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Wendy Foster was first opened in 1977 by Wendy Foster and Pierre Lafond. The stores reflect Wendy's broad tastes from the very elegant Wendy Foster in Montecito Village to the younger and more hip Angel on Coast Village Road.
The buyers, Rita Villa, Robin Deinhard and Jenna Palmer, have worked in the stores for many years. All started in other positions. Either as display merchandisers, assistant buyers or salespersons before becoming buyers.
Robin Deinhard is third generation Lafond/Foster. Her mother, Lise Anne, Pierre's daughter, worked in the stores and office for many years. Robin began working while in high school for our Upstairs store and before becoming buyer for Angel was manager at Wendy Foster State Street working under Jenna Palmer. Robin accompanied Wendy on buying trips to Paris and New York before becoming buyer.
Rita Villa went from manager of Wendy Foster and Sportswear, in Montecito, to buyer for Sporstwear. Rita has worked for Wendy Foster intermittently since 1984 beginning at our the State Street store and then at our Upstairs store. Rita has been both sales associate and manager at these stores. She also worked, for several years, for a well known Santa Barbara jeweller before returning to us full-time.
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Kelly Petersen went from Wendy's assistant to manager of Wendy Foster and Sportswear, playing musical chairs with Rita. Kelly is from Santa Barbara, went to school here and later attended the San Francisco Fashion and Design Institute. Before leaving for San Francisco and school, Kelly worked in Sportswear and on returning to Santa Barbara began working with Wendy as a buyer for Wendy Foster.
Jenna Palmer, born and raised in the Santa Barbara area, has been working with us for over six years. She started at age nineteen, first as an assistant salesperson in Sportswear, then as a salesperson with experience in both Sportswear and Wendy Foster. Her most recent work has been with Shelley Koury in our Upstairs store serving in many capacities as well as accompanying Shelley on her buying trips to New York and Los Angeles.
Wendy, although born in New York, went to school in Santa Barbara. After graduating she travelled and worked for many years in the US, Mexico, Europe and Israel. On returning to Santa Barbara she opened a graphic studio with her partner Bill Horton. In 1977 she began a new career in fashion.
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