For Wendy Marvel, the summer season may pass, but the smiles, shine, and style that accompany it don’t have to.
Marvel is the owner of Truth & Style, a Lancaster-based boutique selling Brazilian jewelry and Colombian clothing. Her shop is teeming with jewelry of all kinds (it’s all hypoallergenic and mostly gold-laminated, but she also caters to silver lovers). Plus, her collection of wearable fashion prioritizes standing out in the best way possible, and she keeps the swimwear out all year long.
“I want every single person that comes into my store to be able to walk out with something they love,” says Marvel. She emphasizes the affordability of every piece, from studs to statement necklaces and beyond, showcasing how much she thinks about the accessibility of what she sells in addition to the aesthetics.
The shop itself is bright, with an ever-evolving inventory for people to browse. However, it’s the inviting nature of Marvel herself that keeps people coming back. “I feed off connections,” she says, noting that getting to know other Hispanic women is especially fulfilling.
Marvel was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in the Dominican Republic before moving to America in 2004. A resident of Lititz, she has a master’s degree in counseling and is a mother of three children. She opened her King Street shop in downtown Lancaster in April 2022, mostly out of a need to manage her time and for a creative outlet.
Marvel was already selling jewelry prior to opening the shop, visiting hair salons and meeting up with people in their own homes to make connections and sales. “All of my customers literally became my friends,” she says. “I would go to their house and a one-hour showing would become a three-hour showing.”
With only so much of herself to go around, Marvel opened the Truth & Style boutique, where her friends, community members, and customers visit her, whether it’s to buy jewelry and clothes or just to chat.
While she didn’t feel quite ready to become a brick-and-mortar business owner, she took the leap anyway. More than a year after opening her doors, that leap of faith has paid off.
Upon entering Truth & Style, the boutique shines back at you. There’s jewelry on all sides, the majority of which is gold-laminated. Marvel notes that she appreciates gold for its ability to go with everything, serve both classy and trendy looks, and is suitable to wear during any season.
Outside of jewelry, Marvel aims to become known for her year-round swimsuit collection, specifically colorful and showstopping Colombian swimwear, made to flatter real women’s bodies with high waists and statement straps. She says, “When you wear these suits, people are going to ask you, ‘Where did you get your bathing suit?’”
Plus, Marvel carries Colombian shapewear known to the Hispanic community as fajas, which—when worn for a handful of hours daily—can give you a curvier shape over time. In short, her boutique has everything anyone could need to feel feminine and stylish.
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Seeing Marvel in action makes it clear that connecting with others and helping them find their style is her calling. Back in the Dominican Republic at age 14, her first job was at a boutique. When she moved to America, she worked for Kohl’s, going above and beyond her duties in merchandising. Now, with a place of her own where she can be surrounded by pearls, gold, dresses, and accessories, it has all come full circle.
In the summer season, visitors to Truth & Style can expect anklets, hoops, layering necklaces, and statement bangles, among other beautifying accessories. Even as the weather turns cold, folks in and around Lancaster can try on swimsuits and cover-ups for their honeymoons, cruises, and getaways. Plus, the clothing and accessories the boutique offers stay fun and colorful throughout the year, allowing anyone to spice up their wardrobe to match their personality.
As someone who forged her own path toward entrepreneurship, Marvel wants others like her to know one thing: “You can do it all.” And, as she proves, you can look good doing it, too.
Truth & Style
157 E King St Suite B, Lancaster, PA 17602
717-431-4061
