.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Lillians LLC, a boutique that opens once a month to sell handbags, jewelry, hairpieces and other accessories that mimic designer brands, had its first sale last weekend. The 1,600-square-foot store at 134 Fifth St. in Valley Junction opened for four days, with 1,734 handbags.

Owner LaVonne Kimmes first learned about the concept when she was snowbound in her Wisconsin cabin last February and the only television show she could watch was about the founders of Lillians, based in Buffalo, Minn. Kimmes was one of 350 women who called the owners after the show, and six months later, she became the 14th location and first in Iowa to open.

In addition to the weekend sale, which Kimmes said causes lines around the block at other stores, she also hosts “Diva Dates” for groups of women to preview and purchase merchandise in advance. After the weekend sale, Kimmes joins all the Lillians owners on a two-day buying spree in New York City to restock their supplies.

The business is also focused on supporting women with cancer. Some Diva parties collect donations for women struggling with the disease, and a portion of each store’s sales goes toward the goal of establishing a wellness center.

“We love to make women feel good about themselves by accessorizing them,” Kimmes said.

Before this business venture, Kimmes owned a bridal shop in North Dakota, ran a day-care center in Des Moines while she raised her children, and most recently, did wall and ceiling finishes for homeowners and builders.

Learn more about Lillians at www.lilliansshoppe.com.