Drift Island Collective

Honestly, I have a very hard time finding shops that I truly enjoy shopping, especially for clothes, since I am still at battle with this 56-year-old imperfect body. But when I do find a place where I love their inventory and I love their sales approach, I become a devotee. That is what happened this past Friday morning at Drift Island Collective Boutique in Islamorada.

Kim has been urging me to go there for months now. But I resisted – mainly because I thought that their upscale linen and coastal pieces would be too tiny (you know those stores that only carry designs for 18-year-olds) or too expensive. But neither shopping fear turned out to be true.

I had to drive up to Islamorada for a different reason and so I decided to stop in and see what they were all about. I’M SO HAPPY THAT I DID!

The moment I walked in the door, I was greeted with quiet friendliness and a sense of calm. The space was alluring but not overwhelming.

The store is filled with gorgeous environmentally conscious and handcrafted clothes – mostly linen and cotton – and lovely accessories and gift items that seem like the perfect fit for our islands here in the Florida Keys.

As I browsed the carefully curated collection, there was no pressure and no hovering – just the way I like to shop.

Drift’s owner, Fabiana, was delightful and her sales assistant, Tracey, was attentive and helpful at just the time I needed a different size or had a question.

And you know what – I felt that they truly cared about me and my shopping experience.

What did I buy that day? 2 sublime linen Caftans with pockets in light blue and white, 1 white linen blouse, 1 creamy pair of linen slacks, 1 pair of cropped high waisted beachy jeans, 1 pair of soft, buttery leather mules from Brazil (only $40!!!), 1 pair of earrings made with the slightest of rooster feathers, 1 leather bracelet and 6 waterproof bangle bracelets (for the sandbar of course)! It was practically an entire wardrobe of beachy coastal clothes – sophisticated and casual at the same time. Believe me, my closet is sooooo thankful because it is very tired of all of my PFG shirts and Lulu Lemon shorts!!!

I am hoping to collaborate with Fabiana and Drift Island Collective in the future so that our HappyintheKeys guests and vacation family can shop their special store all year long. We agreed to work on making it happen!

So please, when you are shopping in the Keys and if you love this kind of special boutique with high quality and affordable products, stop at Drift Island Collective and treat yourself to some shopping bliss.

I just cannot wait to go back!