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.

It's about Time

Remember when you were a kid and someone would ask "How old are you?!"

They would be excited to hear your answer and you just couldn't wait to yell it out?

Sometimes you would even hold up the correct number of fingers, just to make sure they knew EXACTLY how old you were.

Then you have your big birthdays: Sweet 16, 21....even dare I say....30?

Then you stop counting.

I have a friend who hates celebrating her birthday so much, that she never told anyone when it was.

I happened to learn about it by mistake. But she drilled it into my head that she HATED celebrating her birthday. And eventually I really did forget the day! (she's better about it now...I think)

So what happens? Why do we stop celebrating? Is it the passage of Time that upsets us?
People always tell me I don't look my age. They're surprised when I tell them what it is.

And no.

I'm not telling you! A lady never reveals her real age....or her dress size.

But I can tell you that this year, for my birthday....I'm celebrating the passage of Time!

How?

By giving into my obsession with the Premiere Watch Collection by none other than my favorite fashion house....

CHANEL

Sorry. Did you think I would have some earth shattering reason? A change of fate? A change of heart? You could say I would like to change it up. I never wear a watch. I just look at the time on my cell phone.

And ok, I admit it. I really don't like celebrating my birthday anymore. Maybe because It's just not as fun as it used to be. Now instead of being excited about getting older, I dread it. So maybe it's about time I stop thinking like that.

Maybe I should stop thinking about those watches too! I see them in every fashion magazine, whether it's an advertisement or mentioned in an article.

I've been on Chanel.com about one hundred times looking at the selection.

So finally, I made a selection of my own.

It has a black band with diamonds all around the face which is also black. There are four diamonds on the face. One at 12, 3, 6 and 9.

And right below the diamond at 12 is one word: CHANEL.

The perfect way to mark Time.

When Neiman Marcus sent me the watch (thank you Sharyon!) the box was wrapped in creamy paper with a big satin bow. LOVED IT!

When I saw my new purchase....

It took my breath away...

I felt time stand still.

What a beautiful way to look at time.

Maybe now when I'm running out of time, I'm late or I feel as if time is passing too quickly...I'll look at this amazing watch...this fabulous piece of jewelry on my arm...and just slow down.

I didn't celebrate a milestone birthday or feel any huge reason to buy the watch. Just the beauty of it combined with my love of all things Chanel.

And I think it's about time I stop dreading my birthday.

But that doesn't mean I'm going to tell you how old I am.....

On Pins and Needles

I'm sure tourists who walk on the uneven brick sidewalks around Boston Common think it's quaint.

But me in a pair of 3 inch red Manolos?

Not so much.
(also wearing a grey shift dress, nipped at the waist with a patent leather belt, short, 3/4 sleeve black jacket and of course...my black Chanel Timeless Clutch. Jewelry: thick black bangle and a fab long necklace with black, white and crystal beads.)

Don't trip, I keep telling myself. Don't trip.

As I casually (ok, really just tried hard not to trip) walked along the outskirts of Boston Common I had to laugh.

I haven't been to Boston in awhile and even though I took the wrong exit off the highway I still found my way to the Back Bay part of the city. I swear my car knows how to get there even without a GPS lady yelling at me.

No time to be lost now, I have a fabulous event to get to. In one piece.

I was about to come thisclose to history.

A fashion event in honor of the first female Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, who just wrote a book called "Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewelry Box".

I know, I know. You probably don't associate fashion with a government official...but throughout her career as the US Ambassador to the United Nations and then on to her post as Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made quite the fashion statement.

To let those around her know what she was thinking, what kind of mood she was in or what was going on in the world....she wore a pin. When she spoke to the Iraqi delegation she wore a snake pin (Saddam Hussein had a poem commissioned to run in the Iraq newspaper and in it she was called a "serpent"). So she let everyone know she could take it. And give it right back...in the form of a small fashion statement with BIG meaning.

I got to the store, St John's Boutitque on Boylston Street, with five minutes to spare.

I saw my friend Kristen right when I walked in. The PR company she works for was responsible for this once in a lifetime event.

Big hugs, compliments all around and then two amazing surprises. A copy of Madame Secretary's book and inside a generous gift card to the store.

The boutique was filled to capacity, everyone waiting to hear Madame Secretary tell us about her fashion statements, her pins.

And she didn't disappoint.

