Okay, so we’ve all done it, and we’ve probably mostly liked it. At least we’ve gotten stuff and had a few drinks with some friends, right? You know I’m talking about those quintessential suburban parties, in which you gather some friends and let a cute little clothes/makeup/jewelry/kitchen products rep come in and tell you why her products are the must-haves.
(Now. In the spirit of full disclosure, I actually love these parties. I have CAbi clothes that are staples of my wardrobe, Silpada pieces that are staples of my jewelry box, and Pampered Chef covered mixing bowls I couldn’t live without. I also spent a few years as an Arbonne consultant. I still use and love the products, but realized the job was not for me as I was sitting in a ballroom at the MGM Grand in Vegas and watched a heavily made-up woman weep in orgasmic ecstasy over the launch of the SeaSource Spa line. Her tears proved to me I’d just never have the right amount of passion to sell bladderwrack and sea lettuce to my friends.)
Usually, the most interesting thing I have to report about one of those parties is what I bought. Maybe who I saw. But I’ve never had a story to tell like the one I experienced a few weeks ago, when a good friend invited me for drinks and a clothing show.
My problems began instantly, when the hawkish woman sitting next to me tried to sit on my lap. I’m not kidding. It started with her arm, which was draped over the side of the sofa where I was sitting. It draped so drapily that I think she got to second base with me multiple times. She then kind of leaned her entire upper body against me, so that I was forced to practically sit on my friend’s lap to get away from her, all the while texting the hostess, "Who the hell is this creepy woman trying to molest me and why did you invite her?"
The problems continued with the very cute and frighteningly peppy saleslady, who insisted on pointing out that all the clothes worked on her frame, even though she was so so so so so tiny. Yes, I know. If I did not have these boobs or these thighs, or if I even had a mere two additional inches of height, all your damn clothes would fit me perfectly, too. But I’m not so lucky, and your so so so so so tiny frame is not helping you sell clothes. In fact, I would like you to take a short fat lady and stick all your clothes on her, so that I have a more accurate idea of what to try on.
Swallowing all my irritation (and more wine), I went into a dressing room with a friend to halfheartedly try on the clothes that looked good on a size zero. No sooner had I pulled the curtain closed than it was ripped open...by the hawkish woman, who seemed very excited to have found us. How do I know? Well, not because she talked. She never actually spoke, but either silently clapped when I emerged from the dressing room in something she liked, or frowned and shook her head if she disapproved. Even my hostess pulled me into the bathroom and hissed, "What the HELL? That woman is so disturbing. I don’t even know who she is." This, in case you’re wondering, did not make me feel better.
Finally, I gave up. The clothes that needed boobs also needed height. The outfits that were perfect for those without height needed hips with the same circumference as a tennis ball. Every part of my body was too short or too curvy for 90% of the clothes. (This, in case you’re wondering, also did not make me feel better.)
When the night ended, I snuck out the side door very elusively so as to escape my apparent stalker. I snuck out so as to stop looking at the peppy size zero rep on whom everything looked fabulous. I snuck out because they stopped serving wine.
Trust me, folks. Catalog shopping is much less stressful than a night like that.
This made me laugh out loud! I host two parties a year & love it. I finally started trying on clothes this past year. Prior to that, I'd try on before people got there. I do feel sad that I am not inviting a guest who likes to grope others. I'll make it my goal for spring '13. :)
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