From boutique to clothing designs, the Brown Fox isn’t too hard to find

Lolita Dorsey, owner of Brown Fox Boutique, models a pair of earrings she made.

by Kia Marie Cook
Method Man once said it best: Everybody’s "...tryin’ to hunt down the Brown Fox."

Well Meth, come to Milwaukee and it won’t be too difficult to find her because she’ll be shopping at one local boutique.

Brown Fox Boutique, located at 3475 North Oakland Avenue, is a typical sassy, chic boutique--with one major difference.

"I have more of an urban edge," says Lolita Dorsey, owner and operator of the small shop.

Dorsey opened the Shorewood boutique two years ago, after giving her business a "test-run" online.

"I came from an IT background. So when I first went into business, I started a website," she said.

Dorsey initially did all of her business over the Internet using PayPal, an online payment service. But as business grew, she decided to expand. Within two months of launching the business online, Dorsey opened the store.

Since doing so, business has continued to boom. "It’s been getting better and better and better. Business is treating me well," Dorsey said.

The boutique, which boasts itself as "the little store with lots of style," specializes in junior sizes, vintage clothing and fashionable accessories.

"Vintage clothing really inspires me because vintage is what everybody uses as a basis," Dorsey said. "They just go back and say, ‘oh we’re going to switch that up and make it a little more modern.’"

Though inspired by vintage clothing in general, Dorsey said she is partial to styles from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s.

"I really love that era. I love the style, the ‘classicness’ of it ... it’s still sexy but it’s not you know (over the top)," she said.

Holding onto her inspiration, when buying for the store, Dorsey looks at the current fashion trends; vintage styles and then adds her special urban flair to them.

So the shop contains many unique fashions, particularly in the accessories department. Dorsey makes many of the accessories she sells.

"I love making jewelry. I’ve always made it. In high school I used to make earrings and things for my friends," the Milwaukee native who grew up in a family of entrepreneurs said.

In the future, Dorsey hopes to expand her shop to a larger location, but before then, she wants to carry her own designs.

"There are times when I’m looking for something specific for the store and I can’t find it. Well, instead of continuously looking for it, I think, "I could make it and put it in the store myself,’" she said.

Carrying her own designs is a goal that’s not too far off in the future for Dorsey. In fact, later this fall, Brown Fox Boutique will begin carrying one-of-a-kind Dorsey originals.

"(Customers will) know that when they come in here and buy a piece, that’s mine, it’s original and you’re not going to see it all over the place," she said.

Before launching her designs in the boutique, Dorsey will host a fashion show to premiere her designs on October 21 at Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ.

"I’m excited about it too because I’ve wanted to do this for a while, but I’ve been too critical of myself to go ahead and get it out there," Dorsey said. "Now I’m just ready to put my nose in the dirt and do it. I know I can. I’ve been doing it--it’s time."