Esperanza Rico and Estrellita Rico of The Princess Boutique in Santa Rosa offer their clients cradle to grave service—or nearly so.
The tall-walled and brick-lined showroom is divided into sections where first communion suits, quinceañera “coming out” gowns, prom and wedding dresses sit, lit in abundant sunshine. Their clothing covers the principle passages (marked with rose trellis) through which a traditional Latina processes during her lifetime.
I asked Estrellita Rico, the daughter and helpmate to owner Esperanza Rico, why they didn’t offer funeral wear to complete their clients’ lifetime needs. She laughed that they did—provided they wanted to be buried in a big foofy dress. And, come to think of it, yes, I do.
Entering their boutique on Railroad Square, one is immediately drawn to the quinceañera section, with its long rows of court dresses in every color of the rainbow, from the most traditional Mexican, big and black, embroidered with climbing red roses, to the most American, a straight ahead pink “Cinderella” ball gown.
And dancing pole to pole are gowns in shades of scarlet, magenta, lavender, lime and daiquiri, bedewed with “pearls,” or opulent with silver-threaded arabesques, lace, giant bows, silk butterflies or the blossoming flowers of maidenly spring.
To one oppressed by regnant minimalism, it is all so rapturously extra. And I have not even described the rhinestone traced silk flower bouquets or the rhinestone mounting quince crowns that put the crown jewels of Europe to shame.
Fresh from a quince fitting, I sat down with Esperanza Rico. Estrellita Rico helped a bit with translation. I might add, for description, that as Esperanza Rico spoke, there hung over her shoulder a three-quarters life-sized double photo of her daughter as a 15-year-old quince princess, looking imperious, in a gown of peach and another of emerald.
Cincinnatus Hibbard: Why do you do this work?
Esperanza Rico: When I was a little girl, growing up in Michoacán, I never had birthday parties.
My single mother didn’t have the money for decorations or presents. But my grandmother made me a doll out of an old sock, and I would make beautiful dresses for it with paper and glue. I never had a quinceañera, but I dreamed of a peach-colored tule quinceañera dress… Now I live to make other girls’ dreams come true…
Lovely … perhaps you could give all us a rundown of the services you provide.
Special event clothing, from our inventory, catalogs and sometimes my own original
designs—I went to design school in Mexico and worked with dressmakers. We have inclusive sizing, from size zero to 4X. We do clothing alterations of our clothing or clothing people bring in. And we have accessories for everything. We are a one-stop shop.
And I understand you have extensive contacts in every aspect of event planning—if your client needs a balloon arch, make-up, catering or a stretch humvee.
Yes. We actually did event planning until the pandemic. We might start again…
How were you able to start this business?
We started a party business making decorations at home. Later, we were able to purchase an existing dress shop with money we won at the casino. We started with $100 (laughs).
Estrellita Rico: My mother is very lucky; she has a good spirit and good energy (laughs).
Tell me, Esperanza, is it too late for you to have a quinceañera?
When I turned 50, I had my “cincuentañera” with all my childhood best friends and family Michoacán. I wore an emerald dress….
Estrellita Rico: Her dream did come true. My dad was the chambelan.
Learn more: Their instagram is @princess_boutiquesr.
