When Nicole Porche and Trinese Brumfield opened their first Fabulous Fitz store in Nevada about two years ago, they knew then that they would eventually open another boutique in the New Orleans area.

Today their local Fabulous Fitz has been opened for about eight months now, and the two business owners have no qualms about opening their fashion boutique, which specializes in high-end “celebrity styles,” in the New Orleans area, which is still rebuilding and rebounding nearly three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the community.

Even though their other store was doing well, they wanted to come New Orleans in the hopes that their boutique could help boost the economy and believing that the store’s stylish fashion could help boost spirits.

But mostly, they wanted to come to New Orleans because they wanted to come home.

“You always want to go back home, says the 29-year-old Brumfield, who is originally from New Roads, La., but adopted New Orleans has her second home while a student at Dillard University. “Everybody wants to go home no matter what the problems. It’s just a love for the city.”

Fabulous Fitz is located at 851 Manhattan Boulevard. Inside, shoppers can find glamorous clothing and accessories just like the items they might spy on their favorite celeb. And though the prices are not bottom basement, they are affordable—sometimes as much as one-third or one-fourth less than what your favorite celebrity probably paid for it, Porche, who is 37, says.

“A lot of women today want to wear the styles they see on television and in the magazines,” she says. “So we spend a lot of time looking for items and pieces that you cannot find anywhere else. And we offer it at prices the everyday girl can afford.”

So if you just have to have those crystal bangles or the stacked bracelet, the red front bow belt or the leather buckle belt, the black satin skirt, the pencil skirt or evening bag that Hollywood’s hottest don, check out Fitz.

Still, Porche acknowledges that fashion retail in a struggling and recovering economy has not been easy. But it has not deterred the ladies.

“We knew that we were taking a chance,” says Porche. “But how are we going to rebuild if we don’t take a chance.”

Porche and Brumfield are doing more than taking a chance. They are trying to make a difference.

As families continue their return to the city and undertake the daunting task of rebuilding their homes and lives in New Orleans, the little things that lift people spirits—maybe a new dress, a new pair of shoes or just someone to talk to—are more important than ever.

Luckily, all of those things can be found at Fabulous Fitz. In the store’s fitting area, there is a couch the owners have dubbed the “confession couch.”

“You would not believe the tears and laughs that happen on that couch,” Porche says. People can come here and get more than an outfit. We try to let them know that life will get better and things will change.”

The ladies say it’s their mission to make every customer feel special, beginning with a greeting at the door, personalized service and little extras like champagne after 4 p.m.

“We look at these women, women of all ages, colors and sizes; and we let them know they are beautiful,” Porche says. “We give them the V.I.P treatment. I’ve had so many women call after wearing an outfit they bought from the store and say ‘I never thought I could wear a dress above my knees and look so hot and feel so sexy.’ ”

Customers who sign up for the store’s mailing list are also regularly invited to special promotional events.

The duo is also looking at other ways to expand their endeavors. They recently completed a casting call that drew more than 100 local young ladies vying to be Fabulous Fitz Diamonds. From that call, eight finalists have been chosen, they say.

“You really had to bring it to become one of the top eight girls,” Brumfield says.

Porche and Brumfield plan to work with the ladies who will serve as models for their store and hope to help them expand into broader modeling careers.

“Hopefully this will give these young ladies some opportunities that will open doors for them,” Porche says.

In the meantime, the entrepreneurs say they plan to keep working hard and pouring their energy into the boutique.

“Even during the times when we are not busy, we use our positive energy to think of ways to build our business,” Brumfield says.

Fabulous Fitz is located at 851 Manhattan Blvd. from 11 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. You can also check out the online boutique at www.fabulousfitz.com.