and cozy sweatshirts. But let's be real, folks - this is LA. Although Venice is full of girls who wear shorts and winter boots at the same time, or heavy coats and flip-flops (this city is obviously weather-challenged), it is a place where one needs to look one's best at all time. As they say, you never know who you're going to meet.So when I changed my hair, I felt it was time for a wardrobe overhaul too. Balls to the wall, or whatever, right? So I found this brilliant girl named Hardy who just started her own style consulting business. She was looking to drum up new business and I was the perfect client - eager to learn, but slightly fashion-challenged. So she came to my house and helped me find all the amazing outfits in my wardrobe that I didn't know I had! Some of my "best" pieces were found at the $1 JetRag Sunday Morning Sale (why aren't I there now???). Hardy was a delight, though she did tell me I needed to wear heels all the time and flaunt my height (much to my and Brian's chagrin).
THEN my amazing man-friend (as my girl-friends T & G call them) bought me a delicious Christmas present -- a 2 hour shopping spree with Hardy! She was going to take me shopping and tell me what looked good! I basically had my own personal Stacey & Clinton rolled into one petite female. And that's exactly what she was.Hardy was amazing, picking out exactly what I needed, giving me that boost of confidence (pencil skirt? hot!) and being perfectly blunt when needed (you look like you went through a car wash. take it off.) But the best part of the day was the Planet Blue 75% off sale, where all these designer clothes (uhh...what? is Old Navy a designer??) were actually affordable.
And then there was -- THE JACKET. It was gorg. The last one. My size. Perfect. I mean, girls in the store were actually telling me it looked horrible so that I would put it
back and they could steal it. It was THAT good. Hardy convinced me that this $695 jacket was really worth the $175 I was going to pay for it. "Joanna. It's Smythe." I know, right? Can you believe it? I continue to say to everyone, "It's Smythe," still not really knowing who or what that is. But I went for it. I went up to the register to pay for the I've-never-paid-this-much-for-anything-before jacket and the cashier said, "That'll be $47". Cricket, cricket. $47??? Okay, Jo. Don't say anything. If you say anything, she'll realize her enormous error and take it back. Give her the credit card. Slowly. Nonchalauntly. Why are you moving in slow motion?!? Act normal. Smile. That's it. You knew it was $47. That the gorgeous DESIGNER jacket with the price tag that says $695 is actually $47. It's cool. "Here's your receipt. Have a great day." Holy crap. We did it! Hardy and I could not contain our excitement. We ran out of the store, sceaming, "We stole this jacket!! Oh my god!!" We got a few strange looks, but no arrests. We were in Venice. They'd seen worse.When we were both safely a few blocks away, sipping lattes at a Starbucks, we realized that we were both convinced. This was definitely an act of God. You all know God's a woman, right?
