It went from bake shop to soup store to pierogi hut. But when Nancy Stillson's dream business finally materialized last year, she had gone from food to fashion and opened a dress boutique named Occasions.

During more than 20 years of living and raising children in Squirrel Hill, Ms. Stillson regularly walked through the neighborhood's central business district and often talked of opening a store there. She did just that on Nov. 3 at 5873 Forbes Ave., the former site of Concetta's beauty salon and a three-minute walk from her home.

In a sense, the Scranton native was forced to work for herself. She loved volunteering as she raised her daughter and son, but her community service was a liability when she tried to find a job after the kids had grown up. "I felt that all those skills I was acquiring would be beneficial," she said. "But [prospective employers] were only interested in the fact that I wasn't getting paid. The only job I was ever going to get was if I created it for myself. And I thought to myself, 'You know what? It's time for another ladies store here.' "

Occasions specializes in lovely dresses for every occasion -- hence the store name -- by Chaiken, Badgley Mischka, Marc Bouwer, David Meister, Dina Bar-el, Teri Jon, Kay Unger and Phoebe by Kay Unger. There also are small collections of jewelry by Entanglements, shoes by Chinese Laundry, hats by Fedora and handbags by Eliza Gray and Inge Christopher.

"I want women to feel pretty," Ms. Stillson says of her fashion retail enterprise. "I want them to feel attractive, that there's something in here that can enhance and bring out their attractiveness."

That often means coaxing women into colors, prints and silhouettes that they might initially dismiss as not their style. Just try it on, she urges them. "When they do, they love it," she says. "Be daring! "

Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Phone: 412-521-1500.story by LaMont Jones ROBIN ROMBACH/POST-GAZETTE

NANCY STILLSON, RIGHT, WITH DAUGHTER ALEXANDRA AT OCCASIONS.