THE CLOSET TREASURE HUNTER

I often say that my favorite place in the home is the closet. Going into clients’ closets throughout the country, I often feel like a treasure hunter who gets to uncover hidden gems and give them new life by bringing them to auction. I love nothing more than when clients share the experiences they had wearing their pieces and the smiles on their faces at the prospect of someone else getting to create new experiences with them.

I come from the fashion world having worked for some of the top luxury houses and my new role at Hindman gives me the opportunity to combine my endless passion for luxury and deep knowledge of fashion history. The auction world is where I am meant to be. From a young age, I had an interest in auctions, so to say this role is a dream job is an understatement.

I began my time in Chicago attending Columbia College Chicago where I received a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Business. While at Columbia I was exposed to haute couture garments and had the opportunity to familiarize myself with examples of high fashion, learning about construction techniques, and much more. This has greatly contributed to my professional career and provided me with a sharp eye that I now use every day at Hindman.

My role as Head of Sale and Specialist in Hindman’s Luxury Handbags & Couture department allows me to curate luxury sales with an assortment of couture treasures that speak to the latest trends not only in fashion but in collecting. Our Holiday Fashion auction was the first auction I’ve gotten to curate from start to finish. The sale was filled with luxury handbags and examples of high fashion from leading names in luxury, whether bidders were hunting for an exotic skin Hermès bag or a unique dress for their next soirée.

I was particularly fond of the fabulous collection of Birkin and Kelly bags offered in the auction, especially an exceptional Hermès Birkin 35 in Shiny Porosus Crocodile. This exceptionally rare dual-tone was one of the finest examples of an exotic skin Birkin that I have ever had the good fortune to handle and is sure to become a favorite of the buyer.

For those with an avant-garde flair, there were rare examples of Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, and Jean Paul Gaultier, taking bidders on a style journey spanning more than forty years. Most of the collection was purchased through the former Oak Street fashion emporium Ultimo, a boutique that was known for outfitting the dangerously chic. The collection was steeped in not only fashion history but also Chicago history.

Speaking of history, Holiday Fashion also featured a single- owner collection of Bob Mackie gowns, including a duplicate of the iconic gown that Cher wore to the 1985 Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which she attended with Mackie himself. The sequin-encrusted and bugle-beaded gown was perfect for anyone looking to make an unforgettable impression at a holiday gala.

I wake up every day in disbelief that my job is to handle such extraordinary pieces. I hope one day you’ll give me the pleasure of hunting for treasure in your closet but if you’re still in a buying mood, have I got just the piece for you!

For more information, visit hindmanauctions.com.