I MEAN BUSINESS

I MEAN BUSINESS!

I love these stilettos; they’ve always been quite the dichotomy; part business with the buckle across the front and the stark black and white coloring, part tease because of the peep-toe and lastly part seductress with the 4" high black shiny patent-leather heel. Ever since I brought her home with me I knew I would be wearing her most often to work, so I name her Boss Lady. I imagine her motto to be “I get the job done and look fabulous doing it!”

I purchase her immediately knowing she’ll be very versatile and I will be able to wear her with most anything; work pants, skirts, dresses, even jeans. The very first time I wear her, I pair her with long black below-the-knee walking shorts, a starched white fitted button-down shirt and big fun jewelry; business-like, yet feminine. I’m a Realtor; I sell new homes so the only people who see me are ones who come into the tract in search of a home. On her first outing she receives quite a few compliments; one gentleman asks me where he can purchase them for his wife. He and I end up having a discussion on stilettos and master bedroom closet size (to hold all the wonderful shoes & handbags, of course), I didn’t sell him a home, however I’m sure his wife will appreciate the new shoes!

Boss Lady has been to work with me several times, however this past weekend she outdid herself. We’re having a campaign for the next few weeks for home buyers to qualify for the final part of the Federal Home Buyers Tax Credit and we all have to wear a promotional tee-shirt. So I decide to wear the shirt with black trousers, a black cashmere sweater with ¾ sleeves and pearl buttons, understated jewelry, I complete my look with Boss Lady, she dresses up the tee-shirt nicely.

The first people who come in that day are a young couple looking for their first home; my favorite type of buyer. As we get to know each other and walk through the models together, we discuss how they will live and grow in the home and after awhile decide to go out to the construction site and see the homes being built, so they can see the location and lot size. I change into my “mud shoes” (as I call them), which are clogs for walking in the dirt/mud. While treking to the construction site Jenny comments on my change of shoes; she tells me she likes the stilettos much better. I tell her I do too, however don’t want to ruin them.

Her fiancé says “Don’t get her started on shoes.”

“Oh, are you a shoe collector too?” I ask.

“Yes, I own about 30 pairs.” Jenny answers.

I chuckle thinking to myself; she’s just getting started, I won’t tell her how many I have and that I’ve named them all!

We walk three home sites and I help them choose the perfect location for their needs. When we get back to my office to write up their contract, I slip back into Boss Lady to get the job done! After signing their contract and the many pages of disclosures that go along with it, they head out. However about half an hour later they return bearing a Starbucks latte for me. I know I’m going to love having them as homeowners in our community. I tell Jenny I want to come over when she has all her shoes displayed in her walk-in closet, she promises she’ll invite me over after they’re all moved in.

Before I can drink much of my latte, the next person I talk to is a gentleman out scouting new homes for his wife who is still in Texas. He and I only walk two home sites when he decides which one he likes. Dan calls his wife, sends her several photos and she immediately approves the purchase. Wow! that was quick, I’m thinking to myself as we walk back to my office. However, once we sit down he starts in on the negotiations.  I slip Boss Lady back on because it's time to get down to business!  Back and forth we go for several hours until we reach a good deal for both parties. I love the art of negotiation; it makes me feel like I’m working for my commission (hmmm, maybe I should have been a lawyer)!

At the end of the day two homes sold, four happy buyers and one delighted & exhausted sales agent! 

Today I know I got the job done and looked fabulous doing it, thanks in part to Boss Lady!

Here Comes the Bridesmaid

HERE COMES THE BRIDESMAID

My sister and I love to spend the occasional day just having girl-time which will more than likely include a leisurely lunch and shopping to buy shoes, clothes, purses, or whatever else might catch our eye. Very seldom do we just window shop!

It was during one of our girls shopping days that we both spotted these beauties (sort of). When we meander into the shoe store, I notice the shiny green and purple satin rosette on the front and I immediately pick them up. As I am admiring them I hear my sister behind me say “Ooooooh, check these out.” I turn to see her holding the exact same shoe; only in a gold, orange and fuchsia color pattern. I start to laugh and show her the shoe I’m holding. “Oh, no!” she chuckles. We’re still laughing as we call over the clerk and ask her to bring us both pairs in a size 7 (yes, we both wear the same size stiletto). The only drawback to having the same shoe size is sometimes there’s only one pair left and we both have to have it! Which means there could be a catfight over them, this could get ugly!  As you can see shoe obsession runs through the veins of the women in my family, we're just born with it!  After trying on both pairs, I opt for my original find of purple & green and my sister decides on both!

Later on we head back to her house so I can show her what to wear with her new multi-colored beauties. This is always fun for me; going through someone else’s closet to match clothes with shoes & jewelry! When I’m helping my sister, I decide to name mine Donna, after Donna Reed the most elegant 50’s housewife. I can see her out with her always handsome husband Alex, for an evening of dining and dancing at ‘the club’ with the boss and his wife, dancing cheek-to-cheek with some fabulous orchestra playing. That’s how and when I picture her wearing these dainty peep-toed satin rosette stilettos.

A few weeks later we were out on a shopping mission to find my sister’s wedding dress and a bridesmaid dress for me. She had decided on an outdoor spring wedding and wanted her dress to relay that message, nothing frilly, fancy or wedding-ish. In our search we ended up at Nordstrom and that’s where we found her dress; a white, knee-length dress with a purple flower pattern. I also tried on a few dresses and found a solid purple one in the same cut, style and length as Sherry’s. As soon as I put it on, she said “That one is perfect and will look really great with those shoes we bought a few weeks ago.” When I got home later that day I try the shoes on with the dress and they are a great match!

On my sister’s wedding day Donna gives a stellar performance; I do not fall down the grassy sloped isle I have to stroll down and I stand through the ½ hour ceremony without an ache or pain. She poses beautifully like a lady for all the photos and supports me during my toast to the new bride and groom. She dances comfortably like a pair of ballroom pumps during my many dances with my Dad, brothers and friends.

When the evening is over and I’m home, I slip her off my feet, thank her for the lovely day and place her in her color-coordinated spot with all her sisters. After all she does deserve a rest after that long emotionally packed day.