Irene Sargent

Irene Sargent was a savvy California businesswoman who ran fashion boutiques in the Bay Area for more than six decades. Her own clothing line was called Miss Alameda. When she consolidated all her businesses into one, posh, centrally located salon in Oakland, her reputation grew outside the Bay Area.

Her salon was exceptional: the fitting rooms had phones and they were individually decorated, the shoppers' companion could watch TV by the fireplace and there was even a cook on duty to cater the customers.