a little color

The idea of Wendy going shopping with me started way back with one of the girls-night-out (GNO) outings.  It isn’t hard not to notice my tendency towards safe and subtle clothing — like black, brown, and grey.  It’s not that I hide, but I take no chances.  

Prior to this particular GNO, I’d tried to rectify the issue.  I went to the mall in search of something fabulously feminine.  But I came back empty handed and completely frustrated.  I just didn’t have an eye for fashion.  “Oh, we’ll take care of that!” Wendy said as she offered to take me shopping.  

But, it didn’t happen… until last night, that is.  

Although I could probably use a few new outfits, this trip focused on obtaining a new dress to wear to an upcoming wedding.   I will admit that I considered holding back on looking “fabulous”, as Wendy calls it — since W will be accompanying me to the event, Wendy thought otherwise.

She is right.  My reasons for wanting to look and feel fabulous have nothing to do with men.  Therefore, a man should not be the reason for choosing to wear my ill-fitting, same old-same old.  It does have everything to do with me and my wanting to feel good about myself.

 

Right off, Wendy began grabbing things off the racks which I would’ve never even considered.  She assured me that I’d be surprised at how fabulous they looked.  She likes that word.  “You can never judge how something is going to look on the hanger, ” she insisted.  

As we meandered around Macys, I was drawn to my usual colors (black, white, and brown), while Wendy reached for the most colorful items my eyes have ever seen. In her kindest, gentlest way, she said, “You, girl, are on a black and brown restriction.”  The pile on Wendy’s arm grew and grew and, when I reached out to help, she said, “No, that’s my job.  Your job is to just look pretty.”  

I love this girl!

We took our awesome collection of color back to the dressing room.  I tried to be all Runner Susan about it, having Wendy take pictures of every outfit, but they didn’t really turn out like RS’s do.  On top of Wendy capturing the most unflattering facial expressions, the photos are blurred.  So, I will spare you the eye torture and me the humility.

While Wendy was retrieving a larger size (frown) in one of the dresses, I thumbed through the photos.  The dress which we were totally wild for didn’t look so great at all.  In fact, that particular dress would have required me to suck it in ALL day for me to feel comfortable showing anyone a straight on shot.  That just wasn’t going to happen.

After we narrowed it down to three dresses, we emailed the photos (poor as they were) to Wendy’s “Sissy” for her critical opinion.

But the trip was not a loss after all:

• We had a GREAT time laughing and singing songs from the Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof
• I DID find a dress
• I found TWO dresses actually
• I even got a pair of shoes — ‘cuz Wendy insisted that low pumps would just NOT do.

I probably won’t post pictures until Saturday when I have the look complete with: 

• hair up (or down), curly (or straight)
• some sort of  dangly earrings
• my toes painted (‘cuz the shoes are strappy). 

Please say your prayers that I don’t ruin my running by twisting an ankle or anything.