For a very long time, and for very many reasons, I have chosen to wear clothing that would have allowed me to fit quite comfortably into any Amish community you would care to name. Not one eyebrow would be raised by my wardrobe.
In fact, years ago, a friend of my mother's told her that I always looked like Holly Hobby.
And she was right... I even wear Mary Janes.
But lately, for an equal number of reasons, there has been a shift.
Perhaps it's the final stages of healing from my rather traumatic divorce, perhaps it's the nurturing atmosphere of my homestead by the woods, perhaps it's the supportive love of friends far and near, perhaps it was turning 65 and slipping that Medicare card into my wallet....[which gives new meaning to the phrase 'coming of age' doesn't it?]
In any case, I decided to make some changes. I opened a page in my books with the title, 'Clothing' because I needed to start saving up so I could buy some new things that were more suited to how I was feeling inside.
Though I just kept adding to my little clothing fund and never went shopping. Because I must tell you, I find the abundance of choices in stores completely overwhelming. My brain shuts down. I get anxious. Then I go home.
Then one evening several months ago, S. mentioned that some women at her work were receiving clothing through the mail from some company called StitchFix.
I was instantly intrigued.
I looked it up and read all about it. I filled out the very detailed form about my size, color preferences, style... [there was no box to check that said 'Holly Hobby' by the way.] :-)
And when it came time to click... 'SUBMIT'. I choked. I couldn't do it. I had fear. I had anxiety. I had terror.
Time went by.
Then one day I went back in and looked the whole thing over and realized I was being foolish. And it was only going to cost me twenty dollars to find out what it was all about. So I clicked the button and scheduled my fix.
[Please make note of the drug addiction reference in the name of this company. We'll be getting back to it.]
Finally, one gloomy day in early March, my box arrived on my doorstep.
I opened it with fear and trembling.
They send you five items. I pulled off the tissue paper and saw a floral silk blouse. Oh... that's pretty! then there was a long cardigan... oh... I might wear that! Then I pulled out a dress and said.. Oh dear... I don't think so, then a pair of skinny jeans... oh no!... but lastly there was this scarf... and something clicked....
You get three days to decide if you want to keep any of the things they send you. If you don't like any of it, you send it back in a pre-paid envelope and they keep the twenty dollar styling fee. You can also just keep one thing if that's all you want to do.
I took a deep breath and started trying things on.
Now here's the kicker. You are trying this stuff on in the comfort of your own home. You can grab things from your own closet to mix in with what they sent you. You aren't standing in a little cubby hole in some department store with terrible lighting, feeling rushed. AND someone who knows what the heck they are DOING has chosen the articles of clothing for you.
Over the next hour or so I proceeded to have all my clothing paradigms served the proverbial nuclear option.
(You mean your brain exploded.)
Pretty much.
The upshot?
I kept everything they sent.
If you DO decide to keep everything, they give you 25% off your whole order AND refund your styling fee.
Now I am not going to kid you. The clothes are not cheap. But here's how I'm looking at it. I am wholly uneducated when it comes to fashion. I honestly don't have a flippin' CLUE what looks good on me because I would never have taken any of the things they sent me off the rack. But I did look good in them. I loved them!
So I decided that I am paying tuition for classes in developing some kind of fashion sense.
I just received my second 'fix' the other day... and kept the lot again. I'm going to a wedding in a few weeks and I now have something truly flattering to wear.
This is the card they sent with my five new items. ...
Pictures for the fashion challenged.
So, at the bottom of the note, the stylist signs it.
Turns out my stylist this time was Vince.
My friend C, after she had seen pictures of my new clothes, emailed me and said, So Vince is dressing you now ..... :-)
I guess so!
And trust me. I don't think Vince will want me leaving the house as Holly Hobby any more. She's a little girl.
And I think I finally became a woman.
I figure one more 'fix' and I may be ready to turn myself loose in a department store and I MAY be able to put my OWN outfit together.
But truly, why should I, when I have Vince?
Vince GETS me.
(One more 'fix' and you will be hooked. In fact, I think it's too late already.)
No, my dear misguided ( )... here's the truth of the matter:
It's about time.
