I need professional help.

Here is the follow-up to my entry “A Personal Ad” from 2003, when I first discovered the joys of personal shopping.  Last week, I returned to Galéries Lafayette, of of the big French department stores, for a third appointment with Isabelle, wardrobe consultant extraordinaire. Had to book three weeks ahead, and then one of her underlings called me to change the time, but no matter.  She is great at what she does.

So first off, she measured me (I tried not to think about the weight I have gained since we got here!),  "Vous êtes grande," she says.  "You are tall,"  [note:  I am just shy of 5'5"].  Then she looked at what I was wearing (a hand-me-down top from my Aussie pal J), and decided that I was more of a romantic, less of a sporty, type. Not afraid to show some skin, she noted. I told her I still like greens and pinks and that I really need some dresses. Summer-y dresses that I might be able to wear into the fall, because the Oklahoma fall is hot as blazes. But I also need some little jackets or cardigans, because the A/C can be frigid.

Isabelle got me a coffee and then she was off. Before she left, she told me to look around at what was in the room to see if I liked anything, as there were quite a lot of things already in there. I was immediately attracted to a white linen dress. A bit low-cut, but not otherwise revealing. Good start. She was back in about 15 minutes with a rack full of clothes, mostly (but not only) dresses. In lots of colors – grey, rose, black and white, yellow, coral… and she was a little bit distressed that I hadn’t tried on more things already. Hardly anything that I would have picked out myself, actually.  That's the idea!

A grey knit dress was too clingy; a gorgeous flowered tank with a hint of lavender at the bottom hit me wrong in the hip. A seagreen smock dress was, well, too smock-like.  But a darling green and blue checked dress, just great. And a coral number with a flounce, I was loving it. There was a beautiful black and green top already in the room that I found attractive, so Isabelle went to find me some pants to go with it. I thought the pants were too tight. “Nonsense,” she said (in French), “They are beautiful on you!”

“Oh, Catherine, you are ravishing!” I was beaming at my reflection in the mirror.  Then she got me some super-tall, very trendy Kookai shoes. “You must put these on.” They have zippers on the heel. I don’t think I’ve ever worn shoes like this before. Surprisingly comfortable, although as Christine Lavin would say, “I can see my house from here!”

And the gilets, which is French for little sweater or jacket or hoodie or what-have-you that buttons or zips up the front. She brought three white ones, all of which were stylish, but I limited myself to the simplest one (I have a nagging regret about the one with the snaps, but that’s how these things go). And a beautiful navy cardigan to go with the green and blue dress. And a little grey-green with lace for the white dress.

And she had brought a great black sleeveless dress with beading at the shoulders and a yoke at the waist, with a gorgeous off-white cardigan. And an olive green dress with black accents that had its own matching jacket. And my favorite (must I choose?) , a dark grey, close-fitting robe with a colorful beaded yoke. “Il faut un gilet,” (It needs a jacket) said Isabelle. She returned in a flash with a seagreen silk cardigan. I wanted to wear it out of the store! But really, too dressy for Tuesday afternoon. And a red and white floral with a collar and short sleeves, really perfect for the classroom.

There were a few casualties as I struggled to stay within my (very generous, thanks to Bill!) budget. A blue silk with stars; an olive sleeveless belted; a black and white with a yellow tie around the neck; a pale green halter with a gathered waist and a big sash; a tiny floral with a criss-cross back… I had to prioritize.

In the end, 8 dresses and 2 pairs of pants, one top, and 7 gilets, and 4 necklaces and a scarf. I wore the black pants and the shoes out of the store, then changed twice that afternoon. Wednesday I wore the green and blue dress. Friday, the white one. Saturday, the black one. The grey is for a night out, and the yellow for a really hot day (it’s very light-weight), and I should have strapless bra for it. I think I will wear the green and black one tomorrow! I am as pleased as punch, and even happier when the handsome young man at the détaxe desk thought I was French. He said it was my lack of an accent, but I think it musta been the pants…

[Meredith has documented all of my outfits. Yes, I need a haircut, but take a look at les fringues! (That’s French for “duds”).]