Hello, everyone!  Last Tuesday was quite a special day at Off Broadway Boutique, as we were the subject of a vignette that is being helmed by Ari Seth Cohen’s talented video photographer, Lina Plioplyte.  “Visiting Lynn at her shop is one of my favorite experiences because there are so many things to share,” she gushed.  We were pleased to take her up on her request to film yours truly as I assisted customers and answered phone calls, though I initially hadn’t wanted to film on that rainy day.  I felt that her all-white outfit – which consisted of a stylish white string top, a pair of white pants, white thong sandals, and a white cowboy hat – was rather inappropriate for the weather, though I eventually decided to continue on since I was far too exhausted to reschedule the taping.  This was a decision that I had come to be grateful for making, as many women from all walks of life stopped by to shop our merchandise while asking me for fashion advice.

The day started out uneventful enough as I arrived at the store to see our Off Broadway Boutique stars, Pat and Blanche, ensuring that our three customers were taken care of.  As Lina arrived and began to set up for the taping, Pat insisted that I meet Nancy King, an investment educational specialist that teaches people how to invest in mutual funds and stocks and also had an amazing story to tell.  Always open to meeting new people, I immediately hit it off with our newest customer as she spoke of how reading the Advanced Style blog and book inspired her to add visiting our shop to the top of her personal to-do list.  Already in town to attend a stock market town meeting and discuss the investment of personal finance and economics in schools, she decided to stop by and visit Off Broadway Boutique.  After believing that her days of dressing stylishly were behind her, Nancy became reenergized by the sight of my look and decided to adopt a new lease on her style.  “Nancy was amazed by Lynn and it was such a beautiful sight to see,” Lina added.  “She’d never had the courage to experiment with the wardrobe in her closet until she had seen me in Advanced Style’s pages and it was great that I got to capture that on film.”  In town on business for a stock market meeting from her native Alaska as the state coordinator for the National Stock Market game program, she simply had to travel to our fashionable shop to meet me in person!

As Lina filmed Nancy and me enjoying one another’s company, the conversation became inspiring as Nancy discussed her work as an educational therapist for dyslexic adults and children as a means of giving back to those who share her learning disability.  This struck a chord in me, as it reminded me of my own struggle with dyslexia that hadn’t been diagnosed until approximately 4-5 years ago.  Rather insecure about the disability that hindered my progress in school and eventually prompted me to drop out of school a month or two before the Regents exam to avoid the opportunity to fail, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Nancy’s positive outlook on dyslexia.  According to Nancy, dyslexics are very creative and successful people that always think outside of the box.  What’s more; she declared that I was lucky to be dyslexic, as it has definitely influenced my bold fashion sense and her bold personality.  By the end of their conversation, Nancy King had touched my heart with her positive outlook on dyslexia in return for me inspiring Nancy to dress spectacularly for the theatre of her life.  The icing on the cake was Nancy’s purchase of a pair of wild sunglasses and fashionable jewelry to add to her collection – a choice that she wouldn’t have made if our Off Broadway Boutique superstar, Pat, hadn’t convinced her to simply wear them without a second thought.

Another special moment that Lina captured on film was the fantastic Bobbie Katzandu making our acquaintance at Off Broadway Boutique.  A regular customer of ours that Pat works with all the time, she stopped by to view our merchandise when she came across Ari Seth Cohen’s Advanced Style book display at the front of our shop.  As she flipped through the pages, she offered critiques on the featured style and outfits in the book – which was no surprise considering that she used to be an editor for The New York Times, the paper that her family also owned once upon a time.  So hysterical were Bobbie’s reviews that I hadn’t known whether to laugh or cry.  Nevertheless, the self-styled fashion critic and I hit it off smashingly as we discussed Bobbie’s affection for opera, ballet, and the arts.  This made up the second half of Lina’s vignette, which captured us in our fashionable element.

By the time taping wrapped up, my doubts about the rainy weather and her outfit had faded away as I fully embraced this fulfilling day.  “I thought it was a perfect day of activity, as I got to witness Lynn doling out incredible style advice to the ladies that hung onto her every word,” Lina stated.  So grateful that I was to have these one of a kind experiences in her life that my conversation with Nancy King and Bobbie Katzandu resonated so strongly.  After all, it was Lina Plioplyte’s filming of our shop that prompted such a wonderful experience that I have been inspired to learn more about my dyslexia.  In turn, we will definitely keep you updated on the release of this upcoming vignette – something that we’re sure will be as fabulous as our day was!