Threaded with Heart: Pretty As You Please Marks 25 Years in Simi Valley
Sylvie Belmond 
A small business stitched together by grit, care and personal service
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — When Debby Harris opened Pretty As You Please in 1992, she was stepping away from the stage. A professional dancer at the time, Harris had begun designing and sewing her own dresses — first for herself, then for fellow performers. That creative shift sparked a new calling.
Even after all these years, Pretty As You Please remains a shining example of resilience and heart, proving that supporting small businesses can still feel truly magical.
One day, during a bike ride with a friend, Harris passed a small storefront for rent in Studio City. By the time they got home, she’d decided to open a store. With her husband’s support, Pretty As You Please was born.
The boutique found its long-term home on December 1, 2000, when Harris relocated to Wood Ranch in Simi Valley. Two years later, she faced a turning point: the loss of her husband. Rather than stepping back, she leaned into the business and the community around it.
Through economic slumps and a global pandemic, Pretty As You Please stayed open — serving not just as a retail space but as a familiar, welcoming place for generations of local women.
The store has always been more than a place to shop; it’s a space where women come to feel good, to be seen and to find that perfect outfit that makes them stand a little taller. With free hemming on every in-store purchase and an owner who treats customers like old friends, Pretty As You Please is as much about kindness as it is about clothing.
Customers often speak to that sense of personal connection. “This store is amazing!” one wrote on Facebook. “It always has something for everyone. Debbie has the most incredible fashion jeans… They’re very complimentary and don’t stretch out two sizes throughout the day, but have the perfect amount of give to be comfortable.”
Now, 25 years after its move to Simi Valley, the boutique continues to reflect the values it was built on: staying adaptable, staying personal and staying rooted. Harris still runs the shop with hands-on care, offering the kind of attention and service that’s become rare in retail.
This fall, Pretty As You Please will mark the milestone with its annual holiday event — a long-standing tradition that brings together customers old and new. For Harris, the celebration isn’t just about longevity. It’s about showing up, year after year, and keeping something meaningful going.
For more information, visit prettyasyouplease.com.
