De Rigueur of Kilgore

Style.

Are you born with it?

Do you acquire it over time?

Who inspired your sense of style?

For me, I know that I was influenced by my mother. She would never go out of the house without her lipstick. When she wasn’t wearing nursing scrubs at my dad’s office, she loved to wear suits and dresses. I very rarely saw her in a pair of pants.

I also remember being mesmerized by Judy McCracken and  Chris Dukes .  I would see Judy at my friend  Melissa’s house. She would have clothes delivered to her by The Toggery which was a local ladies apparel store. She would try on the outfits for us and then decide which ones to purchase and send back the rest. Judy was tall with dark hair, ivory skin and always wore red lipstick. I always thought she looked like a movie star when she would come out and model each outfit for us. There was a great, big mirror in the hallway. Melissa and I would sit on the floor and wait for the fashion show to begin and help decide which clothing looked the best on her.

Ms. Dukes had fiery red hair and wore red lipstick. I distinctly remember her walking down the long tile hallway at my daddy’s office. Her sling back shoes making quick clicks on the floor as she hurriedly made her way to the door. She usually had one or more of her sons with her and would quickly scan the waiting area for someone that she knew so that she could say hello; all the while moving her purse back and forth. Her white collared blouse and black pencil skirt were always impeccably pressed even while being a busy single, working mother.  I wanted to be a working woman just like her! She would later give me my very first job at the age of 12 as a score keeper at the baseball field.

As I got a little older and developed my own sense of style in high school, the biggest fashion influence at that time was Still Collum. He not only sketched clothing designs at a young age, he worked at the Toggery, where Judy and all the other stylish women in town shopped for the latest fashions.  He helped make women feel special. He quickly established a following as “the” salesman in town despite his young age.  It was just a matter of time before he found a niche in a bigger market than the small town of Kilgore. He would find great success in the Dallas area.

Still pushed me to try different things in fashion.  All through high school and college, he advised me on the latest trends that would look best on me.  And the more things I tried, the more confident I would become. I took more risks and started having fun in putting my own looks together.  I finally had my own style! And I have my old friend to thank for his guidance all those years ago.

After nearly three decades in the fashion industry, Still has brought De Rigueur of Kilgore to his hometown. With this new concept, he is making fine women’s apparel, shoes and accessories available to the ladies of East Texas. And all at an affordable price point.

When I went home last week, I had dinner with Still and Charlotte who is also a long time friend and former high classmate. She’s been on the blog as a sassy girlfriend! Do y’all remember her? She’s precious and is working with Still in various capacities. She wears many hats, very fashionable ones I might add!

We decided to take some pictures around downtown Kilgore to highlight some of the looks from De Rigueur.  We had to plan around the rain and appointments that Still had with clients. Charlotte asked her goddaughter and best friend Chantal’s daughter, Destiny to help her model the clothing.

Hello again, Sassy Mom Models! It’s been too long!

We had a grand time! I think you can tell from all the pictures. I am posting a lot of them. I can’t help myself.  The gorgeous clothes, my beautiful friends and all with the World’s Richest Acre  as a backdrop.

I couldn’t be more proud of my friends Charlotte and Still. And I do believe that Destiny has a future in modeling clothes!

If you have any questions about the clothing, please contact Still at 214-693-2293 for appointments or orders.

Now, enjoy the virtual fashion show from our little corner of East Texas!

Stay Sassy Y’all.