Alumna Anne Wallach’s passion has always been fashion. From a very young age, her inspiration came from watching Saturday morning runway programs showcasing Paris and New York collections every week.
“There used to be Saturday morning fashion programs that would literally just play runway shows from Paris and New York and all of these wonderful places around the world,” Wallach, who graduated in 2001, said. “That was sort of my first peek into fashion.”
Today, as President and CEO of the company, Wallach leads Forty Five Ten, a luxury multi-brand boutique in downtown Dallas known for its carefully curated designer collections and in-store shopping experience.
“Fashion is self-expression,” Wallach said. “It’s a way of telling the world who you are.”
At 15, Wallach started her career in the stock room of Ultimo in Highland Park Village. She worked weekends and gained firsthand retail experience, solidifying her belief that fashion would turn into a career for her.
After college, Wallach moved to New York, where she spent more than a decade working with major brands including Gucci and Marc Jacobs on the wholesale side.
“New York is sort of a grind, and I say that in the most affectionate way,” Wallach said. “Being there helps you work hard because everybody else is working hard.”
For Wallach, New York demanded long hours and constant work for an entry-level worker in the retail business.
“When you’re first starting your career, you want to be the first one there and the last one out,” Wallach said. “That’s how you make an impression.”
After more than a decade in New York, Wallach returned to Texas to reconnect with her roots and her family. With three brothers, nieces, nephews and eventually two sons of her own, being present became more important than the excitement of living in a major fashion capital.
“You have lots of fun through your 20s and 30s and then you start to reprioritize,” Wallach said. You just want to be there and be part of that.”
Her return to Dallas eventually led her to Forty Five Ten.
“It’s a match made in heaven for me,” Wallach said.
While online shopping has become dominant, she believes that physical retail offers something irreplaceable. She strongly values forming personal connections in her business, especially with clients. The boutique, part of Headington Companies, blends high-end retail with hospitality and features a restaurant upstairs where clients can dine while shopping.
“We’re a very experiential retailer,” Wallach said. “It’s about the actual experience in the store. You start building a relationship with somebody.”
When Wallach joined the company in 2018, one of her first major challenges was narrowing the store’s assortment of 500 brands to a more focused selection.
“Five hundred brands is a lot,” Wallach said. “You’re trying to be everything to everybody. It’s better to be more focused.”
That editorial approach, bringing a fresh creative perspective rather than copying trends, defines the brand’s direction.
=Wallach speaks with Fourcast students“How do you look at something uniquely and with a fresh take?” Wallach said. “You’re not just copying what someone else is doing.”
Leadership for Wallach is rooted in collaboration and empathy. She emphasizes listening, not only to colleagues, but also to clients and partners.
“You have to be collaborative,” Wallach said. “You can’t assume your idea is always the best, even in a professional setting. You’re a human at the end of the day.”
Recognizing the importance of paying attention to others, her concept of quiet strength centers on understanding others rather than dominating a room.
“Being a listener is important,” Wallach said. “Sometimes you’re not right, and it’s okay to let go of that.”
Recently, tariffs on imported goods have created a new challenge for Wallach. She said balancing pricing adjustments while maintaining customer trust requires sensitivity and strategy.
Having graduated Hockaday in 2001, Wallach credits her education as a ‘lifer’ at Hockaday with instilling confidence and ambition and building a foundation for her to pursue her dreams past high school.
“Hockaday really empowers you to believe in yourself,” Wallach said. “You literally can do anything.”
When clients leave Forty Five Ten feeling confident and empowered, she considers that success. She also finds purpose in supporting emerging designers and helping them break into the market.
From watching runway shows as a child to shaping one of Dallas’s most distinctive retail destinations, Wallach’s career reflects both creativity and discipline. Her journey proves that success in fashion isn’t just about trends, but vision, resilience and understanding the people you serve.
“We’re not saving lives,” Wallach said. “But we’re helping people improve their self-esteem.”
