Near and Far
Jamie Jones of Whirlaway Travel explores some travel options abroad and highlights their local counterparts
I cannot recall the last time I went to a big box store to update my wardrobe. Endless racks of clothes, cramped dressing rooms with lighting better suited for an operating room, and sales people that are trying to juggle 10 women all at the same time. The experience has always ended with me leaving empty-handed and defeated. One of the many reasons I love West Chester is the myriad boutique clothiers. I have gifted classic pieces from Mainline Custom Clothiers to the men in my life, went on shopping sprees with my mom at Jane Chalfant, scored a few previously loved pieces at Greene Street, and fell head over heels with some timeless (and wrinkle resistant) dresses at OBVI. The curated collections that our local boutique shops present have been a staple in my closet over the past decade. My career has me traveling at least once a month, meaning frequent packing and varying climates, so having clothing options that are versatile, comfortable, and well-made is important to me. This emphasis on function has lead some to say that my style is a bit boring. I recently decided that I needed to up my style game because I have a photo shoot coming up, so I enlisted the expertise of Ashley Tischler, owner of Tish Boutique. We discussed my style (or lack thereof), the purpose of the shoot, my size and body shape, and I sent over some photos of the shoot location so Ashley could get an idea of colors that would go well. Then we scheduled time for a style session. Despite all that, I wondered if she had items that would fit and make me feel great, because as we all know, the camera doesn’t lie! I went in to the appointment with high hopes and low expectations. As soon as I walked in I was greeted by Ashley who got right to work, pulling outfits together that I would have never chosen myself. We discussed the image I wanted to portray (hip but classically professional), and she was not pushy with pieces that I was not feeling. After selecting a handful of options, she whisked me off to the back dressing room, which I must add was roomy, comfortable, and had great lighting. Amazingly, every outfit I tried on fit great! I settled on a complete outfit—dress, jacket, and necklace that had me looking and feeling like a million bucks. It got me thinking about some of my best experiences shopping overseas. One of the best ways to get a great shopping experience, especially in a non-English speaking country, is to enlist the services of a private shopper for a day. Travellers often want to bring home a bit of style with them—whether it be haute couture in Paris, fine leather in Florence, a custom suit in Bangkok, or the best quality Espadrilles in Barcelona, a private guide is going to get you away from the big box stores and take you on a shopping expedition that may end up being the highlight of your trip. Of course, the same could be said for working with a professional like Ashley right here in West Chester.—jjones@thewcpress.com
AUGUST 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM
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