Broadway Just Got a Lot Cuter

Bananas is your one stop shop for all things cute, fun and unique. Owner Lizzy Colley, known around town and on her blog as “The Connoisseur of Cute,” has been collecting adorable things since childhood. “I’m a lover and hoarder of cute, whimsical, novelty clothing and accessories,” she says. “You’ll go bananas for everything in my store!”

People have been going bananas over the Texas native for years now. She’s made a name for herself as the go-to model for Project Runway and Pretty Snake/World of JAS designer Joseph Aaron Segal... you know, the crazy kitty sweater guy. “I met Joe three years ago, and he said, ‘Hey, would you like to model for me?’ We totally hit it off. He jokes that the sweaters don’t sell unless they’re on me.”

With her meticulously cut bob, her wide smile and her seemingly effortless sense of style, she truly is a vision of delight. But don’t worry – you can learn to up your adorable quotient too. With every item you buy (or contemplate buying), Lizzy happily provides individualized styling tips.

Inside her West Side boutique, dressed in a ‘50s style swing dress and trendy creepers, she reaches for a cropped gray t-shirt that’s bedecked with a glittery design. “If you want basics, go to The Gap. Everything here has that little extra pizzazz,” she says, holding up the tee. “You could wear this with some high-waisted denim shorts or with a long, flowy maxi skirt and wedges."

After going to school for fashionmerchandising and retail marketing at JWU, Lizzy worked in retail for years, honing her unique aesthetic as an employee at several antique and vintage stores. “While I don’t actually sell anything vintage here, lots of the items are vintage inspired.”

As you first enter the store, a glass cabinet of accessories screams for attention with its candy colored selection of earrings, necklaces and rings. Upon closer inspection, I see that one pair of earrings is made out of actual candy. “Aren’t those fabulous?” Lizzy asks. “They’re doorknocker earrings made from real rainbow jimmies! I’d wear them with a bright solid color dress, a topknot, a pink lip and a bold shoe.”

Named after her father (they used to call him Dr. Bananas in the 1970s), the boutique opened its doors in April. “I decided to open my own store because it’s always been a dream since I was a little girl. I really wanted to share my unique vision with the world.”

She squats down to arrange some vinyl iPod cases into a neat row. “I love clothes and I love people. Also, I’m a shop-a-holic! I’m always searching for items that you won’t find anywhere else in the city. I want to show the world that anyone can dress more fun.”