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Shopping 101

A Personalized Experience

By Jessica Brandon, B.S.
(Bachelorette of Spending)


Hello, Darlings! This month is one of my favorite times of the year, not just because winter is dying out, for a sports fan like myself, it's absolutely magical because of March Madness! Yup, the annual battle of the best 64 teams in Division 1-A college basketball to decide who will be the national champion. Between the excitement of the games themselves, the office pools and the wonderfully manic tones of Dick Vitale, it's nothing short of heaven, BAY-BEE!

Goodness Gracious! Did I just spend an entire paragraph talking about (YUCK!) manly things? I'm so-ooooooo sorry!

I didn't mean to let the sport nut in me ramble on like I did for so long! You're here for shopping stuff, and it just so happens you've come to the right place as this month, I'm going to relay a very special experience with all of you, one I never thought I'd ever have (No! I didn't win the lottery! Darn it!) which ended up gaining me my long awaited fifteen minutes of fame.

Back in mid-January, Angela Gardner told me that Sono Motoyama, Senior Editor for Philadelphia Weekly (A weekly newspaper devoted to news about our city) had read a complimentary issue of Renaissance News & Views and was interested in doing an article on me and my exploits as a shopping maven after reading my column. Just think, Even though News & Views features as columnists some of the most renowned names in our community (two of them being founding members of Renaissance), yours truly was the girl Sono wanted most to do this piece on.

Needless to say I was awestruck and wasted no time arranging a meeting with Sono. We got together at my place where I talked at length with Sono, both about my life experiences as a transgendered person and my expertise in the shopping arena. We then went to the King of Prussia Mall where (in my boy guise), we strolled through a few stores, bought a couple of things while explaining to Sono the highly involved procedures a male has to go through in order to buy women's clothing.

But the best was yet to come. As part of the article, Sono suggested I set up a appointment at a major department store with a personal shopper service. Now I'll admit this was pretty much new to me since I was used to just going in a store, picking out something I liked then taking it home. But the idea of having an expert pick out clothes for me, something I never had happen before was an intriguing one, so, after a few calls, I set up an appointment at a major store in downtown Philly.

Another aspect of this particular adventure was that I went dressed. That's right, girls, I finally got around to practicing what I've been preaching in my News & Views column about shopping en femme for the last two plus years, and, let me tell you, I had a blast. Dressed casually for the outing (a plain shirt, jeans and flat heeled ankle boots), Sono accompanied me to the store where I was greeted by Wendi, the store's personal fashion advisor.

From the word go, Wendi treated me wonderfully, saying that I wasn't the first crossdresser to make use of her services. I was then taken to her office where, in a private changing room I was shown several outfits of various types for me to try on. I felt like a kid locked in the proverbial candy shop! Having never been given an opportunity to do this sort of thing before, of course I proceeded to do just that, finally buying a tan colored sweater and skirt set I fell immediately in love with.

The bottom line here was that I was treated with the utmost courtesy and respect by Wendi who made my shopping adventure an absolute success. It didn't matter to her one bit that I was a crossdressed male, I was a customer willing to spend my money on something I wanted, and the service I received from Wendi was nothing short of wonderful. If you've never availed yourself of a personal shopper service, or don't know what to buy, do so, it's a godsend.

If you do, here's some tips to make the experience a welcome one. When you call a store for an appointment, don't hedge or make up some silly story, tell the person you're shopping for yourself, tell her your size, height (if you're tall), your favorite styles, colors and types of clothing. Wear a button down shirt or sweater if you're going to be trying on tops so you don't muss your hair, hosiery as bare legs just don't look their best in a skirt and, above all, be careful about getting makeup on tops or jackets.

Be on time for your appointment and wear a smile when you greet the personal shopper because she'll give you the sort of one on one pampering a girl can only dream about when it comes to shopping, and it's an experience unlike anything you've ever known. I know I felt that way. Wendi all but bent over backward to help me, and I'm sure that wherever you choose to go, you'll get the same sort of treatment. It's all part of the mandate of providing good customer service. Well, kids, that's all for now. Time to look up some friends at where I used to work and worm my way into their college pool. I can use whatever money I win for more shopping trips.

In the meantime, if you have any comments, tips or opinions, please address them to me at treetop@voicenet.com. And, until next month, shop not just with your heart, but with your head!



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