By Jon Robertson (Contact / Staff Bio)
March 29, 2008 - 12:00 a.m. EST

SENECA — Downtown Seneca caught a Firefly in March and it is already shining on the community.

Libby Payne, a Seneca resident and longtime fashion retailer, moved into town to open a ladies fine apparel store that offers a variety of clothing styles for special occasions and everyday living.

“Seneca needs this,” said Payne, who ran Fashion Closet of State 28 in Anderson and has been in fashion retail for five years.

Dresses and other formal wear mark the storefront, with Payne’s collection offering outfits for weddings and church, along with golf wear, golf shoes and outfits for cruises.

“It’s a great way to travel, but you have to be really conscious of what you pack,” she said of cruise vacations. Payne said her cruise wear selection is styled so one outfit can be switched day-by-day, which will help reduce the amount of packing for the trip.

Firefly is also a prime location for mother-of-the-bride outfits, Payne said. Customers don’t have to wait to try on different sizes and colors.

While she keeps prices competitive, Payne said one aspect of the store stands out among competitors. “You’re going to get the best service in town,” she said. “It’s very honest customer service.”

That service extends to personal shopping available by request, along with services from in-house alterations from Sharon Moller. Payne said Anderson customers were so appreciative of her service they were waiting by the door for Firefly to open.

To showcase styles available at Firefly, Payne is holding a fashion show in the store Sunday, April 27. For $15 a ticket, spectators can sit by the runway for the 2 p.m. show, with all proceeds going to help purchase a handicapped-accessible bus for Lila Doyle.