About Us

Starting in the early sixties Alfredo's Wife, Ava Dering, (her husband really was Alfredo), began receiving invitations from ladies who had seen her designs while traveling through historic Jerome, Arizona. She was asked to show her outrageous yet elegant casual clothing in homes from La Jolla, California to Daufuskie Island, South Carolina. (Her tops, bottoms, dresses and caftans were once draped over ex-president Harry Truman's piano!)

From the begining, the whimsical, yet elegant, clothes have been made of natural fabrics (mostly cotton) and artfully adorned with sumptuous appliques (many with jewel and stud embellishments).

In a few years, women flocked to her new shops in Sedona, Sanibel Island, La Jolla and Hilton Head. At the same time, stores like Neiman Marcus and Nordstroms and numerous boutiques around the country clammored to feature her unique designs.

After years of frenzied activity to meet the relentless demands, and wanting to devote time to other interests (raising horses and traveling), Ava closed her shops, but left open only one in Cottonwood, Arizona and concentrated on trunk shows where she unpacked her trunks in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada. Washington and Oregon. In 2006, she moved her shop from Cottonwood to Camp Verde, Arizona.

Now here we are in 2008 and Ava closed her retail, however, Alfredo's Wife separates, dresses, jackets ponchos and caftans are still available on this website.

Ava's designs are available in XX-Small to X-Large and Plus sizes 1X to 3X. (They are very generously cut. so it may be that you take a size or two smaller with us than you would anywhere else. Please click the "Questions about sizing" button on the left before you order to assure proper fit).

Well, that just about covers the last 38 years so take a look at the clothes and start adding to your wardrobe of casual, resort and cruise wear with Alfredo's Wife unique art to wear so pick up the phone and call Ava – 1 800 200-6805 ext. 1.