I confess I do get a bit nervous around fancy people. And all of the small dogs they cart about the place.
We were a bit early, so we did what you do when you are about to meet a designer, a PR and a stylist. I ate a big plate of garlicky pasta and washed it down with a cold glass of riesling.
Just because I wanted my food baby to really come along very nicely thank you very much....
We wandered into the fancy smells shop that is Jo Malone, and I bought some of those sticks that you whack into a jar of oil to stave off the house pong that has continued to torture me all week.
Watching Vivienne wrap the oil and sticks was pure poetry. Vivienne is a French lady, I would say mid 50's. Thin as a whippet in the way the French are, she had a cropped grey do and funky glasses. She was like a stunning caricature.
She got a box, filled it with crushed tissue paper and gently and considerately nestled my purchase in it.Then she closed the box before fussing a great deal with a ribbon.
THEN, she got a bag and filled it with crushed tissue paper. Viv selected a scent from under the counter and gave the tissue paper a generous dousing of sweet pong. THEN she put the box in the bag. THEN she fussed with more ribbon, all the time telling me about the importance of details.
The whole process took about 15 minutes and I was completely mesmerised and quite beside myself with glee!
It was time to go and meet Sacha and her team.
"I use my talent to make women happy. I like to design clothes that boost women's confidence. This is my contribution to the world!"
I must admit I did feel a little intimidated, but those feelings quickly left as I found myself being draped and fussed over by the woman who knows bodies.... REAL BODIES with lumps and bumps and all sorts of challenges.
I was told that I was an hourglass shape, which was nice as I had always considered myself more of a block of flats.
The session was overseen by Josh Flinn Style Guru, who would clap his hands or give a very slight shake of the head when I would appear in yet another dress. It was hilarious and everyone, EVERYONE needs a Josh when they go shopping. He even told me that I needed new bras and pointed me in the right direction.
I have a very fancy pants wedding to go to on the horizon, and so we came up with this as the solution to the BLACK TIE FASHION NIGHTMARE that was the dress-code required.
This is called the Grecian Maxi Dress and it suits all body shapes. When Sacha pulled it out, I was all like... "In your dreams woman..." but the magic dress was just that... Magic.
I am a size 17, which is SO HANDY.... but I have come to the point in my life that I have accepted that I am what I am and will no longer accept clothes like THIS as a fashion choice for anyone over a size 14.
If you have a fancy event coming up, I urge you to click through here to find out all the different ways you can wear it.
OR YOU CAN WIN ONE HERE!
Answer this question in the comments section.
Where are you at with regards to accepting your body shape and rocking what you have got?
It is as simple as that.
The winner will be selected and announced on Friday 27th. I am going to get Josh to choose the winner. I haven't told him yet, but that is how it is going to go down.
This post was not sponsored in anyway.
Thanks to the team at Sacha Drake for a great afternoon.
