Out with the white pants, in with the black! Summer is officially over. (Except that I live in a beautiful place where summer just made an appearance for a few days this past week. I live in California! Santa Barbara, California to be exact, where we have enjoyed a spring-like summer of temperatures in the low seventies. Last Wednesday was the first real day of blistering heat. As fate would have it, I had a “thing” to go to which required that I get myself dressed in big-girl clothes. It was a fashion event where everyone was dressed up in her “CAbi cutest” (Yes; I have drunk the CAbi- Kool- aid!)
CAbi has been around for over ten years. I don’t like to think of myself as “slow to come to the party,” but in fact, that line describes me exactly, especially where CAbi is concerned.
I never wanted to be a “joiner.” I like to think of myself as a maverick, a rebel of sorts, who never goes along with the crowd and in fact, I resisted seeing the CAbi line on that closed- minded premise for years. When I moved to Santa Barbara however, my youngest daughter lured me to her favorite CAbi rep’s home to view that year’s current fall line for myself. Although I managed to spend close to $2000.00 on my very first visit, I did not fully grasp the fun of CAbi until last season.
In February of this year, the same daughter, Shelley, gave a party to view the 2011, CAbi, spring line. (CAbi is an acronym for Carol Anderson by invitation, and it is sold only at private trunk shows given in the homes of loyal CAbi hostesses.) I attended and brought with me a close friend who was looking to buy a new wardrobe in her newer, smaller size. I thought I would just “look!” Hah!! She spent a respectable amount and I spent double that. I loved CAbi!!
The clothes were wearable, cute, mix and match-worthy and reasonably priced. I scheduled a party of my own to share with a few friends. At that little gathering I purchased another batch of clothes, which pretty much encompassed the complete spring line. I was ready to be dressed for anything! I then set out to play dress-up every day in my own closet. I let my husband know I would be shopping again in August when the fall line debuted.
This time my friend gave the first CAbi party of the season. She did in fact; give two trunk shows of CAbi clothes, back to back. I attended the second one and did my best to get everything I would need for fall. By the time my new clothes arrived there were already a few items I wanted to add to my collection. I scheduled a very small party of three who were unable to attend the first two parties and finished off my shopping. Almost.
I am not quite sure which I love more, the clothes or the shopping for the clothes. Both experiences along with the joy I feel upon the arrival at my front door of one of the boxes with the very distinctive, pink trimmed CAbi label makes me feel just a little bit giddy!
The whole experience of shopping with a few of my dearest friends in the cozy comfort of my own living room, curled up with my shoes off on my white sofas, while sipping a beverage and nibbling on fresh fruits or decadent treats, well, it really does not get any more fabulous than that! Then there is the thrill of the doorbell and the fun of unwrapping my new clothes. It feels like Christmas only twice a year or more! And the presents are all for ME!!
The best part of the whole CAbi experience is getting dressed in the morning. I actually have choices! Things to wear that go anywhere I go. Clothes that I KNOW work together and look good on me. I have never felt so confident in getting dressed. I don’t even mind that so many of my friends have the same items in their closets. We all wear them differently, with different accessories and different shoes. At the CAbi event I attended last week, EVERYONE was wearing the clothes from CAbi and no one looked the same. I personally was the only one wearing the outfit I had on. (I was also probably the only one not wearing white. Old habits die-hard and it WAS after all, after labor-day!)
My husband hasn’t squawked too much about my new wardrobe purchases. CAbi is now factored into our “spending plan.” He also sees that I am happy and he thinks I look terrific. For the most part, shopping CAbi has kept me away from the stores. (I said for the MOST part.) A girl still needs to buy new shoes!!
My life is so glamorous! It’s just not fair, lucky for me!!
Dear Mom, I love this blog. I drank the CAbi kool aid about six or seven years ago and I am still fully enamored with my closet. Thanks for writing about my favorite clothes!
Posted by: Shelley Meaney | 09/12/2011 at 06:27 PM