Shopping trip that changed my life

Iam so excited I am tippy-toe dancing.

I’ve recently had a life-changing experience that has made absolutely all the difference in the world in how I see myself or, rather, how I dress myself.

I went shopping– which I hate with a passion–but this time I went with a friend who is the shopping-est, most-fashionable clothes maven I know.

It seems I’ve been doing it wrong all these many, many years. It’s no wonder I’ve hated it so much. I didn’t know how to do it. But, she, in all her shopping experience and fashion wisdom, showed me how to do it properly.

First, let me say that I don’t even know how to dress myself. I haven’t a clue what goes with what, what style is right for me, or what my style even is. Do I have one? How do you get one?

I’ve decided I must have been born without the girlie gene. I have fretted over what to wear every single day of my life. Yes, even those stay-at-home days when I get to wear what I lovingly call my “home-onlys.”

Bless my dear, sweet hubby’s heart, he tells me my “home-onlys” are his favorites because to him it means that I am home, comfortable, at ease and carefree. Honestly, they are probably more “homely” than “homey.” But who am I to shake his love for me?

I have constantly agonized over what to wear. I never leave the house without asking hubby, “Does this look all right?” because I don’t trust myself to make the decision on my own.

I’m unsure of myself—probably don’t have enough self-confidence. And if you think about it, that lack of self-assuredness can wreak havoc on one’s wardrobe.

I have a closet packed with clothes I don’t wear for any number of reasons. They are too casual for where I’m going. They don’t fit right. I don’t know what to wear with them. They are too plain. They are too old. They need hemming.

I’m only 5 feet 2 inches tall, which to begin with makes it difficult to find pants in a flattering length. My legs are skinny little things, which kicks capris out of the running right from the start. And being past the half-century mark, wearing shorts in public is becoming less and less acceptable. Trust me on that.

I’m a tad busty with claustrophobic tendencies so I tend to buy large-size shirts that don’t feel too tight on me. The problem is they are too large for me everywhere else. But, remember, I don’t know what I’m doing.

So, with all that information to ponder, it should be easy enough to see why I despise shopping and only go when I have no choice.

Until the single, most-successful shopping trip I’ve ever had in my entire life. Seriously. My. Whole. Life.

I learned so much from my friend. She showed me things I can wear that I never dreamed I could—things I would never even take off the rack for a second look. She absolutely blew my mind.

“You really think I can wear this gauzy poncho?” I asked my ever-so-patient friend.

She was spot on. It looks good. And even better than that, it’s so much fun to wear. I’ve never had fun with clothes before.

“Can I really mix these two designs together?” the fashion-challenged me asked.

Let me tell you, this girl knows her stuff. Before this trip, I owned maybe two ornately patterned blouses. It turns out, I really can wear them.

I learned how to look for style, shape, material, patterns, colors, designs and how a garment drapes.

I learned that I, too, can wear sleeveless tanks, which I had previously shunned like the plague for the last couple of years. They have these wonderful little inventions called shrugs. They are small, perhaps waist-long, lacy, loosely-knitted summer sweaters that cover your upper arms’ sins but complement your tank top beautifully. Wow.

I even purchased a pair of 3-inch high summer wedges. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have believed the day would come when I would wear 3-inch heels.

This friend of mine has opened a whole new world to me. I’ve only had one class in Shopping 101, and I can’t wait to save up and go again.

If anyone feels the same way I have felt all these years, please do yourself a big favor and take that fashionista friend of yours with you next time you go shopping. You could both have the time of your lives together. And you really could come home with something you never dreamed you could wear.

This experience has been an eye opener for me. I’m really not too old to learn something new. My outlook on shopping has forever changed. I will no longer dread it, fear it or loathe it.

It changes everything when you feel good in what you’re wearing (cue the angels singing from the heavens).

For something that comes so easily for her, second nature really, and for her to take the time to share that with me means so much. Perhaps I can return the favor and show her the joys of gardening.