A fashion brand can have the loveliest clothes and the most impeccably designed space, but the icing on the cake is the visual merchandising—as in, how it’s all put together to create a beautiful and enticing retail experience. At our Draper James boutiques in Nashville and Dallas, we’re fortunate to have Colson Horton as our visual merchandising guru.
A fashion industry veteran, Colson is the founder of creative styling company And Delight Reigned. In addition to her work making the Draper James boutique look pretty, she works primarily in the entertainment and music industry doing set design, prop styling, wardrobe styling, and creative direction.
Colson is “Texas-born, but raised a Georgia Peach,” she says, though she’s lived in Nashville full-time for the last three years and on-and-off for much longer. With a look that’s both polished and playful (Southern style at its very best!), she’s a bit of a local style celebrity, though folks on our team turn to her for recommendations on everything from fashion to flowers to food.
“This collection has it all—and the Pop Stripe Dress and Adeline Coat are my favorites,” says Colson, seen here in our Nashville shop. “I am definitely a shoe kind of girl, so to add my stamp on things I paired these classic pieces with my own gold glittered mules from Kate Spade. Then I added the perfect accessories from Draper James–oversize sunnies and a little silver-and-gold sparkly clutch. This combination felt a little flirty, but still put together and not so serious…”
Check out Colson’s answers to our our Stylemaker Seven—a regular series highlighting the favorites of lifestyle experts we admire—and take note!
Colson Horton Stylemaker Seven
- Cocktail: You know that saying, ‘She is whiskey in a tea cup’? Well, that is my cocktail! I love a great bourbon or whiskey, specifically a well-made Old Fashioned.
- Bouquet: Flowers are my love language. I really love ranunculus and anemone. But really anything that has a bit of an undone and a earthy feel works for me.
- Hostess gift: If I am a house guest, I will either send a simple bouquet of flowers, a box of nice soaps, or monogrammed hand towels. The gesture is always something that caters to my hosts’ likes and is accompanied by a handwritten note of gratitude.
- Music: I grew up a classical musician (I played viola for 17 years), so I am always drawn to the greats like Camille Saint-Saëns or my favorite jazz artist Ahmad Jamal. But currently I have had Patsy Cline on rotation. She was such a raw talent.
- Special occasion restaurant: Over the last few years, Nashville has really upped its game in the food department! My husband and I have been very impressed with Bastion‘s tasting menu and the food at 404 Kitchen and City House. It’s hard to pick just one now in this town!
- Fashion Go-To: I mentioned it earlier, but I love shoes. My workday outfit varies whether I am on set or not, so a festive shoe (like the gold glitter mules I’m wearing in these pics) seems to be a constant—and reliable—accessory.
- Southernism: ‘Dadgummit’ is a favorite word of mine. But I also like: “Couldn’t catch a bread wagon with dough wheels.”
“Draper James has definitely brightened up the area in Nashville,” says Colson, seen here outside our boutique on 12 South in Nashville. “The store alone is such a beautiful place, but the company and the people genuinely embrace the Southern foundation of welcoming everyone. I think that is just what we need today—some sunshine, a smile, and sweet tea for everyone.” Yes!
