I was chic only once in my life. My God, what a day that was! It was my second day at work at Fezziwigg Co. and I had to help with a bunch of seminars we were putting on. Before my first day at work, I had gone to Nordstrom's and bought a new wardrobe. Literally. Idiot me, I spared no expense. My clothes were gorgeous. I had them tailored to fit. I looked great.
I had to run an errand - the seminar was in New York - and I caught a glimpse of myself in a shop window. Wow, I thought, for one of the few times in my life, that's me! I look.. I look so cool! I look so.. New York. I look like I belong here.
Unfortunately, cough, I outgrew the clothes all too quickly but I cannot bring myself to give them up. They live in a quiet corner of my closet.
I rarely catch glimpses of myself in store windows these days. But I got a good look at myself in the mirror today and thought - whoa. This is not right. Not right at all.
I was wearing comfy clothes that I thought looked passable. Instead, they looked pathetic. Rumpled. Worn. Way past the expiration date.
I was (and still am) wearing a rosy pink corduroy 'big shirt', a pair of jeans, and moccasin-type shoes. It should be okay, yes? No. No. I asked myself when I bought these clothes. The shirt has to be between 1994 and 1996, because the store I bought it at has long since gone out of business. The jeans? Maybe two or three years ago, but they've had hard wear. The shoes are just sad. They need to be replaced.
So. Remember the money I won at work? The money I don't have yet? Well, I just spent it.
Now in the wardrobe:
1 white long-sleeved t-shirt
1 black long-sleeve t-shirt
1 smocked kind of tunic..hard to explain
1 quilted red vest
2 pairs black pants
1 crinkly plaid blouse
1 black cardigan
1 burgundy corduroy zip-up shirt/jacket
1 pinkish gray sweater
1 pair silver earrings
3 silk scarves
and...something I have never had in my life...
1 pair of black boots.
I'm overjoyed about the boots. I have Mighty Calves. I have never in my life owned a pair of zip-up boots. The only ones that fit were ones that looked like...Goth B&D Dominatrix boots that laced up the front and kept getting caught on the hem of my skirt. Yes, these are plastic. But they're black zip-up pseudo-leather boots and they fit and they're mine.
So. The money's gone. But I had a really, really, really good time spending it.
4 comments:
Good for you! I know I feel so much better about myself and life in general when I have clothes that I feel I look good in -- and it is now possible, if one is choosy and willing to part with some dough, to buy clothes that fit the bill, even for those of us in (and I speak for myself here)
1X - 3X territory.
Let me recommend a brand of button-down, washable wrinkle-free shirts: Foxcroft. I originally found them at Nordstrom, but you can also get them online. I have at least 8 of them, and they really do come out of the dryer looking perfect.
I also have the Mighty Calves. My only pair of over-the-calf boots to date were custom made for those Fatty bobatty legs of mine (even 10s of lbs ago, I had might calves).
I now buy boots from The Avenue. I got a pair this weekend that ACTUALLY ZIP UP THE LEG. And they look sweet. They also did not cost me everything I own because I had a coupon.
Yay for BOOTS!
WHERE? WHERE did these boots come from? Brand and SKU number, please!
Queen - The boots came from Avenue. I'll bet Sherri and I are wearing the same boots. Sku to come.
Sherri - I have never thought I could afford custom made and I thought going bootless through life was but one of the prices I paid for being fat.
RCW - You have always dressed well. I know Foxcroft shirts and have a couple from Before. Finding a white blouse these days is like finding the Grail.
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