***
Full disclosure:
Stitch Fix has no idea I'm writing this. And the only money that has changed hands has been ME sending it to THEM! :-)
Just sayin'.
And she was right... I even wear Mary Janes.
But lately, for an equal number of reasons, there has been a shift.
Perhaps it's the final stages of healing from my rather traumatic divorce, perhaps it's the nurturing atmosphere of my homestead by the woods, perhaps it's the supportive love of friends far and near, perhaps it was turning 65 and slipping that Medicare card into my wallet....[which gives new meaning to the phrase 'coming of age' doesn't it?]
In any case, I decided to make some changes. I opened a page in my books with the title, 'Clothing' because I needed to start saving up so I could buy some new things that were more suited to how I was feeling inside.
Though I just kept adding to my little clothing fund and never went shopping. Because I must tell you, I find the abundance of choices in stores completely overwhelming. My brain shuts down. I get anxious. Then I go home.
Then one evening several months ago, S. mentioned that some women at her work were receiving clothing through the mail from some company called StitchFix.
I was instantly intrigued.
I looked it up and read all about it. I filled out the very detailed form about my size, color preferences, style... [there was no box to check that said 'Holly Hobby' by the way.] :-)
And when it came time to click... 'SUBMIT'. I choked. I couldn't do it. I had fear. I had anxiety. I had terror.
Time went by.
Then one day I went back in and looked the whole thing over and realized I was being foolish. And it was only going to cost me twenty dollars to find out what it was all about. So I clicked the button and scheduled my fix.
[Please make note of the drug addiction reference in the name of this company. We'll be getting back to it.]
Finally, one gloomy day in early March, my box arrived on my doorstep.
I opened it with fear and trembling.
They send you five items. I pulled off the tissue paper and saw a floral silk blouse. Oh... that's pretty! then there was a long cardigan... oh... I might wear that! Then I pulled out a dress and said.. Oh dear... I don't think so, then a pair of skinny jeans... oh no!... but lastly there was this scarf... and something clicked....
You get three days to decide if you want to keep any of the things they send you. If you don't like any of it, you send it back in a pre-paid envelope and they keep the twenty dollar styling fee. You can also just keep one thing if that's all you want to do.
I took a deep breath and started trying things on.
Now here's the kicker. You are trying this stuff on in the comfort of your own home. You can grab things from your own closet to mix in with what they sent you. You aren't standing in a little cubby hole in some department store with terrible lighting, feeling rushed. AND someone who knows what the heck they are DOING has chosen the articles of clothing for you.
Over the next hour or so I proceeded to have all my clothing paradigms served the proverbial nuclear option.
(You mean your brain exploded.)
Pretty much.
The upshot?
I kept everything they sent.
If you DO decide to keep everything, they give you 25% off your whole order AND refund your styling fee.
Now I am not going to kid you. The clothes are not cheap. But here's how I'm looking at it. I am wholly uneducated when it comes to fashion. I honestly don't have a flippin' CLUE what looks good on me because I would never have taken any of the things they sent me off the rack. But I did look good in them. I loved them!
So I decided that I am paying tuition for classes in developing some kind of fashion sense.
I just received my second 'fix' the other day... and kept the lot again. I'm going to a wedding in a few weeks and I now have something truly flattering to wear.
This is the card they sent with my five new items. ...
Pictures for the fashion challenged.
So, at the bottom of the note, the stylist signs it.
Turns out my stylist this time was Vince.
My friend C, after she had seen pictures of my new clothes, emailed me and said, So Vince is dressing you now ..... :-)
I guess so!
And trust me. I don't think Vince will want me leaving the house as Holly Hobby any more. She's a little girl.
And I think I finally became a woman.
I figure one more 'fix' and I may be ready to turn myself loose in a department store and I MAY be able to put my OWN outfit together.
But truly, why should I, when I have Vince?
Vince GETS me.
(One more 'fix' and you will be hooked. In fact, I think it's too late already.)
No, my dear misguided ( )... here's the truth of the matter:
It's about time.
***
Full disclosure:
Stitch Fix has no idea I'm writing this. And the only money that has changed hands has been ME sending it to THEM! :-)
Just sayin'.