We just wrapped up our Veronica Beard Trunk Show, and it was a huge success. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported us. Now it’s time for Ulla Johnson. Nothing says spring more than Ulla Johnson, and this season doesn’t disappoint. It might actually be my favorite since we started carrying the line.

Once again, I thought it would be fun to see what everyone at The Hive was looking to purchase from the Ulla Johnson spring collection and trunk show. I always ask my sales representatives, “What is on your personal order?” As a result, I’m sure our clients would like to know what was on ours.

I finally got the original dream team back together. Tayo, Courtney and Megan once again took time out of their busy schedules to help showcase some of the beautiful looks we have for Veronica Beard. Veronica isn’t just for work. Their jackets paired with denim are the perfect weekend look and have perfected the elevated t-shirt.

This spring’s show is one of the best yet. There are some brands that, after a few years (okay, a decade) of seeing them, feel like their collections are on repeat — but I never feel that way with Ulla Johnson. Yes, there are always beautiful florals, which you simply can’t go wrong with, but her shapes and fabrics change every season, and there’s always something new and exciting. 

When I go to market, I always ask my sales representatives what they are personally buying from the collection they sell. In the retail world, we call it “our personals.” I find it enlightening to learn what the people most familiar with a product think is so good that they can’t live without it. In that same spirit, I thought our customers might like to know what’s on our shopping list from the Veronica Beard Trunk Show.

Next week, we are hosting our 10th Veronica Beard Trunk Show, and it is still the most anticipated event of the year. Throughout the years, the brand has continued to be a wonderful partner, sending us beautiful pieces and a member of their sales team to help our customers learn about the fit and assist with ordering from the spring collection.

Penelope Norton has helped create Democracy Journeys, a travel company that leads high-end, educational trips to countries where democracy is being shaped in real time. Their current destinations include Armenia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Mexico, Albania, and Washington, DC. If you’ve been looking for a meaningful way to explore, this is your moment.

We’re getting ready to kick off our Spring Trunk Show series with fresh arrivals, lighter layers, and the promise of warmer days ahead. We’re starting the season with TWP and it feels like the perfect way to ease into spring. These are beautiful transition pieces that will carry you through the last stretch of winter and straight into the new season.

I started thinking aspirationally about spring. About warmer days, lighter layers, and all the great clothes arriving in store. And naturally, that meant it was time to start planning events to match those deliveries. This spring, we have our biggest lineup of trunk shows yet, with plans to add even more in May. It’s shaping up to be a very full—and very fun—season.

TWP makes really beautiful clothes. They have quickly become one of our most popular brands, and I couldn’t be happier about it. The Hive is hosting our second TWP trunk show next week, featuring new spring arrivals with a special focus on their signature shirting. And really, couldn’t we all use a great new shirt?

The Alexandria Warehouse Sale starts on February 7th and we have boxes and boxes of shoes – Maybe more than clothing – ready for you. Staring at the stacks and stacks of shoes is what inspired me to start this event years ago. This Warehouse Sale, we’re putting the shoe in Shoe Hive.

People often ask me, “Is coming to Old Town really worth it for the Alexandria Warehouse Sale?” What they’re really asking is simple: How good are the deals? I’m here to tell you—they’re really good.

I love to see what other boutiques are doing on social media and, for our events, this research—if I can call it that—is where a lot of my ideas start to take shape. I was watching a story from another independently owned boutique, and the owner was talking about her most worn items from 2025. Two of the items were from AMO, a line we carried many years ago.

This month feels like the season of returning favorites. With smaller delivery windows, we love the chance to bring back lines we’ve missed—and Closed is one of them. While it may be known for denim, it was the sweaters, shirts, and everyday essentials that truly won us over this time around.

It is hard to believe that 22 years ago I was sitting in my space at 115 South Royal Street, scratching my head and trying to figure out what to do with my extra inventory. I realized there had to be a way to get more people to shop my clearance items. This is literally how the Alexandria Boutique Warehouse Sale came to life.

Allude is fast becoming one of our most important brands. The smaller, Germany-based company was founded in 1993 and has been perfecting its craft ever since. Known for high-quality cashmere and modern styles, Allude has become a customer favorite.

As I was thinking about what to write for Stylebook, I realized we had been unpacking a lot of leather pieces last month. I can’t quite explain it, but I have a hard time passing up suede and leather—which is probably obvious if you shop at my store. I tend to dress pretty simply and shy away from pattern, so I’m naturally drawn to texture. That’s where my love of leather comes in.

It seems like 2026 is shaping up to be the year of bringing back brands we’ve missed over the past year or two. Last week, we talked about the return of Sea NYC, and now we’re excited to welcome back one of my favorite jewelry lines: Completed Works.

Aside from the frequent commute for school events, I try to stay in the Commonwealth—and more specifically, in Alexandria. When I find great new places, I love to share them. Everyone knows where I get my hair, nails, and facials, but this year I added a few new local favorites to the mix.

When the new year rolls around, I always like to write about a few things that have nothing to do with the store. Let’s be honest—we probably all need a little reset after holiday shopping. This time of year also brings resolutions about being healthier and happier in 2026. That’s part of this post, but only part of it.