I know. It’s been awhile. I’ve been out of town a bit. And my son just moved back to college. I’ve moped around a bit, focused on PT for my back, rose’ for my heart, and deep end of summer cleaning for my psyche. As if that is enough, well, apparently it was.
But I am back! My current platform for e-commerce has gotten excitedly busy. I’m getting great reivews and have customers all over the country. I had a call recently as a lady visiting Los Angeles found me on Google — me? That was scary and exciting all at the same time.
So I’ve been flying through shipping tape. It feels good. I like to see where people are from, and I think about the ‘vibe’ of the place when I send them their individualized thank you gifts and notes. If a customer is from Maryland, VA, or DC, I’ll let them know I grew up there. If a customer is in Texas, I like to add my sister lives there or I lived there for a year. They enjoy the personalized touches.
Today I shipped a pair of my most beloved Fendi shoes, the Sandalo Vernice Nero from 2009 – 2011 Collections. I so enjoyed them and yessss…..I can still wear them, but not for 10 hours anymore! It was time to let them go and continue the flow of sustainability in fashion and the in and out flow of my closet, as well. Certain pieces I wrap with no problem with a ‘bye girl’ approach, happy to see them off. Other items give me pause. I look at them, I see the fashion pictures I’ve archived, I remember the who, where, what with the shoe or item of clothing. I pause and ruminate a bit.
Last night, I tried them on and took a final goodbye spin, they had a star turn, and a picture. I polished and wiped them after. My customers will attest that I’m extremely fussy and detailed-oriented with these curations. To be expected, I was wistful which isn’t exactly sad. It’s a sweet sigh in the chest and smile of the end of an era. It’s the acknowledgement that seasons have passed, and it’s time to let go. It’s the look in the limo Miranda gave and her eyes looked upward and smiled after she saw Andy across the street (yes, DWP 1)
It’s a beautiful and peaceful containment of time.
It’s also an acceptance for the next seasons which will include newness, and sometimes in the form of new shoes. 🙂
My Fendi and I: a ‘big’ birthday Drago dinner party, romantic dates with an ex, the most over the top 2014 wedding at the Biltmore in the Gold Room I’ve ever attended, to many other fabulous outfit pairings with these truly divine Fendis. When I bought them, I looked at them for a week. They just sat their on their yellow box like a new sculpture, a shoe sculpture perhaps. Any fashion person reading this will know this is true. They are works of art.
When they shipped today, I was reminded of my behavior in the packing. Behavior always reveals our truest feelings. In my thank you note, I packed some instructions: “don’t forget to polish the patent leather as patent gets sticky over time”, to “here’s a pack of heel caps to replace when you need them”, etc etc. Good grief. You’d think these beauties were heading off to college and I was giving last minute life saving tips.
But I am detailed. And things do hold value. I do not believe people when they smugly state: “I don’t get attached to material things.” Oh really? You didn’t get sad when your favorite stuffed animal was lost growing up. My son is still sad over a beloved animal left at a hotel. When your favorite hat blew off in the wind somewhere and you couldn’t retrieve it? What about coming home from college, and some of your toys were donated. My Barbies were. Haven’t we all seen Toy Story?! What about those who have lost a ring or a family heirloom? It’s happened to almost everyone. So please please dear ones, don’t tell me we don’t get attached to material items. These material items often ignite our memories, run deep to our core and often for our entire lives.
My love for Fendi is forever, their workmanship is another extensive blog. But now, someone is getting them gently worn and more gently on the wallet, which matters today. I hope the customer will feel special, beautiful, and fashionable, if only for a season. After all, if our material trappings are ephemeral, at least we can love them to the fullest until we can let them go for someone else to love.
And to me, that is a healthy fidelity to fashion.
- C.Nor @norstorela
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