Steve Bush watches as his wife, Marian, tries on a hat at Persnickety's New & Resale Boutique, on North Oracle just north of Orange Grove.

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If Persnickety's New and Resale Boutique were a closet, it might resemble those of owner Debi Wallace.

Like her three spacious closets at home, Wallace's store is packed with the stylish high-end clothes, shoes and bags she's been selling for about five years.

"I love fashion," Wallace said recently as she squeezed through racks of blouses, jackets and dresses at her Northwest Side shop.

Dressed in a short black-leather skirt and matching boots, Wallace admits she is not your typical clothing-store operator. For one, she doesn't limit herself to just selling clothes.

"I like to dress people up," she said.

In the case of longtime customer Marie Perez, that means Wallace helps her pick just the right type of outfits and matching accessories.

"She has the most fantastic things here, and she is always so happy and so helpful," said Perez, 52.

Wallace, 51, bought the store in October 2002. The business already had operated for 10 years at the Orange Grove Village shopping center.

She takes care of the clothes. Her husband comes in once or twice a week to take care of the books.

Wallace and her husband, Monty, are preparing to celebrate Persnickety's 15th anniversary in March. All store merchandise will be 15 percent off from now through March, the couple said.

The couple's daughter, Alexandria, also works at the store, pricing merchandise and getting it ready for display. She usually has her 1-year-old daughter, Alaya, by her side.

These days, Wallace is excited about the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase, where she has picked up lots of jewelry for her store.

February also being the month of the annual Fiesta de los Vaqueros, the shop is showcasing all things Western. Jeans, boots, hats and belts abound at Persnickety's.

"There are a lot of cowgirls in Tucson," said Linda Kelty, store manager.

And then there are the women who prefer the designer clothes, including Chico items.

"A lot of people come for those," Kelty said.

The shop also sells on consignment and accepts seasonal merchandise two days a week, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Although her business has done well over the years, Wallace said a sluggish economy has hurt recent sales.

"Clothing is the last thing people are going to spend their money on," she said. "They're going to pay their bills first."

But Wallace is optimistic about the future of her business. And as long as she's having fun, the mother of six said, she'll keep at it.

One of her big rewards, she said, is closets "full of beautiful clothes."

All from Persnickety's, of course.