I would like to thank the many people who helped take this book from a dream to a reality. You have blessed me immensely.
Thank you to my editor, Marisa Vigilante, and everyone at Little, Brown Spark, including Tracy Behar, Ian Straus, Jessica Chun, Juliana Horbachevsky, Lauren Harms, and Ben Allen.
Thank you to my collaborator, Suzanne Zuckerman, a talented writer and gifted listener.
Thank you to my agent, Elizabeth Bewley, at Sterling Lord Literistic.
My colleagues at the Fashion Institute of Technology, especially Dr. Paul Clement, Rosa Maria Smith, and Hadassah Perez. All of you inspire me every day. To my students, thank you for bringing your curious minds to the classroom.
Thank you to my former professors and supporting faculty at Bowling Green State University, especially Martha Chandran-Dickerson, Dr. Manuel Pomales, and Dr. Mike Zickar, and my former professors at Teachers College, Columbia University, especially Dr. Gregory Payton.
Thank you to my loyal, hardworking interns: Frank, Jessica, Korona, and Kat.
A big thanks to the many journalists that I’ve met over the past few years, especially Jennifer Bennour. You have embraced fashion psychology and helped me to share my research and philosophy with people around the world.
And finally, the last and biggest thanks to my family: my father, Coejo; my mother, Karen; my brother, Jovan; my nannies, Jacqueline and Gail; my uncle Franc; my cousin Audrey; my cousins Loriann, Ericka, Sal, and others. Also to my sorority sisters Rebecca and Carleta, best friend Sierra Narciese, friends Anthony and Martha, and advisors Darryn and Eric.
I love you all.