fabulous about what you are wearing. It should reflect your personality as well as being comfortable. After-all, a confident woman is always in fashion!

Laurie Key, Piccolo

Using contemporary pieces in your wardrobe to reflect your personality. Using your wardrobe as an expression of who you are.

Describe your go-to fashion piece

Christina Strawbridge, Christina S Fashion Destination

That’s a really good question—actually, I have it on. It’s a Cynthia Ashby black mesh dress and I can take it on my trips to Europe or wherever I’m traveling. It’s really easy to accessorize and I can make it look casual, I can make it look dressy, and I can wear it to black tie affairs. And it doesn’t wrinkle when you pack it.

Claudia Mahrt, Be Chic Boutique

I’m a very classic person, I carry classy items. Nothing trendy or extravagant. I love black, especially black pants, which I combine with other colors. Black is always the base. In the fall, which is my favorite season, I love the way things can be put together and layered.

Leah Perry-Shelhorn, Studio 41

Colors, textures and great quality. I wear things made by one person, or two people, or a cottage industry, nothing above a cottage industry. And that makes me feel special when I wear the piece – that I know the artist who made it.

Yvonne Armas, Miguelena

It is so hard to choose, there are so many key pieces in a woman’s wardrobe. I would have to say the "little jacket." You can wear it with jeans, leggings, skirts and over a dress to take you from casual to dressy.

Laurie Key, Piccolo

A really good pair of MEK (pronounced, “Meck”) Denim. Really good pair of jeans, really good pair of clogs.