My first "official" customer

Thanks to the encouragement of friends telling me this is "my thing".....I am officially going to make helping people feel great in their clothes a business. I ordered business cards this week - that was a big commitment. It took me hours to figure out exactly how it should look, and I have a feeling once they arrive, I will want to change them again.

I had my first paying customer. She was recommended by a friend (Q) and she's seen me every Thursday night for over a year now - hopefully I am some sort of attraction and she asked me if I could help her find some fun clothes for her. So like a big girl, I wrote up a proposal and sent it to her. She agreed to the terms (Imagine that) and off we were! 

I met her at her house for our first meeting which included evaluating her current clothing to 3 groups: What we can work with, get tailored, and give away. I loved doing this. I loved being invited to her private space, the fact that she opened up herself and her closets to me was a treat. As we laughed at some items, like a shamata dress she's kept since she was pregnant years ago, then ah ha'd at why she kept items that had sentimental value to her, we went through everything. Even her little daughter helped. I organized her closets and was done in one hour, and planned for two. I forgot that a big part of this job is organization and I'm a VIRGO - organized to the T! I wanted to go back and organize some more, I know it sounds weird, but it's true.

Our 2nd meeting was at Nordstrom Rack. Our goal was to purchase a lot of clothes within her budget. Now you have to know, going to the Rack is a lot of work. It's like looking for a diamond in a hay stack. You know it's there, but you have to search, search hard and then search again. It's not like a department store where everything is neatly laid out. I arrived 30 minutes before her to do some pre-shopping. Once she got there we went straight to the dressing room. Again, not like my Nordstroms where I can put everything in your nice dressing room and come to check on you. Here, it's 10 items max. We had a lot to try on, so I was going back and forth while she patiently waited for me to bring her more clothes. The first trip was not very successful. So back out on the floor we went, again looking for the diamond. The 2nd trip was much better, we found tops, dresses, pants, wraps and fun sweaters. Items which brought out the best in her figure.  It was a lot of work for her trying on all those things, I know she was pooped. I did receive a text from her the following day letting me know how happy she was with what she bought.

I truly enjoyed these two meetings. Both were on my day off, but it didn't feel like I was working. It felt more like I was helping, and when I help someone, I feel great about myself. So maybe that's the secret to doing what you love?

So who's next?

SHOES

I have friends that are asking me to write about shoes. "What shoes should I wear" they say. My answer to a color confusion is gold or silver, they go with everything. Now, I know I am Persian and it's in my blood to love gold, not so much silver, but we love flashy stuff, so that's where silver comes in. Flash back: when gold and bronze became popular in the early 80's, oh my family was so happy. My Grandma was trying to steel my gold shoes!! BUT BUT BUT, this is coming from fashion know how, not the Persian in me - trust me gold and silver flats look fabulous.  I explain later.....

Before I get into what to wear let me just say this. I've noticed that in the last year or two shoes have taken a dramatic turn, a turn so different it's left me stumped and I haven't bought much in the way of shoes in the last two years. AH Don't be crazy - I have bought some, just not the usual amount. I look at the shoes that are displayed in the department stores, the ones that are given the best real estate on view for all to see and all I can think of is OUCH! The straps are ridiculous, like gladiator meets striper heals. This is all the rage in heals. Yes, they do look hot. But let me say this, if your feet hurt or you can't walk properly in these shoes, you look like an idiot. Period. Ladies, make sure you can walk comfortably in your shoes before you buy them.  How you walk, how you carry yourself says more than what is on your feet. Do you watch Oprah, do you see her fabulous high heeled shoes (it's the first thing I look at her when she's on)? Well guess what, she's SITTING in those shoes same goes for Kelly (skinny bitch) Rippa! That's why she can walk on stage in those 4" heels, elongate her legs, THEN SIT! So I walk by all those shoes in the stores stumped on what to buy, are you feeling me?

OK back to gold and silver.  Spring and summer are coming so black and brown shoes will not always do it. Let's say you have a cute skirt, white background with yellow and green in it, what shoes do you wear? Do you have to go out and buy yellow or green shoes? NO I say, silly to this matchy matchy look! Wear silver or gold ballet flats or sandals. Not flip flops. Flip flops are good for sweats, shorts, casual stuff - but they do not complete an outfit. You walk sloppy in them, therefore your outfit becomes sloppy and you look frumpy. Ballet flats are adorable, with pants (make sure your pants are hemmed and not dragging on the ground) Capri's (OH don't get me started on Capri's - they better be wide legged or else you look like you gotta big butt and most of them make you look like your legs are short) shorts, skirts and dresses. You don't have to get gold or silver ballet flats, but please stay away from black and brown. Get crazy! There are all sorts of fun colors out there, I especially love the animal prints. Do you know that an animal print flat can take the place of your brown or black shoe? OH yes, sister! But please, do not wear any other animal print with it. One animal print on one body part please (unless you are Persian).  IF you must get black, get patten leather with a gold or silver emblem on them.

Also, if shopping for ballet flats the shape is very important. They need to have an elongated front. If they are too round or moccasin like - you will look like you have platypus feet. 

Please keep in mind shoes is a subject which can not be covered in one posting. Today's entry is about flats and color.  Girls, we do wear high heels and we know we look hot in them, so I will elaborate on that in the future.  

$$ Tip: right now on target.com they have silver flats for $19.99. So if you are unsure about this and don't want to invest a lot of money, buy those and try them out. I am sure you'll love them and purchase a good pair in the future.