Sue Dobson, owner of Muse, projects her personality into creating an individual fashion boutique.

Training at the London College of Fashion, ignited Sue’s love affair with different fabrics – and Vivienne Westwood.

Craving originality, she buys from across the globe, saying: “I love the unusual and the quirky.

“I find beautiful fabrics with weight and drape irresistible. We’ve got a great line in jersey pieces, vest tops and cardis that sell really well. They mix and match together in different colours, are wonderfully comfortable and wash easily.” Some might say Muse has a split personality appealing to teenagers as well as glamorous grandmothers, but that’s just because it’s got Sue’s footprint all over it.

In her Aladdin’s cave of a shop, much bigger than you’d imagine from the front, it’s a treasure trove with far more stock and therefore choice than you’d find in the average boutique.

Party and prom dresses are her forte with Forever Unique a popular choice.

Chiffon rules, and the more embellished, embroidered, lacy and crocheted the better.

This is the place to find something individual. Her dresses take their inspiration from the catwalk, and they’ve got the wow factor.

Many shoppers first visit Muse for special occasion party wear and then return for everyday items, where there is a refreshing choice of colour and pattern displayed on the rails – a world away from the play safe options of black, beige and white.

Sue has witnessed the fashion scene from all angles – as a designer, a wholesaler, and with various shops.

“One of the commonest mistakes I see is customers getting the proportions of an outfit wrong, and I think that‘s where I can help,” says Sue modestly.

I’m sure she can, with her designer’s eye and her sunny outlook that fashion is fundamentally fun!

For her, the latest challenge is selling online, at www.musetique.co.uk which was launched last summer.

Muse, 194 Petts Wood Road, Orpington, BR5 1LG. Tel: 01689 898666