As sure as the sun will rise, fashion trends will always change. One season’s must-have item might be obsolete the next, only to rise back to the top a decade later. Keeping up with trends can be a daunting task, but one local boutique is helping alleviate any style-induced stressors with a passionate owner, a team of professional stylists, and ever-evolving clothing racks.
Andrea Hanna started her professional career as a comedy writer in Los Angeles before joining StitchFix and Nordstrom as a fashion stylist. When her husband’s company moved their family to Franklin, Andrea channeled her passion for fashion into her own storefront. The challenge? Doors opened in February 2020, one month before the world shut down.
“It was a tiny little store. It was a great way to cut my teeth and figure out if I even wanted to do it,” Andrea shares. “I loved it! I did that for three years and developed a client base. It was more of a destination rather than somewhere you would wander in, but my goal was to have something in a shopping center where I could get some foot traffic.”
An opportunity for Andrea to move and re-brand her business into a Berry Farms storefront eventually opened up, and she took it. Society Franklin celebrated one year in its new home in spring 2024, and the team continues to evolve styles and offerings based on what customers are most interested in.
“The way I shop as a consumer is the same way I style my clients and my customers,” Andrea says. “You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look fantastic, but I also know the feeling of wanting to walk into a beautiful store and see beautiful things.”
Many who wander into Society Franklin may be daydreaming the “what-ifs” of a designer-filled closet, but a flip of a price tag would reveal the stunning, on-trend, and high-quality pieces lining racks are actually at an affordable price point.
“When I search for brands, I am looking for quality and comfort at the right price point. I love listening to my customers, my employees, and getting new ideas,” Andrea adds. “I like being a bit of an evolving store.”
Still, finding affordable, quality fashion is only half the battle, because even with a closet full of basics and beautiful pieces, it’s a skill to piece items together in a way that’s flattering and on-trend. Society Franklin sets itself apart by hiring professional stylists to work in-store so customers have access to knowledgeable staff that can help piece a perfect outfit together.
“When you come here, you shop like you would anywhere, but you also get free styling advice,” Andrea says. “They aren’t bombarding you, but if you want it, they’ll give you great advice.”
This merges Society Franklin’s origin story with the bustling storefront it is now–the “styling studio” approach Andrea started out with is now incorporated into her boutique. While the team can certainly help customers piece together a look with items exclusively in-store, Andrea welcomes shoppers to bring in pieces bought elsewhere if any tips are needed.
“We all have that one friend who knows the trends and how to wear everything the right way. Well, consider Society that friend. We give you honest and tangible advice that you can take with you,” Andrea says. As an added bonus, Society Franklin’s star employee, Mabel, is a nine-month-old border terrier who loves to participate in styling sessions.
So what might you find on shelves this season? The fall forecast calls for classy and elegant looks, from tailored trousers to layered knits. More conservative styles like full skirts and clean, finished jeans are on-trend. Distressed denim is out.
“I always tell people to keep your jeans, just fold them and put them in storage because usually all the trends come back,” Andrea shares as a reminder.
As for prints, three bold patterns are making a return this fall: large, oversized leopard print, stripes, and checkerboard (which is sure to delight Vols fans). Plus, Andrea anticipates a rise in quilted jackets in antiquated prints (see, those trends always come back around), which can look great paired simply with a basic t-shirt and jeans.
When it comes to trends, remember you don’t have to go full-force to keep up. A few curated pieces paired with closet staples can make enough of a splash to feel like a wardrobe refresh.
“My customer is me,” Andrea says.”I’m 46, I still want to look cute and on trend, but I don’t want to feel like I’m dressing too young or too old. It feels like this forgotten age where you don’t know what to wear, you just want to look chic and cute. I think most of my customers are the same as me and that makes me an asset. That’s my philosophy in a nutshell.”
Each of these trends, plus a collection of stylist-selected, evergreen pieces, are available to shop in-store, which is located next to Biscuit Love in Berry Farms, and online at SocietyFranklin.com.