Cynthia, left, with Dallas Luxury Manager Dani Hall, right
Consigning in Dallas with a Chic Jewelry Boutique Owner
Our HQ may be in SF and our stores in NYC and LA, but we love getting a peek into the homes and designer collections of our consignors across the country — and spending a day in the life of our Luxury Managers. They’re the ones who get to go into consignors’ homes to help them streamline their wardrobes and earn money for the new things they’re coveting. In this installment, we followed Dallas Luxury Manager Dani Hall to the beautiful, mid-century-inspired home of online jewelry boutique owner Cynthia Raabe Barnhouse. With a career in fashion in the UK, and her more recent venture as the owner of BarbedWire, Barnhouse has finely honed her style and curated a considered wardrobe and jewelry collection. Read on for more.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Style obsessed from a very young age, I studied art at University and built my resume working in the fashion industry in the UK. I currently reside in Dallas, TX and am a small business owner.
How would you describe your style?
Ever-evolving. I adore seasonal trend moments but I also understand the value of wardrobe basics to strike a balance.
How did your online jewelry boutique come about?
BarbedWire Jewelry Boutique began from a desire to curate an assortment of casual luxe fine jewelry, inspired by art and fashion and reflective of the styles that I love and wear. We find up-and-coming and established jewelry designers who practice sustainable design methods to create their gorgeous pieces.
How long have you been consigning and how often do you consign?
I’ve been consigning since 2014 and I like to book my appointments every two to three months.
What is a typical appointment like with Dani?
Easy. We text to coordinate and it’s like having a friend with good advice and great style come over and go through my things. An average visit takes about 30 minutes.
How do you decide what to keep and when it’s time to let something go?
Anything in my closet that hasn’t been worn or carried in four to six months I tend to let go.
Can you tell us about some of the pieces you’ve consigned recently?
I was super into Rick Owens for a couple of years and some of his collections are cut very close to the body, so I did a major purge when I started to incorporate more architectural, away-from-the-body silhouettes.
Who are your favorite designers?
This year I’m really excited about Warm by Winnie Beattie and denim from Jean Atelier for work days, and Balenciaga and Sacai for jewelry events and evenings out. I’ve got my eye on bags from Loewe and Maison Margiela, shoes from Miu Miu and I’m wearing jewelry by White/Space and Jack & G.
Has consigning changed the way you shop?
For sure; I like the comfort of knowing that the pieces I choose hold value and when I am ready to let go, the income generated can be put towards new favorites.
Does sustainability matter to you when thinking about consigning?
Completely. It applies to my closet as well as my business. The fashion industry has such a huge environmental impact and recycling as a lifestyle helps me feel like I am reducing my footprint.
Does working with Dani influence what you consign? What makes an in-home appointment better than sending in your pieces?
Dani just knows. If it’s something that I felt strongly about in the past, she makes doubly sure that I’m ready to say goodbye to it. In-home appointments are the best — incredibly convenient and it takes all the legwork out of consigning.
