Jackson Free Press

Imagine yourself back in the '70s, in a VW van with a disco ball, lying on the couch telling your buddy to pass the J. You're looking good in John Lennon glasses and your shag hairstyle with a pair of corduroy flare-out pants and a tie-dye T-shirt. You greet your friends with, "what's happenin" and "let's boogie."

Many people still have a love for the '70s and would like to re-live the experience in some way, or at least wear clothes from the era. Walking into Shaggy's Far-Outlet gives you a little slice of the late '60s and early '70s in Flowood.

"There's nothing in Mississippi like this store," Shaggy's owner Steven Brown says. The local rock 'n' roll boutique celebrated their five-year anniversary Nov. 20th. Shaggy's has been in the same location on Lakeland since first opening its doors for business.

"We get old, young, country, rock 'n' roll, college students, women, men," Brown says. "Every type of person comes to shop here. Shaggy's is just a universally good thing."

Shaggy's is stuffed with a variety of graphic rock 'n' roll T-shirts, hippie women's clothes, retro movie and concert posters, incense and Doc Martens shoes—Brown's new favorite item.

Dubbed by his customers the "sultan of tie-dye," Shaggy's offers tie-dye T-shirts for all ages including babies.

Brown, 41, a graduate of Belhaven College, was a man of many endeavors before he came up with Shaggy's.

"I tried my hand at this and that, then I got a lucky break with the store and stuck with it," Brown says.

Shaggy's is named after Brown's dog Shaggy. Brown adopted the small gray and white, 2-year-old mutt from his wife's aunt. The dog's hair reminded them of the movie "The Shaggy Dog." The Browns had Shaggy for ten years until he ran out into the street and was hit by a car. Now, Shaggy is Brown's nickname, in and out of the store.

During the interview, an older woman walked into the store and bought three tie-dye T-shirts and a retro poster. While at the counter, she glanced at the mood rings and started a quick discussion with Brown.

"If my employee Stacy were here, man, she would have sold her some clothes. I'm not good at selling women's clothes. Stacy can do it with ease," Brown says. A young man in his 20s bought a couple graphic tees and an oversized car decal of a man's silhouette with a hatchet in his hand.

"I've decorated a lot of college dorm rooms," Brown says. He adds that tweens drag their parents in to buy trinkets like mood rings and silver necklaces. "Women's apparel is the biggest seller," Brown says. "Women come in to buy our dresses and bags for costumes or everyday wear."

Shaggy's is a fun spot to shop when you are looking for 1970s memorabilia, something different, fun, far-out or a groovy holiday gift.

Shaggy's Far-Outlet
5417 Lakeland Drive, Flowood
601-919-3470
Hours: Monday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
Tuesday- – Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.