BY ROSIE PIGA PIZZO

Brynda Forgas wants to add funk to Fountain Square Mall. And she says her boutique that features vintage and unusual clothing, as well as eclectic gifts, is doing just that.

For two years, The Hidden Closet was housed in a small upstairs room (thus the name) of The Green Bean on West 4th Street. When a space opened in Fountain Square Mall, Forgas seized the opportunity and in September 2010 moved her store. “I more than doubled my space,” she says. “And so many business people are around Fountain Square Mall that it was interesting to see if they would buy something different. And they have.”

With a degree in costume construction from the IU School of Music and a background in costume design on Broadway and at The Santa Fe Opera, Forgas’ passion for clothing is evident in her interactions with customers. “I love clothes. I love to dress people up and be adventurous,” she says, as she convinces a male customer that a blue and green hat, priced at $12, would be perfect for him.

Forgas is always on the lookout for the unusual, as well as for clothing with an ethnic vibe. Cotton blouses in pretty patterns mix in with formal beaded-silk gowns in jeweled tones. “I’m very interested in natural fibers,” she says.

An assortment of accessories grace the shelves and walls of the store, including colorful scarves, suede pumps, cut leather handbags, and antique jewelry. Although Forgas gushes about pieces from the past—“It’s so much more beautiful than modern stuff”—she also carries new clothing, pashminas, and jewelry. “I think it’s great to wear a vintage jacket with a modern skirt,” she says.

Forgas also sells her own creations, such as lingerie from vintage patterns, decorative switch plates, and jewelry, along with decorative cards and other items from local artists. “I have lots of small things that would make great gifts,” she says.

The Hidden Closet is open 11 am to 5 pm Tuesday, 11 am to 5:30 pm Wednesday to Friday, and 11 am to 4:30 pm Saturday.