I have a surprise for you. You’re gonna like it.

Before we get to the surprise, hear me out.  (and sorry to disappoint you, but I’m NOT pregnant!)  ;)

* * * * * * * *

I walked into J.Crew one Wednesday in September of last year, not knowing that I would walk out a changed woman. 

Not because I’d never been to J.Crew before or because I didn’t already love clothes, but because I never really knew how to dress myself until that day. 

You see, I have always had a somewhat unhealthy obsession with clothes.  They are my greatest weakness… my Achilles heel.  Not shoes, not purses, not diamonds… but clothes.  However, I can honestly say that I was a walking faux pas up until quite recently.  While I loved clothes, I never really knew what looked right on me and what didn’t, and I always expected the clothes to work perfectly for me from the moment I tried them on. In other words, I never tucked anything in, I never rolled anything up, I never added a belt; and shoes, bags, and jewelry were a complete afterthought. There was never anything very interesting about my outfits. 

But when I walked into J.Crew that day, a personal shopper named Laura just started helping me.  She didn’t even really ask if I needed help, she just started pulling outfits for me and bringing them to my dressing room. Maybe she could sense how completely inept I was when it came to choosing my own clothes.

I had plenty of time and a little bit of money to spend, so I was OK with it.

Laura was choosing pieces I NEVER would have chosen for myself.  Brightly patterned tops. Colorful “skinny” corduroys.  Scarves to match the tops. And *gasp* BELTS.  These were all unfamiliar territory to me, but when I tried on her suggested outfits, I became more and more in awe of how stylish I could look with a little bit of imagination. 

I remember trying on one of the outfits Laura brought me and sort of hating it.  She came to check on me, and I opened the dressing room door to show her what I thought was a disaster.  She looked at me a moment and then said, “here, try this.”

She rolled up the sleeves to my blouse, added a skinny belt at the waist, and gave the bottom of each pant leg one single roll.  And I think my eyes almost bugged out of my head. The outfit was transformed by her easy little fixes. I had no idea that you could do these types of things to clothes!  It had just never occurred to me.  

I walked out of J.Crew that day with a lot less in my bank account but a lot MORE by the way of confidence and excitement about fashion. 

And while this will always be primarily a lifestyle blog, I’ve been thinking about incorporating fashion posts about once or twice per week.  Not because I think I have this amazing fashion sense now, but because style has become a big part of my life and I want to share my little journey with all of you.  Maybe we can all learn a little along the way. 

My closet is still in the transformation stages.  There are still many remnants from my pre-fashion-enlightenment days.  But every now and then, when I choose an outfit that I’m really proud of or that makes me feel pretty, I’d like to share it here.  Starting today.

And this is where the surprise comes it… the part you’re gonna like.  I’ve been in cahoots (yes, cahoots) with Foley + Corinna to kick off my first fashion post with a pretty freakin’ amazing giveaway.  So as you’re perusing the pictures below, note that one of YOU will be winning the very same (*cough* *cough* five hundred dollar) purse that I’m carrying in the photos. 

Yup.  Your eyes to do not deceive you.  That baby, in the color of your choice, will belong to one of YOU.  And it’s the easiest giveaway you’ll probably ever enter.  Details below.

This next one’s for you, F+C. (And also for you, lovely readers of this blog… :)

   

{Dress: Forever21 (recent), Jacket: Ann Taylor Loft, Shoes: Aldo, Necklace: F21 (recent), Bracelet: (actually, it’s a necklace!) American Eagle, Bling: Husband, AMAZING BAG: c/o Foley + Corinna}

 

Ok, so here’s how to win the awesomeness that is that bag.

Be a reader of Story of My Life.

Go HERE and enter your information.

And THAT’S IT.  Probably the easiest giveaway you’ll ever enter, with the coolest prize. ;)

You are so welcome.

 

Contest ends at midnight on Thursday, April 7