Women of the Year – Marie Widmyer, Marie’s Boutique and Marmalade

By Liz Kasper

Marie Widmyer sewed her first clothing item in the fourth grade. It was a denim wrap skirt, and she modeled it at a county fair with a local Idaho 4-H group.

For Widmyer, even in elementary school, fashion had become more than just clothes. She would live in 20 foster homes before reaching adulthood, and style and fashion became modes of escape from her unsettled life. Dreams, she said, were all she had.

“Despite my challenging past,” she said, “I learned from an early age not to let my negative circumstances dictate my future success, and that I would have to learn how to grab hold of my dreams.”

Today, Widmyer leads a clothing empire that runs from Idaho to New York and thrives online as well. Marie’s Boutique, situated in the lobby of the Coeur d’Alene Resort, caters to “the chic traveler looking for functional fashion” and carries luxury labels such as Louis Vuitton, Prada and Hermes.

Interestingly, Widmyer didn’t start the boutique, though it carries her name. The original owner, Marie O’Brien, gave Widmyer her first job at 16. Her sole task was to steam clothing in the back room. Ten years later, then the mother of two boys and pregnant with twin girls, Widmyer bought the boutique and kept the name.

Her other fashion endeavor could certainly be called a labor of love. Widmyer launched Marmalade Fresh Clothing, a youthful, trendy brand, in 2006, and after being beseeched constantly by her now-teenage twin daughters that she would take them on buying trips and let them work in the store, Widmyer took them on staff. Today, Kaity and Kasey help their mom run the store as a mother-daughter trio.

“The goal for our stores is to create spaces where mothers, daughters … and best friends can all shop together and find something to love and cherish,” said the company’s website.

Marmalade has grown from its flagship store in Coeur d’Alene to also include shops in New York City and Savannah, Georgia.

In spite of finding success in her family and at work, however, Widmyer felt that a key component was missing in her life. She felt that others might benefit from hearing the story of how she had risen from humble beginnings to realize her dreams, and she also wanted to give back to the community. In spite of a significant fear of public speaking, she joined Toastmasters, a public speaking club, and started honing her skills. Soon, she’d spoken before more than 5,000 people in various capacities.

“Sometimes, the one thing you need for growth is the one thing you are most afraid to do,” she said. “I realized that sharing my story could be challenging, but I firmly believe that personal growth and continuous learning are essential.”

Widmyer has earned myriad accolades, including Mrs. Idaho America, and she wore the title of First Lady of Coeur d’Alene for eight years alongside her husband, Steve, the city’s mayor. She produces charity fashion shows and sells G.R.A.B. bags (Go, Reach, Achieve, Believe) in her stores and donates the proceeds to the Idaho Youth Ranch and Dress for Success. Stemming from it all, however, is her firm belief in the power of dreams.

“Do you have a dream,” she said. “What’s holding you back? Be courageous enough to grab hold of them. I believe that you can.”