Embracing change and living in the moment
Sally Foreman is an optimist who enjoys helping others reach their style potential
Sally Foreman was browsing her favourite shop three years ago, lamenting how much she loved the clothes but had no place to wear them. That’s when the Pippa and Prue salesperson helping her out made an offer she couldn’t refuse. Work there, Foreman recalls her saying, and she’ll always have a place to wear the clothes.
“And I think I really took her by surprise because I said, ‘OK, sure.’”
Foreman was 60 years old at the time, newly settled in downtown Hamilton after nearly three decades on the west Mountain. She had recently recovered from a liver transplant, after living with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a chronic liver disease that remained largely dormant from the time of her diagnosis in 1987 until she fell ill in 2008. But she was never one to run from change — in fact, she says she embraces it.
Foreman, who turns 63 next month, knew from early on that a liver transplant was in her future. What she didn’t expect, however, was for the doctors to find malignant tumours on her liver in 2008, putting her at risk at not being eligible for the transplant list.
And so she waited. First, six months to make sure the cancer didn’t spread anywhere else before being approved for the transplant list. And then, with the cancer still firmly lodged in her organ, another year, until a matching donor was found. Had the cancer metastasized during that time, she would have been removed from the list. But Foreman describes herself as a person who tends not to worry and tries to spend each day living in the moment.
“If I wanted to buy something, clothing-wise, I would,” says Foreman of that time. “If I wanted to eat something I would, if I didn’t want to do something, I didn’t. I just took the time out from my normal life to have a different kind of a life. And that got me through.”
Now fully recovered, Foreman says the beauty of accepting the job at Pippa and Prue was that she could take a job she loves rather than needs, one where she has fun and enjoys spending her time meeting
and helping women.
“I like to feel that I’m enhancing their self-esteem,” says Foreman of her customers. “And lots of times, to be honest, people go shopping when they’re not feeling so great. And so it’s nice, if I pick up on that, to try and give them a little shot in the arm or be a bit of a listening ear. I’ve heard all kind of stories.”
Foreman says for her own wardrobe she likes clean lines and a monochromatic theme, like the black Joseph Ribkoff long jacket she wears here over an ivory blouse with zipper detail and “paint-splattered” Rock ’N Karma tights, all from Pippa and Prue. She finishes the look she describes as modern elegant with Steve Madden shoeties she found on sale at Hudson’s Bay, earrings by Montreal designer AnneMarie Chagnon and a Movado watch.
Most eye catching piece:
A Michael Kors dress that’s sort of an acrylic, very form-fitting and short, with long, bell sleeves. And it’s black, but it has a silver thread running through it so it’s very sparkly.
Quirkiest wardrobe item:
Probably these (Rock ’N Karma) tights — they’re pretty quirky.
Wardrobe must have:
Well, tights in general are a great thing to have. But I think black leather pants are something that I always like to have. I find that you can wear them to so many different occasions.
Best purchase:
Probably these shoes …
If I were to give advice to someone about buying clothes, the handiest thing to have in your wardrobe is a poncho or a wrap of some kind, but probably a poncho because it’s a bit neater. Because I have all kinds. I kind of have hippie ones that are a loose, open weave, burlappy looking ones, and I also have ones that are jewelled. And I have some that are silver. I was at the hospital, visiting somebody a few months ago and as I walked by the gift shop I saw this sparkly silver poncho in the window and I bought it … so I think that a poncho is a great thing.
Regrets buying:
Just recently I bought a black leather skirt because I wanted one and this one was a real steal of a deal at (Hudson’s) Bay. But it was a bit of an impulse buy at the same time. And I didn’t take the time to make sure it fit me properly. And I did wear it right away, so now I’m kind of stuck with it. But I’ll find someone to give it to.
Loves to shop at:
I love to shop at Pippa and Prue. I also love to shop at Pier 1 Imports, if we’re not talking clothing. And (Hudson’s) Bay — I find (Hudson’s) Bay pretty reliable. And I go to … Kabuki Spa.
Ridding her closet of:
I’m ridding my closet of that black leather skirt and anything that doesn’t fit me very well. Or anything that just looks tired.
Splurges on:
Perfume. I’ll buy perfume for myself. And currently I’m wearing Chanel No. 19, which is the perfume I wore when I got married. I don’t wear it all the time but I buy it every so often and whenever I spray it, it takes me back to my wedding day and I like that.
Beauty item she can’t live without:
A maroon or a bordeaux colour lipstick. It can be from the drugstore or it can be Estée Lauder … and concealer … by Clinique ... it really lightens up your eyes and I’ve used that for 25 years.