With Coast Village Road clogged with Friday evening stop-and-go traffic, the new Montecito Collective offered a calming contrast at its recent grand opening party.
A venture of next-gen entrepreneurs and life partners Virginia Barlow and Daniel Heald, the shop features a combination of active lifestyle wear, along with Barlow’s own line of signature candles and other goodies.
Inside, the store — at 1250 Coast Village Road, next to Montecito Fitness and across the street from Honor Bar — was packed with customers mingling among the large, open tables and racks sporting leggings, T-shirts, sweat tops, jackets, and shorts and pants.
Guests were greeted at the door by Barlow and Heald’s adorable dogs, and snacked on hors d’oeuvres from Omni Catering with pours of Justin wine.
Montecito Collective has an array of ethically sourced and American-manufactured casual wear, including Alo Yoga’s athletic performance active wear; loungewear by Eberjey, Splendid and Varley; and Pistola Denim.
Rounding things out are Barlow’s Montecito 93108 candles, which she designs herself, and Montecito Collective’s own organic cotton, small-batch sweats and shorts.
Virginia Barlow says her vision for Montecito Collective is a shop that’s “casual and friendly, and makes women especially feel comfortable.” Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo 
Among Montecito Collective’s apparel lines are Alo Yoga’s athletic performance active wear; loungewear by Eberjey, Splendid and Varley; and Pistola Denim. Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo 
Virginia Barlow and Daniel Heald have just opened their second Montecito Collective, this one at 1250 Coast Village Road in Montecito. The store features a combination of active lifestyle wear for women and men. Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo 
Among the merchandise are leggings, T-shirts, sweat tops, jackets, and shorts and pants. 
Montecito Collective’s 1250 Coast Village Road location is the second store for entrepreneurs Virginia Barlow and Daniel Heald, who opened their first two years ago at Paseo Nuevo in downtown Santa Barbara. Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo
Barlow and Heald opened their first Montecito Collective two years ago in Paseo Nuevo in downtown Santa Barbara. The shop was a hit with locals who prefer stylish workout wear rather than traditional casual clothes for lunches, shopping and errands around town.
“I want the store to be casual and friendly, and make women especially feel comfortable,” Barlow told Noozhawk when asked about her vision.
“Our selection of clothes in the Montecito location offers many size ranges, so there is something for everyone. No one has to be a certain size or shape to fit into our clothes.”
The concept is a refreshing one for women who shy away from trying on clothes in an active wear shop, or who pass up a store for fear they they just won’t be able to find something that looks good on them.
The shop is a haven for men, too, with an expanded line of men’s wear coming soon.
Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Montecito Collective is an ideal addition to the community’s growing fashion corridor.
It even has underground parking for customers stuck in traffic and frustrated by Coast Village Road’s dearth of spaces.