Flattery Will Get You Everything! Even a Shopping Event

Caroline Jones

This all started with me being flattered by Lane Bryant.

To say that I shop at my local Lane Bryant store in Gilroy, California frequently may be an understatement. I’m not a small girl and having a place where I can find clothes that fit and flatter is a real treat. Their fashions really suit my style and figure. With all those visits to the store, I’ve gotten to know a fair number of the employees and managers, and it was one of the managers, Anna, who flattered me.

On one of my visits of couple of months ago, Anna asked me a question while I was checking out. “I’ve been thinking about holding a private sales event for others like you. Most of them seem so intimidated by the shopping process. You’ve just got so much confidence and present yourself so well. Would you be interested in helping me organize this event?” I was almost speechless (a rarity to those that know me). I was so flattered. I gave her my little calling card and let her know that I’d be more than happy to help.

After that, I didn’t hear much from Anna. I would call her and ask what the status was, if we had a date — all the things an eager organizer would ask — but she was in a holding pattern waiting for their corporate offices to give an approval. I had gotten my hopes up to put together this event and now I was starting to worry that it would never happen.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago.

I had decided to leave work early after staying up late on election night. During my commute home, I received an email notification that my recent Lane Bryant order had arrived at my local store. Looking forward to the sweaters I’d ordered, I made my way there before going home.

When I arrived, I noticed the manager talking to a gentleman so I waved and let one of the associates know I was there to pick up my package. While waiting, I rifled thru the racks looking at the new things and the manager pointed out some new arrivals.

That’s when she mentioned that the man she had been talking to was the district manager. This is the person I’d been waiting to approve the private shopping event. She then asked if I’d like to meet him and I enthusiastically agreed.

We talked about the event, what the manager and I were considering for the event, and any particulars we’d already considered. After hearing the plan thus far, he agreed that it sounded like a good idea and told us to set a date.

If I hadn’t made that order; if it hadn’t been delivered today; if I hadn’t left work early; hadn’t checked my email before getting home . . . a lot of ifs and it just all worked out.

The very next day, I started planning and calling potential sponsors and we have found some great sponsors for this event.

The great folks over at TheBreastFormStore.com have graciously donated all sorts of wonderful goodies. Gift certificates, jewelry, makeup, and even a pair of breast forms — they’ve really gone a long way to help us make this a fantastic event.

The owners of House of Wigs in Los Altos have offered us a gift certificate and wigs for our fashion show. Hopefully, they’ll also be at the event to show off and sell some of their great products.

We have a local winery, a bakery, and a restaurant providing food and goodies. Of course, we also have Lane Bryant hosting the event, decorating, and providing the clothes for the fashion show.

The Big Lane Bryant Shopping Event and Fashion Show is being held at: Lane Bryant, 6815 Camino Arroyo, Space 4, Gilroy, CA 95020 on December 9, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. You can RSVP online at Evite or by calling the store at (408) 848-0252.

Tags: fashion, shopping

Category: Transgender Community News, Transgender Fashion