A new shopping experience in Centre County is allowing the clothes to come to the customer.

State College’s Connie Martin has become the newest style consultant for J. Hilburn, an up-and-coming men’s clothier. Martin will come to your home or office, take your measurements, then show you samples of fabrics you can choose from to design your own custom outfit.

“It’s high-end stuff, comparable to products bought at Nordstrom or Barneys — we use the same manufacturers they do, but we are able to save customers 60 percent of the cost because there isn’t a retail store involved,” Martin said.

Once fitted, customers who know what they want can choose from the assortment of available color patterns, fabrics and prints to create their own design. Those looking for more guidance can consult with Martin as to what will look good on them.

After their first order, customers’ measurements are in the store’s system so they can go online to www.jhilburn.com to place new orders without having to consult Martin again. Order times range from three to six weeks for delivery, and Martin will perform any needed minor alterations.

The company was founded on providing custom-fit dress shirts, but has recently expanded into suits, slacks, sweaters and accessories. Prices range from $89 to $159 for a single shirt to $125 to $200 for a pair of slacks.

“Now you don’t have to go to New York City to find suits made from Egyptian cotton or Italian wool. You can do it in the quiet of your own home or office,” Martin said.

To learn more, visit www.jhilburn.com, or contact Martin at 360-4630 or connie.martin@jhilburnpartner.com.

Feeling stylish

A State College businesswoman who has been cutting hair since she was 12 years old is starting her own salon.

Michelle Mannino will open Stylized at 255 Northland Center, Suite 3, in State College in late July.

“It’s been my dream for many years to open a salon,” Mannino said. “I’ve thought about it so many times in the past few years, but it just wasn’t the right time.”

Mannino worked at Boalsburg’s Portfolio Salon, at 112 N. Church St., for the past 20 years, but she’s been a hair stylist for even longer than that.

“My mother did hair, and she had me cutting my brother’s hair since I was 11 or 12 years old,” Mannino said.

Stylized will feature cuts, styling, perms, straighteners, relaxers, color, highlights and conditioning treatments for men, women and children. Mannino said she expects her daughter, Nikeeta, to join her as soon as business picks up.

Mannino said her salon will carry a complete line of organic products, which she said have risen in popularity recently.

“To me, the older I get, the more I’ve gotten concerned about my health,” she said. “I just want to offer a healthier product to help other people live healthier too.”

Downtown update

Dwellings, a new lifestyle and home goods store, will be opening at 358 E. College Ave., the former location of Crushed Ice.

Owner Randy Maslow said Dwellings will sell jewelry, apparel and interior design furnishings.

“We basically carry all things for your life,” she said.

Maslow’s original store, in Lewisburg, serves clientele “from 15 to 80 years old.”

“Quite honestly, it’s for everyone,” Maslow said. “Everything we sell has a bit of either color or whimsy, but everything is very practical — it’s really quite a fun store.”

While Maslow has attracted a loyal customer base in Lewisburg, she said she hopes the eclectic variety of items she sells will bring in downtown pedestrians and new visitors to State College.

The store has a planned opening date of Aug. 4. Its hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Although the store won’t be open in time for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, festival visitors can stop by the storefront to register for a free drawing, Maslow said.

Elsewhere downtown, the long-awaited China Dragon has finally opened at 147 S. Allen St. The storefront has had a sign up reading “Chinese food coming soon” for the past few months.

Galanga, a restaurant specializing in the cuisine of northeastern Thailand, had its grand opening June 25.

The restaurant, at 454 E. College Ave., is owned by Suksan Ruangpattana and Peeranee Musigchai, the owners of the popular downtown hotspot Cozy Thai.

Cliff White can be reached at 235-3928.