Some moments in life never leave you. This entry is about one of those moments and how it completely changed my perspective on the importance of fashion in our daily lives. It also illustrated how fashion can devour its victims if allowed to do so.

It was the day I realized that the world of fashion is not only about material, color and cut…it is about the quality of one’s life and how simple changes can completely alter the paths we take. This was the day that inspired me to start a new business that would encourage women to discover just how powerful and beautiful they are – I wanted to show women (and men) how to use fashion to their advantage in every situation.
I like to equate myself to an archaeologist when it comes to shopping. I will dig through racks of clothing with the hope of finding a jewel. This was one of those days where I had an extra hour between appointments and found myself in the middle of a department store sale excitedly searching for something fabulous. I didn’t find anything that day, but something wonderful did happen. As I was about to leave empty handed, I spotted a sales rack that was being raided by two women…of course I had to go see what was so spectacular. These women were in their mid-forties, looked to be in great shape, gorgeous and obviously married. One of them picked up a sweater and asked her friend what she thought about it – to which she replied, “Oh I think that is just the cutest. You could even wear that on a date with Rick.”I assumed that ‘Rick’ was her husband and couldn’t believe that the sweater she was holding was something she would ever wear; much less sport it on a date night with her husband. Before I knew it I was apologizing for interrupting and for eaves dropping and began telling her why she shouldn’t buy the sweater. I quickly listed reasons starting with the fact that it was simply not a good shape for her and would make her look like a box, the colors would not be the best for her skin tone and most importantly her husband would not want to see his wife in a sweater that had little multi-colored trucks all over it…especially on a date night!

One of my many disclaimers is that I am not an expert on men, but I do know a few things including the fact that men see fashion much differently than women do. My busiest times of year include Christmas and Valentine’s Day – this is because I am inundated with men who want to buy gift cards for their wives…I always make it a point to ask why.

Top two answers are:
1. She dresses like her mother.
2. I want her to be happy and she is always complaining about her clothes.

The sweater with the little trucks would most likely qualify under the ‘she dresses like her mother category.’ A boxy sweater with little multi-colored trucks is not something your significant other will look at and think, “WOW! Now that is my woman.”
I am not saying that we should dress only for our husbands, boyfriends, partners etc, but let’s not forget about them while we are shopping. There is something to be said for keeping the fire alive. Caring about how you look tells your mate that you care about what they think about you, and also shows them that you care about YOU.
Many of my clients have told me that they simply give up on fashion by falling into the role of ‘mom.’ Being a mother is the MOST important job on earth, but we are also wives, as well as, examples to our children – or even more importantly, that we are women. I do not believe the heart of a woman is boring or stale in any regard. Women are magnificent, and clothing should be a reflection of that magnificence. We have a million choices in this world when it comes to fashion – Giving up on finding your own personal style should never be an option.

Buying that $25 sweater would have been a mistake for that woman, and together we found another sweater that was simply gorgeous and cost less. It doesn’t take a million dollars to look like a million dollars. I am happy to say that both women left the store that day with new pieces that fit them well, and made a statement to the world about who they are…capable, beautiful women who aren’t afraid to dress in a way that shows anything less!

Remember: Trucks are meant for driving – if you have any in your closet, throw them out!