Mandurah fashion icon Carrie's Boutique closing its doors

The local women's fashion institution first opened its doors 35 years ago on Tuckey Street in the city's centre.

Making a name for itself as one of the region's most popular and well-established boutiques, the store stocks a selection of mature ladies clothing and accessories for all sizes and budgets and labels including Vigorella, Lovers, Seven Sisters and Miss Me.

And as Carrie's Boutique prepares to shut its doors forever, the store has announced everything will be reduced by 40 per cent in a huge closing down sale.

Owner Carrie Bassett-Scarfe said it had been an incredible journey.

"It has been fun, especially the buying part - I've really enjoyed that because if I saw something I liked, I bought it," she said.

"I've just been making it up as I go along.

"We don't buy the latest trends or the latest fashions - we want things that are conventional, that are going to last.

"You would listen to your customers when it came to looking for things to buy and I really got to know my customers - some people have been coming here for 35 years which is fantastic."

Mrs Bassett-Scarfe said it wasn't always easy, especially when she first set up shop next door to its current location in 1984.

"I used to be a nurse so I had no idea about business, no idea about fashion," she said.

"I was coming into this with my sister but it didn't work out so I decided to go at it alone.

"For the first six weeks it was hell, but it just got better and better and it really has been so fantastic.

"We moved from next door to here, which was a big move, probably about 20 years ago."

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Mrs Bassett-Scarfe's daughter Kym Bassett-Scarfe has been managing the store for the last 13 years.

She said it had been particularly fun following the fashion trends over the years.

"We've been going through old photos and it is so funny seeing the fashions from all those years ago," she said.

"Sometimes you think things won't sell but they do - the trends are always surprising us.

"So many things have come back, like white sneakers are in now, but some of it you hope will never come back.

"It's been a very good business and very good fun."

Mrs Bassett-Scarfe is now looking forward to her retirement while her daughter makes a move to the eastern states.

"Kym is going to Adelaide and I will probably keep travelling the world as I have been doing - it is one of my passions," she said.

"I have two granddaughters in Perth so I'll be spending more time with them.

"It is exciting the thought of going on my next adventure but it will be a gap in my life that I will have to adjust to.

"When I stop and think about it, I am a bit sad - it's been an adventure and I really can't imagine not being here."

The mother-daughter duo wanted to thank all of their loyal customers and staff who have given their support throughout the years.

"We've had such great staff and they are all still friends which is lovely," they said.

"We have met some really nice people and people have been gorgeous to us since we announced we were closing down.

"We couldn't have done it without everyone."

For more information, visit Carrie's Boutique on Facebook.