Who knew she was so funny? She had us laughing right away telling us about people we only see on the news. Heads of State who acted more like children than grown men. I loved every minute.

After answering questions Madame Secretary was kind enough to stay and sign books.

For all of us.

It was a long line.

A testament to her popularity.

For me, the line meant I could network. I had my business cards (thank you Annabel!) and as I talked I gave them out.

The reporter in me is automatically drawn to meet new people, the freelance writer in me is excited about my blog and wants to tell everyone about it...urge them to read it. (Ok...and then there's the fashionista in me who is dying to try on the ah-mazing clothes surrouding me. Fabulous colors: rich blues, hot pinks and perfect plums. )

Kristen was fabulous and introduced me to those I didn't meet myself.

I spoke to the manager of St. John's who suggested I come by the store for lunch. Such a gracious offer!

I met a woman who's handbag I couldn't stop staring at. Is it a Ferragamo? A Nancy Gonzalez?

None of the above. She bought it at a leather store in Beacon Hill years ago. And it turns out, she loved my handbag too! Funny how that happens. You're trying to be secretive and look at the bags others are carrying and they're doing the same thing.

After leaving the store, I walked through the Boston Public Garden. (Much better on the Manolos. No bricks).

This has always been one of my favorite parts of the city. So peaceful, so calm.

Massive change when I get back in the car and make my way out of the city of course. Honking horns, irritated drivers, lots and lots of brake lights in front of me.

So I took a different way and I played tourist in my own city.

I drove down Newbury Street checking out Chanel and Valentino. Looking at the new stores that have taken up shop on the famed street.

When I finally turned around to leave I was sitting in traffic.

I looked up at a storefront on Tremont Street and saw a sign.

"Psychic"

I smiled.

Maybe a few months ago I would have needed some direction.

A helping hand to give me an idea of where I should go. Who I should be.

But now?

I knew my way.

I didn't feel lost anymore.

I was back.

And it felt fabulous.

Friday with Chanel

I am addicted to Chanel.

There could be worse things to be addicted to....such as....those plastic Croc shoes or those hideous Very Bradley handbags. And you know what? If you didn't like Chanel, didn't know Chanel and didn't even care....you'd be addicted too. Why? Spend a Friday afternoon with Chanel and find out.....

This was the event that I couldn't WAIT to go to. As a member of the Museum of Fine Art's Fashion Council, this was the ONE get together I couldn't miss. No matter what.

A Spring Luncheon.

At the home of the Museum Director.

And....

A private Chanel fashion show.

Just for us.

I carefully picked out my clothes for the event. Enhanced my outfit with my silver Manolo Blahnik Mary Janes and of course...a Chanel handbag. I chose my large black quilted leather tote with the hot pink interior with the CC logo in black on the front. Just enough to show my admiration.

What I wasn't prepared for was how AH-MAZING the show was. The clothes, the shoes, those boots! The accessories and oh yes...the HANDBAGS!

The show took place during the luncheon. The models would come out one by one, walk around the tables, let us ask them questions about what they were wearing. So no, I didn't eat a thing. How could I? Surrounded by Chanel I swear I died and went to Chanel Heaven (which is how I want to be buried. Head to toe in Chanel, just in case any of my family and friends were wondering).

Everything was from Karl Lagerfeld's Pre-Fall Paris-Moscow collection. And everything was perfect. The white and black top made with beautful pailettes paired with a black chiffon skirt. With the boots I HAVE to have. Mid calf black leather boots with mongolian fur at the top. Loved it!

The Russian Red wool suit with the black piping paired with over the knee boots. This BRILLIANT red that was subtle with an attitude. I loved it. That was on my list of favorites. I kept that poor model at our table for at least 15 minutes asking her questions and examining the outfit.

Even after the last model strutted around our tables, the show wasn't over yet.

Another room in the house was set up to display all of the fabulous creations we just saw....and there was more. They set up a mini Chanel store. A dream come true! I got the scoop on some of the handbags Chanel will debut for Fall. I got to look at the beautiful clothes and try on some of the jackets....I could have stayed all day.

Alas my Chanel fantasy had to come to an end. ***Sigh***

Oh wait...I guess it never ends does it? Just two weeks later I was at Neiman Marcus buying one of the handbags I saw in the show. A fire engine red Chanel tote. Did you really think I would have walked away from that with nothing? Ahh...you know me so well.