We’d like to welcome back to the Bridal Boutique our mother of the bride Kathryn to share with you part II of her adventures finding her Mother of the Bride outfit and her interesting encounter with the fiery Evelyne! Last week we left Kathryn having just been introduced to straight-talking fashion consultant Evelyne and having been immediately ordered to draw up her favourite dress to see if it met with Evelyne’s approval! The story continues…
The cafe we longed to return to…
I hastily scribbled down a drawing of the one and only dress I possessed and, perhaps fortunately, it was met with a nod of approval. “Right, you have natural red highlights in your hair?” …..”yes”. “You can meet for coffee in Los Llanos tomorrow?” ….”yes”. “Twelve o clock?” I looked at Peter….he nodded his head. “Yes”.
“Good. Where? Do you know Rami’s?” “No” we replied, one word answers seemingly all we could achieve by this point. Evelynne quickly explained where it was and with that it was “adios amigo!”
The next day we arrived for coffee and as soon as we walked in the door were greeted by an animated Evelyne heading immediately in the opposite direction. “Hi, I’ve looked at some dress shops so we will have coffee later lets go.” “Eh? What?” As we watched the rapidly disappearing figure waltzing off into the distance. We about-turned and we were off, hastily following the human dynamo as her curly hair disappeared into a shop. Evelyne had obviously done a little more than just “looked in a few dress shops” and had clearly been out doing her thing as when we arrived dresses were already laid out ready for me. The first one was thrust into my hand and the direction of the changing room was duly pointed out.
This really was not my thing: dresses, changing rooms, people pampering me… the very thought of trying on dresses and parading in front of Peter, the assistants and the human dynamo filled me with dread. I took a deep breath and drew the curtain back. Silence. Mmm…Surely it doesn’t look that bad….does it? It was however the lull before the storm. The assistants were obviously in awe of Evelyne or they knew what to expect. Let me see you walk. “Walk?” “Yes up and down.” Why weren’t we sat drinking coffee at this moment in time can anyone tell me?
I walked up and down remembering all the mishaps and accidents hopeful contestants on America’s Next Top Model had had whilst performing their walk in front of “Miss Jay.” Stop, turn round, and round again. I looked on at this dynamo of formidable force who gazed at me taking in all that was needed to assess the pros and cons of what I had got on. She pronounced her judgement, “No, next one” and so it went on. This next one I am doing for colour, “do not look into the mirror as it won’t fit.” Well, of course I was going to look wasn’t I!? My face revealed my thoughts. “It’s not your size”. Dead right it isn’t! Flattering this particular dress definitely wasn’t. “What are you wearing underneath?” “Underneath?” “Yes underneath!” “Oh you mean UNDERNEATH! Well nothing much, just the usual.” “So you don’t have one of these on?” She said mischievously.
At this point customers, assistants and myself stared, gasped and looked in amazement as Evelyne thrust her hand up her jumper and pulled out a black lacy waist corset which she held up like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat! Mesmerised I gazed at it and would not have been surprised if she hadn’t got a round of applause from her captive audience. Without further ado I was sent back to the changing room with “you do know which way it goes on don’t you?” ” Yes, of course, no problem. I mean just how difficult can it be?”
Out I came again and paraded up and down as, I now knew, was the done thing. I felt I was just getting into this when a voice chirped up…..”are you a penguin?” A what. “No… Why? “Well why have you got your hands in that penguin pose? Come here and let me pose you… This is how you are going to stand in front of the photographer.” She manipulated and rearranged my body like some sort of origami expert. I wobbled and twitched and felt a droplet of sweat begin to trail down my forehead as I fought to hold the position she had rearranged me into. “Okay now you try.” What? You’ve got to be kidding. Five goes later it was almost there but you could see by the look it wasn’t up to her standard!
Next dress! And as soon as I put it on I knew this was the one. The colour was perfect, I felt dressy but not over dressed, it flattered in all the right places and I felt completely comfortable in it. I happily drifted up and down the shop and was pleased to see a contented look on Evelyne’s face! Grinning from ear to ear I was grateful for Evelyne’s help but glad my ordeal was finally over so we could go get a cup of tea!
“Right” said Evelyn… “Now we must find you a hat!”
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… you don’t argue with Evelyne!
Come back next week to find out exactly what did happen with that hat!
