I was able to test out a few products this year. Some of my favorite pieces just don't grab anyone else's interest. While others that murmur "blah" to me just fly off the display. Uhh. It's always frustrating, until I straighten myself out and think, "hey, I made something, and someone thought it was worth buying, or at least picking up, or staring at it." Cool. No longer frustrating.
Folks need validation. Perhaps some more than others. And maybe its just economic worries for so many of us, but it seems like we're all needing a bit more validation these days. One of my ethics teachers in high school had Affirmation Fridays. At the beginning of class we were given a name of a classmate. Maybe it happened to be someone we never had classes with, or someone we've always had a few classes each year with. You wrote some nice things, and the recipient took the notes home to read later. At the least, you might write, I don't know you very well, but I've always admired the way your hair was so glossy and you always have a bright smile on to match. I try to make a point of telling a stranger something nice once a day. I probably forget half the time. And another 25% of the time I'm sure it sounds awkward and I look nuts. Probably 10% of the time folks think I'm coming onto them or trying to sell something. Well. So maybe once in a while, someone hears it and gets it. May they pay it forward.
I wanted to praise an American clothing manufacturer for being awesome to its customers. As is painfully obvious if you have eyes in your head, there's an obesity epidemic here. A very large percentage of American women are in bridge and rubenesque sizes. Which are rarely represented with the grace, panache, charm, or quality like straight sizes. Well, fooey on you, big box brands that only sell plus sizes sparingly, and only in their webstores. Enter... the ninja plus size stores... quietly swooping in and taking up the void, creating loyal customers. They have figured out that, in fact, non-skinny people want to shop, want to look good, and also have wallets!
Of the many companies I've discovered, Kiyonna is a favorite. They walk the line of providing trend, elegance, fun, fashion, and class. They're relevant to the serious 20-something or 60-something. The lines of their dresses are always flattering. I want one of every top and dress they release. I tell every woman I know and respect about them, because the war to find great clothes for our complex shapes is a secret war for so many of us. We don't just pop out of bed looking this snazzy.
So given my Kiyonna obsession, imagine how lucky I felt when I won their Monaco dress. I was really excited, and then I got to thinking. I don't really need a long dress these days. I don't have any Holiday events. But I do need something for work related events. Something that can be work appropriate, or, in a pinch, "wow" it up with date earrings. When the very lovely Parker Quinn, Kiyonna-Dress Woman, contacted me to give me instructions on getting my prize, I very gently asked, if a switch could be made. "Of course!"
And these days... when its rainy, dark, cold, wallets are skinny, and there's a ton of gloom and big fat No's... The "of course" caught me and shocked me. That's a company that Wants My Business. They're doing it old style, the way my parents talk about, with The Customer is Always Right, quality, how can we really help you, real women answering the phone. They're using modern tools to help along the way, twitter, Facebook, and my-spacing it with the kind of style I know I aspire to. Big big big two thumbs up. I can't wait to see the Tory Cinch come, and try it on.
Till later!
Posey
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