We have a very exciting new resource if you’re willing to drive to Mentor and play by the rules. LA and NY designer Laurie Chesbrough has landed back in the family business complex in Mentor and set up Mimi’s Warehouse. She specializes in helping women expand their fashion palette with deeply discounted pieces she collects in NY, LA and London. (Deeply discounted means something that retailed in LA for $800 you can get for $200. This doesn’t mean a $40 Marshall’s knock-off marked down to $5, so save up your quarters and pinch your pennies). A big fan of Eddie Izzard, she’s very much interested in working with our community. Her London stock has been held up by the shipping strike so I’ll need to pay a return visit, but she proved her point when she got me try on a sleeveless cowl-necked crocheted orange and brown sweater, draping a brown shawl on my arms. This really set of my auburn hair. I never would have imagined sleeveless would work for me. Then she showed me a turquoise coat cut in such a way as to really give me a figure. Now if she can only find it in my size and in brown.

The matter has some urgency to it. I’ve been invited on November 15^th to be a member of a trans-panel that in turn is part of a number of activities down at U. Akron coordinating with the appearance of Dr. Drew Pinsky, MTV’s "Love Doctor". I wanted to have the right look for such an appearance. Something that says fashion savvy but not a over-the-top. And definitely not "conservative man in a conservative dress". Laurie’s collection by the way does tend towards the flashier items, and those of you who want something that will make the other girls at the clubs wilt with envy (at least until they get something of their own from Mimi’s warehouse) should plan on seeing her. But if you plan on seeing her, remember the following:

• This is a by appointment business only. Don’t break an appointment. You will mess this up for everyone else if you show Laurie that she can’t trust members of our community to keep their commitments.
• You can’t change there. You must arrive properly dressed. She’ll want to take measurements, so your foundation garments should be modest.
• At present this is just fashion advice and clothing sales. No photo sessions. You can’t go put something on, take a picture, take it off and leave. That’s NOT what this is about. This is a chance to be treated as a woman who is serious about the image she presents in various parts of her life.
• As a courtesy to other customers, don’t wear heavy perfume that might stick to clothing you try on.
• Bring a towel or large handkerchief to put over your face when trying on pull-over garments. This is prevent makeup from getting on them.
• Have a half-slip and a full slip along so that skirts and dress’s hang properly.

I’m hopeful that Laurie can join us for our Christmas Party and get to know us a bit, before coming to a meeting as a featured speaker to give us some pointers on dressing well. There are lots of possibilities here and I can’t wait to see what unfolds.