Miss Behavin: Keeping It Sassy

Miss Behavin on the Oxford Square Is Always in Style for Locals, the Sorority Set and Visitors Alike

It is the worst kept fashion secret in Oxford that Miss Behavin (MB) is a glad-rag Mecca for the sorority set at Ole Miss.

The eyeful of attention that owner, Ivy Saxton, and her associates pay to the ever-evolving look and vogue of Greek women on campus, season in and season out, has kept the store’s brand edgy and brash and ‘now’ in the several thousand items of merchandise contained therein.

What many may not know is that MB’s demographic ranks have been fortified of late with young professionals and mature women, as well who seem to have lost none of their vim for haute fashion because they happen to be getting a shade older.

“The clientele at the upscale retail boutique located in the Thompson House Annex on the Square is now divided equally among college age women, young junior leaguers and their mothers,” Anna Larimore said, an MB associate and buyer and a senior journalism major at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media at Ole Miss.

“It’s a compliment to have young professionals and more mature women shop in our store,” Larimore said. “That is really how you know you are doing well. Stereotypically, you would assume they are looking for a more classic look.”

Larimore said women of all stripes come for the chic style and good value in designer jeans, day dresses, tops, evening wear and scads of jewelry and accessories.

“Our game weekends are some of our more successful weekends of the year,” Larimore said.

Style Ambush

 Unlike the sales promos put on by other clothing merchandisers in the city, however, there is never advance warning as to when one of MB’s “Secret Sales” will take place.

“It’s more like a fashion ambush, and anyone is welcome to come to our secret sales,” Larimore said.

Sales are always announced on Instagram with everything in the store up for grabs.

“Even new things are fair game,” Larimore said.

Larimore said customers do not have to wait on a secret sale to find a designer item at a discount price. The 50 percent off rack of name brands located just outside the front door is one of the most watched such sales racks in town. Dresses and outfits with $100-plus price tags can find their way to the sales rack at any time.

“If we see a particular item in one or two or three other stores in town, we do not want it anymore. We want statement pieces that are unique,” Larimore said.

Fall Into Fashion

It appears that not even the seemingly staid and sacred proving ground of the Grove is immune to change at the hands of the fashion fairy.

“Something I’ve noticed more and more is that women looking for Grove attire are shifting away from the traditional ‘wear red’ or ‘wear blue’ themes,” Larimore said. “They are looking to wear prints and looking to stand out.”

Whatever the women of Oxford and Ole Miss are wearing to sporting events, Greek parties, high profile charity events and even to church on Sunday, rest assured that Saxton and her associates have gone the extra mile in helping them look the ladies look great.

Saxton faithfully attends trendy women’s apparel markets of L.A., Las Vegas and elsewhere ahead of the four fashion seasons and takes the fashion “look books”, created by her staff of sales associates, with her to better please the fickle fashion tastes of MB’s diverse customer base.

In Saxton’s own words, “When I ask my associates if they like a piece, and they respond with ‘Slay’, I know it’s perfect.”

William Harrelson is a contributor for hottytoddy.com and can be reached at hottytoddynews@gmail.com.

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