I received a call early in the summer from a young man named Kyle who informed me there was a new Alice and Olivia store opening on Newbury Street in Boston.
Kyle works there as a salesperson and he was cheerful and friendly on the phone. When I had to reschedule our shopping date because I was shooting a commercial he acted very excited for me and told me he was one of six kids and about his fabulous mother. He had gotten my number from the Alice and Olivia in the Hamptons, where I had visited last Fall. George and I were in the Hamptons because he was speaking at Mai Tai Global, an awesome entrepreneurial group who meet up a few times a year to kite surf and connect investors with the idea people, with the overarching theme of finding creative ways to protect the ocean. Last Fall they were focusing on the music industry and how to help artists make money. George and I had popped away for an afternoon of dinner and shopping.
Now on first glance, they are not my style at all. Their store window looked conservative (boring!) and I wasn’t interested, but what drew me in was their font.
I know that sounds crazy–who cares about font style? Apparently I do, although I can say this is the only time my love of a font style has drawn me into a shop. The font for the brand is fun and wild and promises there is more than meets the eye in the window.
And boy was that font right!
Oh how I wish brands would show their clothing on real body types and not just models, especially this brand because the clothing is BEAUTIFUL! And different pieces look gorgeous on different body types–you don’t have to be tall and willowy and a Size 0 to look and feel beautiful. The salesgirls were so friendly and kept bringing me piece after piece that looked completely boring on the hanger but transformed once on. I ended up walking out with a luscious blue cashmere dress with a crisp white collar and cuffs, a little tame for my taste, but I wore it several times last winter and got endless compliments on its beauty. I spiced it up with my enormous red glitter platform heels and a matching purse–perfect for fashion council events.
Anyhoo, with Kyle’s call I was delighted they were bringing one of my favorite shops to Boston. (Sidenote: I had gone to Bergdorfs with my sisters and stumbled upon an Alice and Olivia section and with the clutter and rude salespeople, it was a most unpleasant shopping experience.
So when I told my new friend, Leslie Martini, about my date with Kyle, she wanted to come too. (The Hamptons store was one of her favorites as well.)
And so we met up with the adorable Kyle on a Tuesday. He had asked my sizes and styles. (I’m a curvy size 8-10 depending on the style.)
Sadly, I arrived at the shop with a crushing migraine. I couldn’t drive because I could barely see. Laying down made the pain worse, and standing up made me nauseous. The manager of the Boston shop helped me sit down and brought me water and dimmed the lights. The sales people all fussed over me, asking what else they could do. At that point I just had to wait for all the Excedrin Migraine to kick in, but I was so appreciative of they care and kindness.
As the migraine slowly evaporated, the shopping began and helped to counteract it. Leslie had brought her stunning and gorgeous teenage daughter to the shop and they were both trying on beautiful clothing and doing a fashion show for me. They are both tall, willowy Size 0’s and everything they tried on was stunning. Upon arrival, Kyle had offered us adorable mini bottles of champagne and Leslie was drinking hers with a fun pink striped straw.
I tried on several outfits and ended up walking out with the most stunning Gatsby-esque beaded black gown which I plan to wear to dinner with George when we go to Spain in October, and a pair of leather leggings, which I know sound like a terrible idea for a curvy person, but these are truly scrumptious. Gorgeous, decadent, and surprisingly flattering. Leslie bought them in a beautiful brown suede and I bought the black leather.
I can’t wait for Autumn weather to kick in so I can wear them.
I can’t wait for my next trip to Alice and Olivia!
