The main viewing area hummed with excited chatter and the rustle of costly fabric.

I sat down on the edge of the velvet couch.

I kept the garment bag lying flat across my knees.

Vanessa stepped down from the pedestal and went over to the boutique manager.

The manager wore a tailored black suit and a silver name tag.

Vanessa spoke just loudly enough for me to catch it over the noise.

“The aesthetic in here is getting kind of cluttered, right?” Vanessa said.

The manager blinked.