The Day Tim Gunn Told Me I Was Fabulous (AKA The Best Day Ever)

As a fashionista extraordinaire, there are very few people that I would take almost all their fashion advice/opinions (I would never take all of someone's advice as sometimes you just know what's best for you). This short list includes my lovely friend K, Michelle Obama, Diane von Furstenburg, and Tim Gunn. It's a very very short list. So when I found out last week that Tim Gunn was coming to the Kate Spade in Chicago, I clearly had to be there.

In my dream scenario, I would arrive dressed as fabulously as my wardrobe would allow and he would see me among the crowd and exclaim how fabulous I looked. Yeah, I have an active imagination. But it could happen.

In the middle of perfect-outfit-planning, I was informed that I would be attending a deposition the same day as the Tim Gunn event. OH NO! No fabulous outfit I had planned was conservative enough for attending an all day dep. My heart was broken. My outfit assembly programming ticked away in my head and I found this middle ground:

1. Black J.Crew shift dress. This conservative, perfectly fitting professional staple was a bargain find at the J.Crew outlet in Napa, California. I got mine for just $75. But its bargain status doesn't make it any less fabulous. Especially the slight v in the back (always to be covered when at work).

Banana Republic, $98

2. Topped with my fave cardigan - the Jackie cardigan from J. Crew. I suggest getting one in every color. I wore my bright blue Jackie to add a pop of color to my staid black dress.

J.Crew, $59.50

3. Belted the cardigan with a black skinny belt. Nothing more flattering than a little cinch to your waist gained by a cute skinny belt.

Gap, $19.50

4. Ivory and gold chunky bangle for a little subdued flair.

Forever 21, $5.80

5. And the piece de resistance, my tan Loubs. Nothing's more boring than pairing a black dress with black shoes, but attending the dep kept me from doing any sort of colored shoe. So I opted for a different neutral to keep the outfit fresh, but still conservative.

Christian Louboutin

So from my deposition, I ran to Oak Street to my favorite row of boutiques (Harry Winston, David Yurman, Jimmy Choo, and Prada all withing 50 feet of each other? I'm in heaven). So I stood in the very full Kate Spade awaited the arrival of my fashion guru. And then he arrived, full of recommendations for spring.

"Look at the frame of this bag. It's delightful."

"I just love Michelle Obama."

"When doing an animal print, only wear one piece with a print and do not mix animal prints, you wouldn't want to look cheap and cheerful."

"Chicago and New York are the fashion cities of the U.S."

And then it was the time we'd all been waiting for: getting our pictures taken with Tim Gunn. So we ladies who love TG dutifully stood in line waiting for our turn with his greatness. Timmy was super nice and politely chatted with everyone, but I am the ONLY one for which the following happened:

As I walked up to stand by him, before I even got there, Tim Gunn exclaims "Oh my, I love your outfit!!! That's exactly what I've been telling people to do - belt their cardigans! You look fabulous" And then I started saying something about accentuating your waist, and how I had a fab outfit picked out but then had to go to a dep. To which he responded "That is a great deposition outfit." I had died and gone to heaven. I mean I had dreamt he would gush about my outfit, but I didn't think it would actually happen. You should've seen all those jealous girls in line. Oh if looks could kill. Sorry, ladies, there is only room for one fab love of Tim Gunn's Chicago visit, and looks like that's me.

"Oh, EWP, you are just fabulous"