A Fashion Experience
I was blessed with one child in life a happy child that was extremely easy to nurture and raise. She is beautiful inside as well as outside and is not easily forgotten when first introduced. She carefully picked a suitor and married this handsome and most loving man from Spain, they reside in Madrid. She speaks fluent Spanish and some French, she just became a Spanish citizen and teaches English to children in a private school. It is a very unique experience having your only daughter living in Europe with a six hour difference in time, and so very far away. At first I didn't know how to respond when she decided to do her Masters in Spain. Finding the perfect job, the announcement of her engagement, then marriage a year later would all spell out a more permanent stay in Spain. My days of going shopping, meeting for lunch, or watching our favorite British romantic film together seemed like a lasting memory.
I said to myself, Donna you taught her to be independent. This is where she chooses to live, and the world she wants to create for herself. You worked and sacrificed so she would have all the tools necessary to survive. She and her husband travel the world together, and they are not quite finished yet. Every week there is something new happening in her life and perhaps she may or may not choose to return back to the states. Try and understand if her husband would be able to adjust to the demands of the American ways. The freedom of loving life with much less stress, the advantages of many religious holidays, socialized medicine, close family ties, and the beautiful ways in which this culture enjoys living their lives. At first it was overwhelming and I was unsure of what type of relationship I could possibly have with her. Such distance could I continue to watch her grow? Over time I realized she was truly happy. I sought a new found place in sharing her many delights. I also realized that ours was going to be a different kind of mother and daughter relationship. You know, she tells me everything, and when she goes away on a trip I experience it through her. Whether it's short videos, photos, Skype or Whats App the communication is always available.
Last evening she shared something new and exciting that was right up my alley. Fashion week for a particular Boutique store she happens to love. To put it mildly she is a devoted customer and shops there quite often. Over the years many of my unique clothes for Christmas and birthdays come from this lovely store. When you regularly shop there for six years the store records a percentage of what you've spent. The total amount is evaluated and if this figure falls into a higher bracket then this is known as being in Circle 5. Believe me she has certainly earned this title. She wears their clothes with exuberance, has excellent taste, is physically beautiful to look at, and has a warm, bright and social disposition. Lets just say they called and invited her to their exclusive fashion event.
When she first arrived she was welcomed by one camera man, a spokeswomen for the store and the manager. She was surprised by this sudden unrehearsed interview, but was delighted in being chosen as their exclusive representative of their new Spring collection.
The name of this store and brand name of this clothing line is Desigual. The premiere took place in several spaces on Calle Santo Tome' Madrid. These places were Creme Delacreme, Piloco and 98%yu. They set up manikins in odd positions in these places draped with their creative ideas and designs. Colors, fabric textures, and original graphic designs were displayed to show the creative process in designing their most innovative fabrics. The fashion statement this Spring was bright and colorful. They introduce a unique way of mixing and matching different design patterns presenting Desigual with their own signature look. There is a bohemian sense of style yet they take it to a whole different level in the way they accessorize, and uniquely combine fabrics and textures. This was indeed a once in a lifetime experience to be a part of. My daughter shared this experience with me every step of the way. I in turn felt her joy and excitement as I reminisced over the splendor of bi-annual Fashion Weeks spent in New York. I was ecstatic for her because as a little girl she witnessed me leaving for New York while she patiently stayed behind. When I'd return home she would ask me“mommy how was it, what was it like, did they like your dresses, did you see any celebrities”? Looking at those big doe eyes I would try and explain what it felt like to be there, but the magic was hard to describe unless you experienced it for yourself.
Last evening she finally knew what this experience was like. After her last text and photograph was sent via Whats App, I cried tears of joy. All that hidden guilt was slowly oozing from my heart, I was free and unmistakably the fashion shoe was finally on the other foot...









