805 Peactree Street
By Rafael Solece
It is located on Peachtree,between the corners of 5th and 6th street, nestled inadvertently between two high end furniture stores, and right beneath a swanky midtown condominium complex. If you walk to fast, or are caught up in the business of a busy work day, or hectic life style I assure you that you will definitely miss it. But when you step out on one of those lazy southern weekends, when the drudgery of a week's work is long behind you and light years ahead of you, and you begin a quiet stroll through the streets of Atlanta. And the Melancholy of such a peaceful afternoon causes you to lose all sense of direction, and it just so happens that you find yourself on Peachtree somewhere between 5th and 6th street look up.
It is a quaint little shop, and in theory it would be rather plain if it were not for the stunning store window display. Plain headless manikins dressed in the sexiest, most stylish, original male garments you have ever seen. Maybe it is the shoes or the stunning black coat with the unique collar, or the shirt that zips up on the side instead of down the front that catches your eye. Whatever the case the look is distinctly unique and that is what captures your attention. You stand there for a moment captivated by the amazing style, the awesome designs, and the originality of the pieces. In you're mind you are dressing yourself from head to toe, working out the most spectacular wardrobe from the pieces that you see that fit your personality perfectly. (Women need mirrors and dressing rooms, men need only their imagination) You remember the pair of jeans you just bought that matched nothing in your closet and you think to yourself, that shirt would go great with those jeans. The decision is made your going in but before you can put your hand on the door; the clerk beats you to it. He invites you in with a gentle smile and a brisk wave of his hand. HIs southern hospitality reminds you of something out of a black and white movie. He offers you a bottle of water, or glass of wine. As you walk around admiring the peaces he carries on a casual conversation, and after a while it seems that you two are old friends. Conversing of good times, once had, and past moments of triumph; and of course there is much talk of clothes, parties, and fashion. After long you realize the time has gotten away from you and you have been in the little boutique called Select Boutique for a while, and you have picked up a significant amount of clothes, when at first you had only come for the one shirt. You walk up to the register to check out and the clerk helps you with your things. He hands you a card when you're done' and you realize that the man you were so engaged with is the owner of the shop.
This is exactly the way that I was introduced to Ken Buford and his quant little boutique on Peachtree. There is no denying that the clothes were what brought me into the shop, but it was Ken's charming personality and over powering presence that continuously keeps me going back. He has the air of an old southern favorite, like sweet Georgia peaches he has an air of familiarity. Maybe it is the way he engaged me like we had been friends for years. Or the awesome way he opened his story up to me so freely. But it is that familiar southern hospitality that sets him apart from any other store proprietor. His store like him is warm and inviting, chic and elegant, down home, and upscale all at the same time.
It was no wondered that when I got to thinking about people that I knew of who were in the midst of their success story. Living their ambition and creating a new goal and desire that I immediately thought of Ken. Seemly quiet natured, no one would ever expect that he has done so much in his life, and is still pushing to achieve much more. Hell, I didn't either until the day that I sat down with him for this interview.
Ken showed up in perfect fashion dressed casually in jeans, yet a cut above the rest. He greeted me with a smile and gave me a hug. He is always so warm and inviting, it is hard to meet people like that in the industry. He took the seat across from me, as he told me about his hectic and confusing morning. The trouble with waiting for home appointments; Comcast has no regard for anyone's time. It seems we all have the same complaint. But I was simply happy to be sitting down with him to interview him for my small blog. As soon as we got situated in our little corner on the patio, my excitement over took me and I jumped right in with my line of questioning.
Who is Ken Buford?
I asked in the most professional journalistic tone I could muster. It didn't surprise me at all that Ken was able to answer that question without a glimpse of hesitation. He sat next to me on that bench that lined the wall of the veranda and very methodically he said as he leaned back and fold his hands in his lap; Stylist, entrepreneur, artist.
I would concur with his assessment of himself. The story of Ken Buford is a very intriguing one. Hell, to some as it would seem like the perfect success story, but we all know success doesn't come over night. It certainly didn't happen that way for this Stylist. It was road paved with hard decisions, long hours,
His life reads like the resume of an iconic fashion award recipient. Stylist, designer, model, fashion show coordinator for Revlon. If I didn't know better I would have thought that it was impossible for an unknown like myself to be sitting next to him interviewing such a well known. Yet there I was having a cup of Starbucks coffee, scribbling notes on a legal pad as he severed his life to me like a plate of hot water corn bread and collard greens. It was inspiring to see another black man riding on a wave of success. But as Ken began his story I realized that it wasn't always so for him.
Like most of us, Ken was taught growing up that dreams and fancies are just that, dreams and fancies. They aren't guaranteed and they don't pay the bills. His parents and mentors fed him the same BS that lots of parents feed their children: Go to school, get a job, work that job and retire. The problem with that is that not everybody is a 9 to 5 type person and jobs smother people like the Ken's of the world. But that is just the way parents were; it wasn't that they didn't believe in him or support him, but parents want to see their children successful and not struggling. They try to see us through the disappointment but sometimes parents drop the ball, and like most children Ken followed suit. Going to college, getting a degree and later getting a job as an educational consultant. But that wasn't where his heart was.
Where did Fashion come in?
I asked Ken in kind of confused.
