Ask anyone who has ever worked with me either in the store or one-on-one, and they will tell you that I strive to find the breakthrough moments where boundaries appear. Dissecting the areas surrounding resistance is one of my superpowers. Much like a CSI investigator, I've fine-tuned the fine art of reading between the lines. There's equally as much information in what a person chooses to share as what they avoid mentioning. Yes, I just compared wardrobing to the details of a crime scene investigation. There's a lot to uncover in the psychology of how we see ourselves versus how others view us. Every meeting is an exchange of information. While we consider verbal information as how people want us to know them, it's the subtlety of visuals that intrigue me. 

I'm a retail sociologist, and I love watching how people respond to clothing on a rack. There will always be pieces that everyone is attracted to and others that slip under the radar. In fact, I've likened my days on the sales floor at The Hive as "going undercover" to the unknowing customer who has no idea that I'm a specialist in the field of women's apparel and make my living styling the choices in their wardrobes. The pure volume of variety I've seen has strengthened my ability to know where the value lies and identify what's needed to create more from less.  

Q: What's the difference between a client who hires you versus a customer who you are assisting in a retail capacity? 

A: The difference between a client who has hired me for one-on-one wardrobe consulting versus the customer who I happen upon while working at The Hive can usually be summed up as the willing participant who's prepared to invite thoughtful and constructive change and those who have a more guarded approach to what they are looking for. The shopper is often on a mission with something specific in mind, and it's often hard to broaden their search with a visionary's suggestions. Clients who invite me to help them have often exhausted efforts and will let me explore new ground with them.

Ask Elizabeth Todd about the number of dresses that have landed on the racks at The Hive in the past few weeks, and she will no doubt describe it as another type of crime scene. Evidently, there were no boundaries on her dress buy! The true crime, however, would be to miss an opportunity to take home some of this season's flirty and vibrant frocks from designers such as Proenza Schouler, AVN, Ulla Johnson, Veronica Beard, and so many more! It's a lineup of some of the most dangerous suspects who have created this spring's most wanted styles.  

Q: How do you help women break preconceived ideas about styles they judge prematurely? 

A: In a nutshell, I'm not afraid of being wrong in the discovery phase. There's no way to solve a puzzle unless you open the playing field and invite the idea that anything is possible. Seeing is believing, and when you can have a discussion about what is wrong, you can appreciate what is right.

I also walk the walk… primarily because I talk the talk! If you are going to ask someone to do something they don't necessarily enjoy doing, it's helpful to put yourself in those uncomfortable places, so you can establish what it feels like to be vulnerable. A few weeks ago, I was asked to promote the sale dresses on the racks at The Hive. I took on some of the styles that I would normally avoid in order to understand how to utilize them in a variety of ways. Taking on these challenges creates a methodology of "innocent until proven guilty." Does this mean I can make a case out of any style dress for any woman? Hardly. If it walks like a dud and talks like a dud, it's no doubt a dud. But one woman's dud is another woman's magical moment. Sometimes all it takes is a creative approach on how to wear what is available season to season. 

TIPS:

• Cutouts - add the oversized blazer, and this dress checks more than enough boxes for viable application. 

• Column of Color - think outside the box and let dresses be more than a one-hit-wonder. Prints can also convey as a column of color when the field dominates the print.  

• When is short too short? - Tights are your friend. If you're not blessed with great legs, utilize the black tights. When they work, they really work, and you'll also feel covered during some of the cooler days in March. 

Here are a few on the Most Wanted for spring 2022.

The Hive is full of killer dresses for spring and summer. There's no fear of becoming a fashion victim with this variety available on Cameron Street. Bring a little sense of adventure and let the knowledgeable staff guide you through the styles that made the hit list and introduce you to the hidden gems. Be sure to follow my Instagram, too, for future most wanted items!