By Cookie DuBois

My name is Cookie DuBois and I am the owner/operator of Cookie DuBois Clothing.  Cookie DuBois Clothing exemplifies the modern Southern woman with classic lines and a bit of an edge. Fashion has always been an interest of mine, and I have been sewing for nearly twenty years now.  My stepmom, DeAnna, taught me the art of sewing as a child. We made everything from pageant dresses to my school uniforms together.  I definitely inherited my work ethic from her, because she is a workhorse! 

To me, the archetypical Southern woman has sophistication and charm, paired with a strong ability to take care of business.

DeAnna wakes up at 4 AM each day to start her sewing, cooking, or cleaning.  As a teen, I thought it was ludicrous to be awake that early, but here I am, an adult, rising each morning at 4 AM.  By five in the morning I am in my sewing studio, working on projects before I head to my other job as a children’s librarian. My work as a librarian is my other passion. I have been with Shreve Memorial Library for over ten years.  I started as a punk rock teenager with a mohawk and a bad attitude. Things changed when I started at the library. The library is such a welcoming place and it is truly for everyone.  It’s a weird job and I think I defy most expectations of a typical librarian. Every day is different, from filming story time with a coworker dressed as a banana, to hosting a music program for almost eighty kids, to ending the day with a teen lock-in event (thirty teenagers playing laser tag in a library after hours really is a sight to see). Each of these events actually happened in one day and it was pretty fantastic. When I’m not at the library, I’m in my sewing studio.  I love working on anything new or something that I’ve never done before.

Shreveport truly has some amazing fashion opportunities. In the two and a half years that I have run Cookie DuBois Clothing, I have participated in two collaborative fashion shows with the Agora Borealis. I made my first tableaux costume, worked with a movie studio, made performance wear, made Derby Day attire and headpieces, and fitted a couple of gorgeous brides for their special day.  My clients have been so great to me and Shreveport has been so great to me! I wish that I had some wise advice or guidance on balancing two full-time jobs, but I am still working on that myself.  Just like everyone, I make mistakes and I get overwhelmed, but I’m not giving anything up! Although they are worlds apart, I’m obsessed with both of my passions. A high-fashion librarian… who says you can’t have it all?