I had no idea that I would stumble upon this fashion boutique gem in Las Vegas–It took me by surprise. I think I had forgotten how fun it is supposed to be when you shop for a new outfit. Nowadays, every time I have plans for a night out, I feel stressed. I have no desire to go to the mall and battle all the riff-raf. I dread sorting through rack after rack of items that I find myself settling for, in order to check out and make the quickest escape. After all that, I’m still running the risk that somebody might be wearing the same dress at the exact venue, at the exact time. Akward. Sure–nobody else cares, but I do.

Those days are long gone, ever since I found Patty’s Closet. It was like a gleam of heavenly light beamed into the entrance, and Hallelujahs played in my head as I opened the door. You can feel the love that was put into Patty’s Closet as soon as you park your car. There is a giant neon heart that says, “Open” that makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Patty’s Closet is a girl’s happy place. You walk in, and your senses immediately go into overdrive. There are so many cute things to look at, you don’t know where to start. You want to touch everything, and it even smells girly. Every inch of the store has personality, and no detail was just a coincidence. Behind the stylish clothing, and the genius merchandising, is owner, Patty Barba. Her smile complements the ambiance of the store. She has personally selected every item being sold in Patty’s Closet. She is an expert on her inventory and can really help you with what you are looking for. As an added bonus her prices are extremely reasonable. She has brought back the personal shopping experience. Her staff is also personable and knowledgeable. You leave there feeling happy and excited, it takes time to get used to it. A cute outfit, with a helpful staff, and it’s inexpensive? Sounds too good to be true– but it’s not.

HER OBSTACLES

Patty’s Closet was built on positive energy. The store is the result of Patty’s dream. Her father was also a dreamer. He migrated from Mexico in the 1970’s. He came here to pursue a better life. He worked hard, married his love, and had children. Patty was born and raised in Las Vegas. Her fashion sense came earlier than most. As a girl, she would dress her barbies in the most cutting edge styles–with toilet paper. She attended Rancho High School. Patty heard her calling when she was working at a girls shop in the mall at 17 years old. “I loved it! The merchandising, and the styling, I just loved it. And I felt like I was good at it.“ Little did Patty know that life was about to throw her some curve balls, that would define who she really is.

At 18, Patty got pregnant. Her son Robbie was born with health complications including Down Syndrome. There were issues Patty didn’t understand, and the several doctors she saw had no time for her questions. They were not receptive to her concerns. She was even told at one point that her son had two weeks to live. She was a frustrated, young, single mother with no answers. She needed to better understand her son’s needs. She became a medical assistant and worked in the medical field for six years. Patty was content with the stability, but was not passionate about the career.

HER SOUL MATE

Once again life would deal Patty a wild card. At the age of 26, Patty was waitressing at Pink Taco in Hard Rock Hotel. She met a very driven man by the name of Juan Barba, who also worked at Hard Rock as a butler. Juan, like Patty’s father, came from Mexico at a young age searching for a better life. Juan and Patty had so many similar philosophies on living life, and their differences only complemented each other. It took Juan, someone not born in the land of opportunity, to inspire Patty to chase her dream of owning her own shop. They fell in love, and it wasn’t long until they were engaged. “Juan is my rock. I know there are independent women out there that don’t need a man, but I needed Juan. I needed his love and support.” Within six months of toying with the idea of opening a shop, Patty and Juan made it a reality by opening the first store Patty’s Closet on Rainbow & Windmill, a.k.a. “The Pink Store”. Juan and Patty continued to work their other jobs until the store got on its feet. They spent countless hours and late nights bringing to life what Patty had envisioned in her head.

The success of the first store triggered the opening of another Patty’s Closet, located at Blue Diamond and Cimaron, a.k.a. “The Blue Store”. The best part? The 2 stores are completely different, and don’t carry the same items. You can find something cute to where to a job interview, or something sassy to where to a club. The happiness you feel when you walk in is a reflection of what Patty and Juan put into it.

Patty & Juan hope to give Robbie a new little sister or brother in the future and would like to open more stores. Patty continues to keep her fashion talents fresh and even styled all of the girls that are featured in this issue, including the cover, and the New Vegas Mafia fashion story on page 38. Patty realizes she is blessed, and is very grateful for the happiness she has in her life. She is very involved with charities and a cause dear to her heart, Down Syndrome. Patty’s strength is inspiring. It turns out that the neon sign on her store window is a metaphor for what brought her success. Patty’s has a giant heart, and it’s most definitely open.