photography by RICHARDSON STUDIO
by TRACY ZOLLINGER TURNER
Bloomfield native Cathleen Jackson dreamed of opening a women’s clothing boutique most of her adult life. Having a fashion-loving mother, two sisters, and two daughters—Taylor, 22, and Carmen, 16—she envisioned a store where all could enjoy shopping together. Jackson, 48, realized her dream last fall, when she opened Mainstream Boutique on South Walnut.
The store has a multigenerational approach, and Jackson and her staff work on personally styling each woman who walks through the door. They create looks for customers “that really fit their lifestyle, physicality, and body type,” Jackson says. “We work with the natural color palette of our customers and find pieces in our store that will illuminate their face, so they look brighter and more vibrant.”
Mainstream is part of a small franchise group that carries an exclusive line called Mac and Me. But each boutique is different, says Jackson, who selects attire that she feels works best for the Bloomington market and her clients. “We want to find pieces that flatter all the best assets of our customers, while educating them about why the piece looks good,” she says. “It’s also fun to encourage our customers to take fashion risks.”
(l-r) Cathleen Jackson, Carly Jenkins, Bonnie Jackson, and Carmen Peterson show that streetwear can transcend generations. Cathleen is wearing a black sleeveless mock neck top that gets an edge from a crossbody zipper detail, paired with solid and distressed Mac and Me black jeans, while Carly sports the same top in white. The zipper hem on Bonnie’s waist-length black leather jacket functions here as its own style statement, but also has a practical use—the jacket comes with an extension that can be added to the bottom for a longer look. Carmen wears a camouflage, hooded windbreaker. “We think everyone should own at least one hat,” says Cathleen. 2. At the store’s front door on South Walnut, Cathleen welcomes the transitional spring weather in a roomy, ribbed sweater with an open-stitch neckline and sleeves. 
Bonnie dons a blouse that contrasts a solid, crew neck bodice with bold, zigzag puff sleeves. A circle necklace by Mac and Me finishes the look. 
Cathleen in a sheer, sleeveless top with lace details. 
Carmen models a textured mini-dress with spaghetti straps and a Mac and Me scallop necklace. Adding the denim jacket can give the look a more casual feel, says Cathleen. 
Cathleen’s 16-year-old daughter, Carmen, a student at Bloomington High School South, models a strapless print jumper made of a fabric that owner Cathleen describes as both “luscious” and “packable,” making it a comfortable and easy vacationwear option. 
At the store’s front door on South Walnut, Cathleen welcomes the transitional spring weather in a roomy, ribbed sweater with an open-stitch neckline and sleeves. 
An employee of Mainstream Boutique, Carly, 22, shows off this short-sleeved, hi-lo floral dress with a smocked waist. Carly is a student at Indiana University, majoring in apparel merchandising and minoring in fashion design and entrepreneurship. 
Bonnie, 78, is Cathleen’s mother and Carmen’s grandmother. Here, she wears a soft, floral V-neck blouse paired with deep blue denim that gives her a classic, feminine look. 
Carmen rocks in a camouflage, hooded windbreaker made of lightweight material that packs easily for travel. 7 
