Downtown Merced's Diva’s Acessories makes runway fashions affordable

When Tami Davidson was a child, like a lot of other little girls she collected Barbies. But she also loved handbags and jewelry and all things fashion. Now that Davidson's an adult, she doesn't have to play with Barbie dolls anymore to satisfy her taste for fashion. Now she owns her own store. Davidson, who owned An American Fashion Tale for 14 years, opened Diva Accessories in 2007. The little Main Street store not only allows Davidson to develop her fashion sense, it also gives Mercedians some good deals. Davidson offers new, vintage and used clothing, handbags and shoes. "I've always loved fashion, and now I've got live clients," Davidson said. A lot of designer brands are for sale at the shop, and Davidson is a common sight at estate sales in ritzy towns such as Beverly Hills. "I go to sales where the people have always bought their clothes at Saks or Bloomingdales," Davidson said. "I get a beautiful collection of very high-end clothing." The store offers everything from full-length beaded dresses to vintage handbags, along with new and used clothes from top designers such as Sue Wong and Nicole Miller. Davidson said a lot of women are looking to downsize because of the economy, and for those with expensive clothes to sell, she offers an alternative to yard sales. "They donate the clothing to me, and when I sell it, I give a donation in their name to their favorite charity," Davidson said.