Turning Leaves

We hang onto summer as long as possible. Inevitably, the lush green of summer will fade or burst into shades of orange, red and gold. Finally, there are more leaves on the ground than the trees. Here it comes. Fall. Temperatures drop, the days get shorter, but the good news is the nights get longer.

I love crawling into a bed decked out in a down comforter, wearing soft and cozy pajamas. Engulfed in the luxury of it all is so very delicious. Sleep is welcome and waking well rested is the reward.

Fall is the season of apples and pumpkins and red wine, a crackling fire in the hearth and football and Halloween. Oh yes - and fall fashion is the best! Fall is a season to be enjoyed and cherished - as it soon disappears we will be shoveling snow.

Ten Years Ago

The last day of my last job where I collected a paycheck, my co-workers took me out for a few drinks. The excitement of my new venture got under their skin a bit and one of them, Heather, was dying to see the space where I would incorporate Miss Groove. Imagine her shock when she saw 1225 East Brady Street - under construction. Prior to my landlords purchasing the building, it was a disgusting dirty smelly pet store that sold rats for snake food. Sawdust, drywall mud, cracked green asphalt floors and an incomplete ceiling stood before us. I was beaming, she was horrified. Somehow, she did not see what I saw.

Six weeks later, after long hours of painting walls, and tables, installing a hardwood floor, begging my bother in law to put up the track lights, waiting nervously for my chandeliers to arrive from New York, moving fixtures and unpacking merchandise - it seemed as if Miss Groove would never open. I exhausted my family, friends and myself and we were down to the wire. I was at my wits end. It was Friday, May 5th and there was so much more to do to get the doors open for Saturday.

That Friday, we pulled the "under construction" paper out of the window so the stickers with the Miss Groove logo could be installed. Progress. My friends Erin and Joel came by after work to check on me. They rolled up their sleeves to help me with the final push.

Around 9:00 PM, Joel stepped outside and called me to join him. He turned me around to look at Miss Groove. He saw what I needed to see. A store that looked legitimately ready for business. I will never forget that day - seeing my dream realized.

The next day, we quietly opened our door and the neighborhood was buzzing. What a thrill to sell things that you like to others who actually agree with your taste! I did not have any employees, so once again, Erin and Joel stopped by to play store with me. We actually took in $1500 the first day of business. Very encouraging. And believe me, when you own a retail business, you need that encouragement to survive the days that aren't so successful.

Ten years later, I owe a debt of gratitude to the MANY people who have kept me in business. To my parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, friends and faithful customers who have become friends, I say thank you. Then there are the Groovettes. No business can run successfully with out good employees. But the Groovettes are more than employees - they have become their own little family as well.

I don't know where the next ten years will bring, but I can say that the last ten were incredible.

Why are women wearing the wrong size bra?

They say 80% of the adult female population is wearing the wrong size bra. Of course, everyone thinks they are in the minority. Believe me when I say that statistic rings true.

Case History

About eight years ago, I myself was wearing the wrong size bra. I thought it was okay that I was bursting out of the cups. Giselle, Heidi and Naomi wore them that way. Even though the first thing I did when I came home at night was to rip that torture device right off, I was sure I was on the right path.

When I finally got into the right size bra, I almost cried - it made such a difference. What that experience taught me is that the marketing of bra's did not measure up to reality.

A Lost Art

Women burned their bras in the 1970's and wearing a bra became outdated. All those little old ladies that used to fit bras had no one to pass on their valuable knowledge. Bra fitting became somewhat of a lost art. Until Oprah had her bra fitting revolution, women were left to fend for themselves. Who didn't hate shopping for a bra?

A B C D DD DDD - when does it stop?

Then there is the somewhat confusing size issue. Not only do different manufacturers vary slightly in sizing, but US letters their sizes differently from the Europeans. And the British letter their sizes differently from the US and the Europeans. Then, when you go down a band, you must go up a cup to maintain the same cup size. And everyone thinks they are a B,C or D because those are the most common cup sizes on the market. I could go on....

The point is, don't go it alone. Find someone who is a professional bra fitter. Then go somewhere where they carry a breadth of sizes. Miss Groove carries bra sizes starting at a 30 band up to a 42 band, and A cup to a G cup, and we can fit you.

Do it for two reasons:

1. You will look a whole lot better. The right size bra makes you look younger - the girls get perky again, they are lifted off the rib cage and you actually look thinner.

2. You will feel a whole lot better. If your straps are digging into your shoulders, if you feel like your bra is strangling you alive, or if your wires are poking you to the point of pain, my dear you are in the wrong size bra. You will be a whole lot of happy if you have a comfortable correct fitting bra.

I used to hate Valentine's day

Exactly how much fun can a holiday like Valentine's Day be if you are single? What if you have a schmuck for a boyfriend or an absent minded husband who forgets? Valentine's day adds up to misery for us types, right?

Wrong.

The truth is - I have learned long ago not to hitch my happiness on someone else's wagon. You gotta love yourself before you can love another or expect to be loved. When women tell me - I love all of this lingerie, but I don't have anyone to wear it for - I cringe. If you are not wearing this stuff because you love the luxury of a silk chemise against your skin or because you feel super sexy and confident in a black lace bra - why honey you missed the point. And how do you expect to attract another if you aren't exuding that certain something?

So back to Valentine's Day. If you are without a mate or with a clueless wonder, don't let that stop you from enjoying the season of love. Treat yourself. If not jewelry, lingerie, a new handbag (from Miss Groove, of course) - how about grabbing a bottle of wine and a good book? Better yet, make it a steamy beach read and pretend it is warm outside.

I'm so glad it's 2010

We are putting one hell of a year behind us. 2009, YUCK. 2010, HOPEFUL. I am so looking forward to the new year and all of its potential.

For one, I love the spring goods we ordered. New vendors will grace our four walls including a terrific not so basic basic cotton knit line called Pure & Simple. This line is great for layering with jeans, leggings or in some cases, wearing as a short sassy dress. The prices are right, too. Then there's Green Dragon. Great linen items and some tie dye pieces to boot. Last year we touched breifly on a line called Haven. We're bringing them back for some terrific silk shifts and the like. We like. And Loveappella - you must see to believe. Watch the new arrivals page for all of the updates.

And the old favorites - The first shipment of Language Los Angeles for Spring I has arrived. I personally love all things Language and there happens to be a top in the bunch for me. (the perks of owning a store...) Plinio Visona fine Italian handbags are making a return this spring. Of course - one of those has my name on it as well (what can I say?). And more David Kahn Jeans...

Just the tip of the iceberg. Are you starting to get why I am sooooo very excited for 2010?