fandomhigh | How to Develop a Personal Style [Tuesday]

Today was a bit of a departure from what the students were probably used to -- and just as well, since it was a final exam, and all. Irene had met them all out by a portal, which had taken them to an actual upscale department store, rather than their usual simulation. It was, however, just as curiously devoid of other customers as usual. Irene did not like to share, and when one was as wealthy as she, one had the resources to ask the busiest store in London to shut their doors for an hour.

At least, in this dimension. It probably wouldn't fly in her own Harrods.

"Welcome to Harrods," Irene said warmly. "It's my very favorite place in the whole world, and this one's not mine, but close enough. In case you didn't pick up on it, this is a real store, and not a simulation. Your task today is simple: pick yourselves out an outfit, from head to toe, and tell me why you chose each piece, and what it says about your personal style. Your reward for defending your thesis, so to speak, is that I'll buy you your favorite piece from said outfit."

She crooked a smile at them. "Not the whole thing, mind -- even with my resources, I'd probably max out my cards doing that for all of you. But pick out a whole look, head to toe, and come find me, and you can take home your shoes or button-down or bangles, whatever you fancy. Bit of a thank you for putting up with me all term. You've all been lovely."

She made little shooing motions. "Now go dress yourselves, darlings."

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So...the final. Kathy felt she'd been slowly improving all semester, but now that it was time to finally show Ms. Adler that she'd been paying attention, all of her confidence deserted her.

So, the first thing she grabbed was a dress, pairing it with a pair of basic black pumps and a black handbag. It was a nice dress, a flattering cut, but also...kinda boring. Not really her. She was supposed to be able to talk about it, right? How it fit in with her personal style? Well...this really wouldn't. She tried again, trying for a dress with a little more personality. Which was okay, but...kind of cheating, wasn't it? She was choosing things that were already entire outfits, not building something from the ground up.

Switching gears, she put together a suit for herself. Cute--she really liked the jacket--but it didn't feel right. She was moving towards shorter skirts, showing off her legs more. The suit didn't cut it. A quick attempt at layering fell a little flat, as did her flirtation with something more formal (though maybe without the second jacket?). She really liked the feel of the comfy sweaterdress, but chickened out at the last minute, worried Ms. Adler would think it was too much (but the booooooots....).

In the end, she went with her gut and stood before Irene, waiting to be judged.

Irene smiled a little, tapping her chin with one fingernail. "Tell me about your choices, Kathy," she said, raising her brows.

She wasn't going to give anything away until she heard the the reasoning behind it all. But -- well. She was smiling, after all.

"I'm always gonna be a little bit...weird, I guess," Kathy said, feeling a little bit hopeful about the smile. "I like things that don't necessarily go together and I like clothes that are comfortable and soft. And bright colors. I'm--I'm starting to like being seen. The dress is bright and, umm, short, which I like, and the jacket softens it a little. They're both kinda formal pieces, but together they look more casual. I like that I can ditch the jacket and suddenly have a power dress if I want it. The shoes are comfortable and I can move around in them and the tights were because the outfit kinda looked weird with my bare legs. I'm not opposed to showing off my legs, I'm kinda proud of them, but I thought the dark hose kinda brought the look together more."

She gave a quiet laugh. "Also, it's my compromise between the thigh-high boots I found that I loved, and the fact that I couldn't ask you to buy them, which I'd really want to do if they were part of my final outfit."

"I would've," Irene told her, her smile widening as she carefully eyed Kathy's selections, "but thigh-highs are a little impractical, anyway. These," she nodded to Kathy's ankles, "can be worn with many outfits -- thigh-highs are what we'll call an 'occasion piece.' And the tights were an outstanding choice on your part, my dear, because they emphasize the length of your legs without drawing the length of your dress into question at all. And yes, love the color on you. Fabulous choice. Simple without being plain, at all -- that's the key to looking put together."

She glanced up from her scrutiny, giving Kathy a bright smile. "Well done, Kathy. What're you taking home with you?"

"Really?" Kathy's grin was almost incandescent. "I did well then?"

Ignore the little bouncy dance she did right there, please. She was just very excited. "The jacket," she said without having to even think about it. "I mean, if it's not too much?"

"No such thing as 'too much' when something looks that lovely, darling."

This was why Irene didn't teach, say, Fiscal Responsibility, or Budgeting.

"And yes, you did marvelously." Irene's smile softened a little. "I'm quite proud of you, Kathy."

"Thank you, Ms. Adler." Kathy's grin wasn't going anywhere soon. "For all your help this semester. I know I was kinda...a trial."

How to Develop a Personal Style [Tuesday]

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