by Nina Welch

Ritual at 210 N. El Camino Real is a stylish boutique featuring comfortable, cozy, beautiful clothing for women. Stacey Cameron has owned the business for nine years. Divorced with four kids, she needed an outlet so she first opened across the street as part of a skin care store with two estheticians called Ritual. When they closed up shop, she stayed for two years and then moved to her current location in 2015. She kept the name because it still seemed to fit from a ritual of skin care to a ritual of buying clothes. 

When asked why women would be drawn to her clothing store, Stacey says, “It’s about style. The joke is that I’m a natural at dressing my friends better than myself. I wear T-shirts and ripped-up jeans and no make-up.” She styles her friends on Vegas girls’ trips, and she also likes to style her customers if they ask for direction. She’s brutally honest. She might say, “I don’t think I want you to put that on again.” If they are unsure about what they’ve tried on, she talks them out of it. She wants them to feel confident. According to Stacey, shoppers can always find something for pretty much any occasion, and moms and daughters like shopping together. 

Stacey is a 30-year San Clemente resident and an avid runner. She is the mother of daughters Sydney and Kenzi, and sons Jake and Gage. On Halloween, 2020, 17-year-old Gage, was assaulted when leaving a party. With the diagnosis of severe traumatic brain injury, he spent the last two years in special care, including a nursing home, CHOC Hospital, and a brain and spine hospital in Colorado. He is now in full-time therapy and doing much better at home, but still requires 24-7 care. Stacey and her other son, Jake, have been the sole caregivers for Gage, with the help of Gage’s girlfriend Isabella. “Gage is very friendly. He talks to everyone. Always wants to know their name and birthday,” says Stacey. By owning a little store in a small town, the word got out quickly. She has had an immense amount of help from the community. Because this happened during Covid she was able to stay open, and had a lot of support from the City. 

Once customers shop at Ritual, a light and airy welcoming boutique adorned with four chandeliers and two zebra-print chairs, it becomes a ritual. Women of all ages will enjoy the boutique’s annual sweater party in mid-October. All knits and sweaters are 20% off throughout October. Putting on the Glitz is also a big event in December.