Just Keep Swimming ...

Coming off such a successful Fabulous Shoe Night charitable event at Sorella Boutique in Media last month makes me, actually … a bit nervous. This is such a new and unique concept, so I think it's only natural to wonder if I can pull it off again.

I don't know … 

Can I??

Unfortunately, there's only one way to find out, and that's by knocking on doors, asking other area shops and boutiques if they, too, would like to host a Fabulous Shoe Night to benefit the charity of their choice. Despite the overwhelmingly positive reaction I get when and wherever I explain the FSN concept, I still get jittery when it comes to asking.

I started my quest at one of the Main Line Philadelphia area's premiere boutiques, located about 40 minutes away from my home. Since they are so fabulous, and since I never fail to get comments and compliments on them, I decided to wear my lucky cowboy boots that were the catalyst for the entire Fabulous Shoe Night concept. 

As I walked into the boutique, a place I had never shopped before, I was greeted by a pretty, stylish woman about my age, who immediately zeroed in on my boots. (Yes … they really are that fabulous!) Inwardly smiling that my subtle, harmless manipulation had worked, I thought how easy this was going to be. After a few minutes of browsing, we began chatting,  and I told her and another clerk about my purpose for the visit. The first clerk, whom I'll call Mary, immediately understood the concept, as well as what it could mean for sales at the store and the owner's pet charity, and was very enthusiastic. The other woman was older, and unfortunately had the snooty demeanor of the sales clerk who shamed Julia Roberts out of her store when she was dressed as a prostitute in "Pretty Woman." Lets's call her Brunhilde. In fact, she had the same gaunt appearance and haughtiness as the mean clerk in the movie, but I didn't want to be judgmental, so I focused my attention equally between the two. A few more seconds into my pitch and it became painfully obvious that she didn't like …the concept …? My boots …? Me …? She looked distinctly bored as I was explaining the FSN concept, while Mary chattered on excitedly what fun their customers would have. They told me the owner was due in shortly, so I decided to try a few things on while I waited.

The store was packed with wonderful merchandise, so I got to work looking around. But … have you ever had one of those "off" shopping days, where nothing seems to really work? I just didn't love the things I was trying on … and, at those prices, I wanted to love whatever I bought. While Mary was busy with another customer, Brunhilde held up a mustard colored ponte knit sheath dress. The color was, frankly, awful, and I politely told her it was "not me." She kept urging me to try it on, telling me it looks fantastic "on everyone." Ugh … whatever.

True to my instincts, I did not like the dress on me. I felt it made me look wide in the hips/thigh/abdomen area …. not a look any woman aspires to, so I couldn't wait to get it off. I normally wear between a size 4 or 6, but, for some reason, it just wasn't flattering on me … at all. Just as I began to unzip the back zipper, Brunhilde called for me to come out of the dressing room and show her how it looked.  I pulled back the curtain and told her my concerns with the fit. She said, loudly, her voice seeming to echo throughout the shop, "I couldn't agree more. I'm agreeing with you! Take that off, right now! Get it off!" 

 And here I was worried about my sales pitch of the Fabulous Shoe Night concept?? 

Not exactly feeling the love, I decided to leave my card and ask that the owner of the boutique call me if she wanted to learn more. Feeling dejected on my ride home, I began questioning the viability of the FSN concept, as well as my ability to "sell" it. Yet, any time feelings of self-doubt creep in, there is a spark that remains, refusing to be extinguished. I believe in this. I believe in this with every fiber of my being, and I know that once we get this truly off the ground, FSN has the capability to raise a lot of money for charities. That thought is what keeps me going when I begin to doubt myself, and even the concept itself. This is going to work … as long as I "just keep swimming," like the character Dorie sings in one of my favorite movies, "Finding Nemo."

I was able to shake the feelings of dejection after a few days, and realized I had to pull up my boot straps (on my fabulous new Lucky Brand boots!), and continue to knock on doors. Then, while in the middle of driving one of my sons somewhere, my phone rang. It was Mary, telling me that the owner of the boutique was "very eager" to hold a Fabulous Shoe Night event at her store. Could I come in later that week to discuss details and possible dates? 

Wow …. really? 

Like Dorie, who had to learn to steer clear of  stinging jellyfish while she just kept swimming, remaining focused on her goal, I have learned that I need to keep clear of the Brunhildes of the world.

And the color mustard yellow.