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'08 Best of Phoenix winner

Chosen for Best of Phoenix Goods & Services for

"Best Shopping on Grand"

by "You" the readers of Phoenix New Times

If you've ever worried that fashion and budget couldn't possibly co-exist, you've obviously never been to Anna Marie's funky ShopDevious.com on rapidly changing Grand Avenue. We've slated our lust for handbags here many times, like when we snagged a brand new herringbone and velvet ribbon clutch for $6, or a slouchy purple hobo bag, also new, for $7. Vintage fashion your thing? It's here, and almost nothing in the entire boutique is over $15, with shoes — even boots — for $10. Want to embrace your inner club kid? How about wicked and wild fake eyelashes, in every color of the rainbow, and even some that aren't — like Day-Glo or glow in the dark. Looking for a custom anime wig? Gotcher head covered, along with snap-in hair extensions to match your outfit and bottles of Pixie Glitter for your inner sparkly fairy princess. No, those prices aren't misprints; it's the real deal.

Mock locks
DeviousWigs.com

Lisa Kasanicky
Arizona SpaGirls.com
Sept. 14, 2004

And you thought flirty, sexy and wildly colored wigs were just for Halloween. Not so says the Valley's own hairware diva, Anna Marie. Flip through any history book and you'll see that wigs and hairpieces have been just as much a fashion accessory as the revered shoe and handbag.

It was a fluke that led Guitierrez down the trail of mock locks. "I just wanted to see what I looked like in blonde hair," says this natural brunette. But her trip to the wig shop was less than pleasant and although she did buy a wig, she was disappointed with the service. "I just thought, imagine if I really needed a wig because of hair loss." After some research, this fledgling fashionista started with Tupperware-style wig parties and eventually migrated to an online business, Devious Wigs & Things. She now helps people worldwide find wigs and hairpieces that express their creativity, whether for fun or to camouflage hair loss.

While quality wigs are available in both human and synthetic hair, Guitierrez has opted to focus on high quality synthetic wigs. She says they hold their shine, don't frizz up, are easy and secure to wear, and with proper care can last for years. Her wigs come with simple washing instructions and can be professionally cut and styled.

In the world of big wigs and little pieces, the power hitters are, of course, full wigs. But wiglettes and hairpieces are growing in popularity and include just about anything you can imagine: from faux bangs to clip-in hairstreaks and from ponytails and buns to braids and funky add-ons.

And the colors! Gutierrez says surprisingly, the violet and purple outsell the natural shades of her most popular wig, the $54 Desire. Even her customers undergoing chemo tend to go for the more edgy colors, such as the $49 Fire wig, which has long black locks highlighted with either orange, blue, purple or white. The clip-in color strips are also wildly popular because for $3 to $7 each, you can sport a rainbow of streaks -- from blonde to hot pink -- without damaging your hair.

"I'm trying to help girls find a way to change their look without being stuck with it," Gutierrez says. "What you pay for one hair dye at a salon, you can get one wig and wear it whenever you want."

And as a completely biased side note, Gutierrez is a sweet soul who knows her stuff and is genuinely dedicated to cultivating the creative spirit of her clients. She also offers anybody suffering from hair loss a 30 percent discount on her wigs. So whether you're toying around with becoming a redhead, looking to sport a sassy ponytail or covering the side effects of chemotherapy, give hairpiece (and wigs) a chance!

Stupid Moose Tricks

Will comic warriors return with their gongs or on ’em?

In the ’70s, Steve Martin deadpanned, "Comedy is not pretty,” while wearing a wig and lipstick. The new millennium gave us Joan Rivers squawking, “I can’t feel my face. Am I smiling?” Local powerhouse entrepreneur Anna Marie is trying to give today’s downtown comedy scene a makeover by banging her own gong with the ShopDevious.com Beauty Lounge and Boutique Open Mic.

Lodged behind a life-size bronze moose on the corner of 13th Avenue and Grand, Anna Marie’s glittery shop mutates into a gong-show free-for-all every second Wednesday. In February, there was a bumbling magician, a guy begging the heckling crowd for mercy, and a Comedy Central alum.

Startup: Shop features hard-to-find beauty items

Lynne Ducey
Business Journal of Phoenix
Dec. 21, 2007

ShopDevious.com's proprietor, Anna Marie, hopes to bring fun fashion to Valley women.

"We have tons of purses and tons of shoes. We are really trying to focus on the fact that fashion isn't all about money. It's about having a cool style," Gutierrez said.

ShopDevious.com features vintage and artsy clothing, as well as wigs for a variety of needs and occasions.

"I am calling it a beauty lounge and boutique. We have everything for beauty but makeup," Gutierrez said.

She makes it a point to stock hard-to-find beauty items, such as double-stick tape. The store also carries a large inventory of fake eyelashes, made of everything from human hair to bird feathers.

"We even have glow-in-the-dark ones," she said.

Gutierrez said she teaches people how to use the products featured in her store, which opened in October.

ShopDevious.com Beauty Lounge & Boutique is open from 2 to 8 pm on Thursdays and Fridays and from 1 to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, open 1st fridays & 3rd Friday's from 2-10pm.

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ShopDevious.com
Posted on BeautyMe.com for Holiday 2007

"These gifts are sure to make
any woman/girl jump for joy!

1. Clip in color hair strips available in 2 lenghts 8 inch and 24 inch. They come in a rainbow of colors and are sold for $5-7.00 each. They clip on with a very secure toupee clip/snap clip.
2. A fabulous vintage bag (tons of styles available for under $15) include a bottle of pixie glitter ($3.00) for a real treat!
3. Warm fuzzy leg warmers (less than $8) and a pair of funky tights (less than $10)"

Anne Marie by ShopDevious.com

Since 5th October 2007 beauty and fashion lovers can experience the non-virtual side of the shop: ShopDevious.com Beauty Lounge & Boutique at 1229 NW Grand Avenue in Downtown Phoenix, AZ. It’s a spin off of Arizona native Anna Marie's mail order business Devious Wigs & Things llc, est in 1998.

INTERVIEW:

Wig Guru Anna Marie!
From Crystal Coons,
Your Guide to Teen Fashion.

We took some time out to talk with wig guru extraordinaire, Anna Marie to ask her the BIG question... what fashion is to her!

Name: Anna Marie Gutierrez
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Occupation: Entrepreneur

Crystal Coons: How did you decide to get into wigs?
Anna Marie: After being asked by so many ladies where I got mine.

CC: How are wigs an important part of fashion?
AM: They give you a creative outlet without any permanent damage.

CC: Tell us about your line of wigs, and what you specialize in.
AM: We carry kanekalon & toyokalon wigs that have a great shiny luster and are very manageable. We also specialize in eyelashes in all styles from natural to wild and crazy like faux fur, faux feather, real bird feathers & more. We also design and import color hair strips that make streaking your hair a cinch, giving you the opportunity to change your streaks every day if you want to.

CC: How does wearing a wig allow you to express yourself?
AM: Wearing a wig makes you feel like a rock star because everyone wants to talk to the girl in the hot pink or green wig. It also takes fashion to a whole new level, giving you a choice of color, style and length with instant gratification.

CC: What advice could you give to teens that are interested in breaking into the fashion industry?
AM: Keep reading fashion magazines, keep up on the changes and try to predict what change will come next... after doing this for a while fashion becomes second nature and you're always in front of the others.

CC: Complete this sentence: Fashion is...
AM: A canvas for all self expression.

CC: Thanks for talking with us Anne Marie!