AUBURN – Retirement lasted two weeks for Pat Perry.

She closed her upscale women’s clothing store in Bridgton this spring so she could stay home and tend to her ill husband. But a business associate made her an offer she couldn’t refuse: Open another store in Auburn as the owner and leave the day-to-day stuff to a manager.

“I had an opportunity to come here and do what I love,” said Perry of Waterford. “I can be at home where I’m needed, but still do what I love.”

What she loves is buying clothes – lots of them.

Her store, The Clothes Horse, is next door to Rainbow Bicycle on Center Street. It is chock full of tasteful, colorful clothes and accessories. Racks and display shelves offer a variety of unique women’s clothes, from sportswear and work attire to special-occasion dresses and bathing suits.

Lines such as Carol Anderson, Graff/California and Picadilly Fashions haven’t been carried anywhere locally since Porteous in Auburn closed last year, she said.

It was the lack of a local women’s specialty shop and the dearth of upscale lines that prompted Dana Turner, the owner of the building, to tell Perry he thought the area needed a shop like hers.

“And his wife was a big fan of my Bridgton store,” said Perry with a laugh.

It’s obvious Perry cares about every hand-picked item she sells. She said the comment she hears most often from her customers is that she offers nice clothes “‘for real women’… not for runway Twiggys or supermodels.”

Before getting into the retail trade, Perry was a legal secretary and executive secretary at a law firm in South Paris. She also was raising a family and working within the limits of a family budget.

“I had to dress, I had to make a wardrobe work for myself,” she said. “I think of that when I’m buying.”

Her clothes are moderately priced – higher than discount stores, but within the range of department stores such as Macy’s. A lime green linen sun dress with a cutout back and buttons down the front by Southern Lady was $47. A light-blue silk shantung sheath gown by Carol Anderson was $59.

Perry goes to fashion fairs in Boston and New York to select her inventory. She says quality is her No. 1 concern when buying, but when she’s in the store, customer service is the priority. Rita Begin is her manager.

“You can wear it more than one season – that’s the beauty of it,” said Begin to a customer who was debating buying a sleeveless top with jacket. “And I have the skirt that matches,” she said as she whisked the companion piece off the rack.

“She’s just great, just wonderful” said Perry of Begin.

The store provides specialized service whether it’s placing a custom order, suggesting colors or styles, or providing accessories to pull an outfit together.

The store also sells an assortment of jewelry, handbags scarves and hats.

Hats – especially red ones – have been a big seller at The Clothes Horse, thanks to some very active area chapters of the Red Hat Society. Members of the social club for women over 50 have snapped up dozens of red hats since the store opened in April. And Perry carries several purple outfits to cater to the red hat/purple clothes uniform of club members.

“They are something else,” Perry says of the Red Hatters. She belongs to the Bridgton affiliate so she can stay in touch with her former customers and friends.

“Besides, it’s just great fun.”

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