Rancho Santa Fe resident brings boutique to community she calls home

By Karen Billing

Staff Writer

A new boutique has popped up at Del Rayo Village in Rancho Santa Fe, offering everything from flip flops and beach bags to dresses by Diane von Furstenberg. Called Poppy Boutique, Fairbanks Ranch resident Heather Hunter opened the shop in mid-July.

Prior to opening Poppy, Hunter built a local following selling apparel on her retail website “Pink Icing” and with a small selection for sale at Plume in the RSF village.

Hunter is very excited to bring the store to the neighborhood where the bulk of her clients call home.

“There aren’t a lot of options for people in the area to shop, it always feels like such an event to go to somewhere like Nordstrom or the mall,” Hunter said. “I wanted to have multiple options close by, a boutique that can really cater to the community. This community was able to help me build my business and I want to provide a service back to them.”

Hunter started Pink Icing in 2002 out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Fashion options were limited in Calgary and as Hunter become increasingly interested in designer style, she started the site as a way to introduce fellow Canadian women to the latest styles. Surprisingly though, most of her clients were from the U.S.

Her husband’s job relocation landed Hunter in Fairbanks Ranch and Pink Icing picked up steam. When a friend offered her a small spot to showcase her clothing in Plume, she jumped at the opportunity.

“My clientele grew and grew so I needed more space,” Hunter said.

Her new space in Del Rayo looks fresh and new — she completely remodeled the former Gracie location, lightened and opened it up. The boutique is crisply white with splashes of funky hot pink and orange. Clear globe lights hang from the ceiling and a pair of Capiz shell chandeliers make a big statement over a display of jewelry, courtesy of M&M Gems, a line run out of Fairbanks Ranch.

Poppy has items for everyday casual looks such as tops, jeans and cardigans, “easy to grab and good for gifts,” as well as a variety of dresses from American contemporary designers, good finds for women busy with events and functions. Hunter said when a woman declares there’s nothing in her closet and there’s an event in six hours, they can pop into Poppy for a fix.

The store carries looks from the aforementioned von Furstenberg, Trina Turk, Milly, Ella Moss and Velvet, to name just a few.

Hunter is “very excited” to bring a store to her most loyal local clients — she even let them participate in naming the store “Poppy.”

“I just love the sound of it — it sounds so light and fun,” Hunter said.

Stay tuned for details on Poppy’s grand opening event, set for Sept. 29. Poppy is located at 16087 San Dieguito Road, Ste D2, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 and is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. For more information about Poppy, please follow the boutique on Twitter at @poppyboutique and Facebook at https://

www.facebook.com/pages/Poppy-Rancho-Santa-Fe/122079677873620

1. Poppy can be contacted at 858-756-5528 or shop@poppyrsf.com.