Ken smiled as I suppose what could have been nothing more than a found memory of his childhood played through the cortex of his memory.
Oh, it was my mother. He said in a soft whisper. My mother was a seamstress, and a hair stylist. I remember being a child and watching her make garments for other people. That is what I remember. It was her influence that developed my lover for fashion, and it was her influenced that helped me to cultivate my own style.
I was that kid in high school that got best dressed every year.
It was his mother's passing that sparked Ken's desire to aspire to something else, something for himself. Ken began to rethink his life, and what he wanted for it. He was tired of so-called living the life that was kind of spoken into him. So Ken started the process of reinventing himself. It was time for him to start doing things to make himself happy, and so ken began a new journey; his journey.
That journey began with a job at Revlon. Where Ken acquired an entry level position as a hair model; representing revlon's cream of nature and African Pride products. But like I pointed out before, the genius of Ken Buford was not one to lay dormant for too long, he quickly became a the go to man for ideas and artistic concepts for their hair shows and fashion exhibitions. Before long Ken was styling for Revlon, Coordinating fashion shows, hair shows, trade shows, and presentations for their clientele all over the country and abroad. Ken had the eye, and Revlon recognized his talent, and gave him the outlet to explore and spurn his abilities.
Ken smiled as he remembered his time at Revlon.
It was a great experience and a solid foundation for which I was able to build my career upon. It validated myself worth professionally and gave me a rare opportunity that I probably wouldn't have had otherwise. I got to explore who I was, I learned a lot and I got to meet all different types of people. Revlon was a great experience for me.
Revlon was a great experience, and it primed him for his the next phase of his life. Atlanta bound. Ken found his next station in a High End boutique, where his talents were put to good use. It was in these boutiques that Ken began to build his already huge portfolio of clientele and cultivate relationships with other industry professionals. For 3yrs he networked as a stylist with photographers, models, and artist and record executives; helping to develop their professional and artistic looks. Styling music videos and photo shoots for some of Atlanta's top artist. Yes it was hard work, and yes it took a lot of long hours. But were it not for the hours he put in he could not have found his success. Especially in an industry so full of artist, stylist, and makeup artist, Ken knew that the hard work was worth it if he wanted to be the best. Inevitably his time working in those other boutiques gave him the idea for his own place.
How did the idea of Select Boutique come about?
That smile was beginning to be a key into the mind of Ken Buford. It was sly and always followed by a very strong answer.
Honestly it was planted in my heart a long time ago. I wasn't sure how it would work; especially with the economy being like it is now. I mean four years ago it would have been an easier process, and I knew it probably wasn't the best time to start a business, but I was determined to make it happen.
And so it did, and even in this economy Select Boutique flourishes. In my opinion it flourishes because of the owner that it has in Ken. Ken has created an environment of total comfort and style. When you walk through the doors of Select you are immediately surrounded by ambiance. The air is clean and crisp, and the service is like no other. You immediately feel welcomed as you walk through the door. It isn't just a place where one goes to shop, but it is a place where you can meet people, socialize, network, have a cocktail, maybe even see and impromptu fashion show. (Depending on the day of the week) The People, the business the art, and the clothes that are practically art; It is not just a shopping experience but it is a cultural one as well. The shop reflects its owner's personality and style. Unique and
It isn't just another boutique in Atlanta. We set the trend. WE set the fashion. If you notice we are a men's store, and our goal with that was to give men a place to go and shop and find that special peace, that personal peace that they can wear to that special event that is going to make them stand out. We don't buy in bulk and a lot of our pieces are special so that when our clients do buy something from us, it is almost impossible that they will run into anybody else with that garment on. WE want our customers to be the trend setters. I want you to feel like it is ok to be who you are, to set the trend and not follow it.
That is exactly what Ken has done; set the trend. His shop is so far removed from any other boutique in Atlanta. He is a risk taker, and the risk defiantly has paid off for him. He knows what works and he knows what people in Atlanta are looking for, something special. The Select Boutique is special.
My hope is that every customer has the exact same experience when shopping with us. That they had a good time, that the service was excellent, and that when they get ready to go shopping that they remember Select and how they were treated when they were last in the store, and it prompts them to come back. Because yes I had a great experience when I was there.
So ken what is next for you? Is Select the end of the road?
No, I hope evenly have about 60% of the designs in the shop to be select designs. So I am still working on that part of the business. But from Select I want to do an all women's boutique.
What is the bigger picture?
In the end I hope to build my own agency for the industry; with makeup artist, hair stylist, stylist for commercial fashion show events. Because there are people behind the scenes who make the magic happen and I would like to spot light those people. They need to have the opportunities to grow, and if I can help someone else
Ken has not yet begun to reach the pinnacle of his success as a Designer, as a stylist, as an industry professional. But it is easy to see that he doesn't have far to go. He understands success and what it takes to be successful. The self motivation, the drive and determination; all are required to reach the top. But success is fleeting, and there are different levels of success. Ken is one the visionary's that understands that even his vision his dream is always changing, which means he has to constantly re-invent himself I look forward to seeing where Mr. Buford goes from here. And I hope that sometime in the near future I have the opportunity and the clout to have a chance to be styled by Fashion extraordinaire Ken Buford.
You Can contact Ken Via His web Site
http://www.kalbos.com/
