28 | DECEMBER 16 • 2021 

W

hen Miri Halpern was grow-
ing up in Oak Park, she could 
not find modest clothing for 
herself locally. She usually shopped for 
clothing on visits to New York City or 
Lakewood, New Jersey. 
Halpern had held a variety of jobs, 
including bookkeeping, but she always 
dreamed of opening a business of her 
own, although she wasn’t sure what kind. 
She thought of selling maternity supplies 
or baby’s needs. And then, six years ago, 
she found out that a neighbor who owned 
a clothing store in Berkley wanted to sell 
the whole business: merchandise, vendor 
contracts to buy more merchandise, store 
fixtures, customer database, programs 
for inventory and bookkeeping — every-
thing. If Halpern was to realize her 
dream, she would not have to start from 
scratch; this was the time. 
Halpern even had a location in mind 
for the store, in the mall on the northwest 
corner of 10 Mile and Greenfield roads 
in Southfield. She had the place painted, 
moved merchandise and fixtures herself 
and, a couple of months of frantic activity 
later, Halpern opened Elegant Expressions 
in March 2015. 
Halpern had no experience running a 
store; she had never even done retail work 
or studied business. She had a couple of 
years of higher education in England — 
in Jewish studies. “I learned everything 
on the job,” she says. 
One of the most exciting parts of the 
job for Halpern happens four times a 
year when she goes to New York for the 
seasonal clothing shows that deal entirely 
with modest women’s wear. The wholesale 
vendors predominantly come from the 
United States and Israel, with a few from 
Canada and England. Whichever vendor 
sells the clothing, most of the clothing is 
produced in China, with only a few items 
produced in the United States.

Halpern meets with 
wholesale vendors for 
about an hour each, one 
right after the other. 
At each meeting, she must decide what 
to buy, which clothing fits the image of 
Elegant Expressions. She must make these 
decisions quickly, but Halpern says, “I am 
very selective about style, fit and fabric.” 

CLASSIC STYLE
For Elegant Expressions, Halpern wants 
clothing that is not too trendy, but rather 
classical. Still, she needs a wide variety 
of clothing because Elegant Expressions 
sells to every age group — everything 
from baby clothes to teens, to ladies’ extra 
small and ladies’ plus sizes. Halpern says 
no other store in this area sells modest 
clothing for all ages. 
Halpern emphasizes customer service. 
“Some women hate to shop. They come 
into a store and just feel overwhelmed. 

They don’t know where to 
start. I can help them find a 
single item or a whole ward-
robe. I can help them focus 
on just what they want: for 
Shabbos or for weekdays, 
casual or dressy, a top or skirt 
or dress.” 
In short, Halpern aims to 
give those who come into her 
store a personal shopping 
experience. 
They can try it on right away 
in the dressing room. When 
they come out, “I give them 
an honest opinion. If it doesn’t 
fit right, I tell them honestly. 
I want them to be completely 
satisfied. 
“I keep the atmosphere calm, 
not pressured,” she adds.
What gives Halpern the most 
satisfaction about her work? 
“Seeing people wearing my 
clothing around town.” 
Another source of satis-
faction comes when Elegant 
Expressions has customers who come 
from the big cities, from the places where 
Halpern used to shop back in the day, 
who say they cannot find a store like hers 
at home. 
All the clothes that Halpern sells are 
appropriate according to the standards 
of the observant Jewish community. She 
has a wide range of customers who don’t 
necessarily come from an observant 
background, but they are all looking for 
something classy or dressy that’s modest 
that they can wear to a grandson’s bar 
mitzvah or their child or grandchild’s 
wedding. 

Visit https://elegantexpressions85.wixsite.com, follow 

it on Facebook at facebook.com/elegantexpression-

susa or call (248) 281-3030.

Stylishly Modest Fashion

Elegant Expressions is the place to shop for all ages and sizes.

LOUIS FINKELMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A few examples of the 
styles you’ll find at Elegant 
Expressions.

OUR COMMUNITY

