Jean Therapy

I was mesmerized.

He spoke in a soothing, calming voice.

The entire room was just transfixed.

You mean WE COULD FIT INTO SKINNY JEANS?!

Some shook their heads in disbelief.

Murmurs started in the room.

Questions were raised.

ME? Really?!

According to the Jean Therapist, yes we could.

He would make sure of it.

James Coleman from Saks Fifth Avenue Boston: Jean Therapist.

He was a speaker at "Fit Into Your Skinny Jeans" at Maxime Color Salon. (where I get my hair done).

I wasn't sure about this part of the night's program before I got there. I always think "hungry" or "starving" when I think about fitting into skinny jeans.

But I was wrong.

It's all about the fit, the style and the designer says the Jean Therapist.

He had regular girls in skinny jeans to prove his point.

After that, I was a believer. How could you not be? After listening to James I can't wait to visit him at Saks and fit into my skinny jeans.

I picture walking into a dressing room and throwing myself onto a chaise lounge and telling James all my denim dilemmas. Or all of my problems. Seriously, this guy needs to open up a therapy room.

Couldn't we all use a little Jean Therapy?

What are the two things we hate to try on?

Jeans and bathing suits, right?

So why not have someone tell you the absolute truth about your jeans.

One brave soul did get up in front of the room to show off her jeans. She called them "comfortable", like a "boyfriend jean".

The Jean Therapist cringed. Why would you want to wear your boyfriend's jeans? You're a woman!

He called those jeans "The Bad Boyfriend" jean. You know they're not right for you, but you keep going back. And you only have yourself to blame.

So off I'll go to Saks and see the Jean Therapist. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm sure it will be the perfect fit.

Dress for Success

The applause filled the room as one woman stood up to accept the accolades.

The Emmys?

Nope.

Prize winner?

Of sorts...

She is a woman who took her circumstances and turned them around with one simple change.

A change of clothes.

I was at the Dress for Success Boston luncheon at the beautiful Fairmont Copley.

The woman standing up, the one we were all clapping and cheering for used the resources at Dress for Success to dress up her life and get a good paying job to help her family.

Sound simple?

Not at all.

She not only had to get up the courage to ask for help, she had to accept it. And she did. Now she's a success story. One that brought a tear to my eye as I joined with the other 400 guests that afternoon applauding her success.

You've heard the saying "Clothes make the man". It's true. But wearing the right clothes most definitely makes the woman.

Don't you feel a little kick in your stop when you're wearing that fabulous new dress or pair of shoes you coveted for so long and finally gave in and bought?

I most certainly do!

When I'm having a bad day, when my MS is kicking my butt I turn to fashion to turn things around.

And it always helps.

Looking good has a direct response to feeling good. And with that, good things can happen.

My very first neurologist used to tell me I was her best dressed patient. We'd talk about fashion and shoes and anything that I was up to involving fashion...she inspired me to not lose myself in my disease. To not let it bring me so far down that I couldn't find my way back up.

That's where fashion has always helped me. Always been a lifeline. A way to make myself feel better (because there is NOTHING better than Chanel!)

While my circumstances are different from the Dress for Success success story....I think there is a little bit of her in all of us. Fashion (and some very generous fashionistas) helped her improve her life.

Am I saying that fashion can save the world? Nah.

But if a piece of clothing, a fab handbag or a killer pair of shoes can brighten your day, make you feel better....it certainly is a great start.