Minerva...
It was widely acknowledged, within her family at least, that Minerva was none too bright. Last in a large brood cluttered with un avvocato here and a couple of professore there, many of the family had completed sufficient post-graduate education to claim the title Dottore before their name.
Not so Minerva, she was a shop girl, and this was our day dedicated to boutique shopping.
Yet, there was something about her. Not classically beautiful, she was lithe, lean and dressed in simple, well-cut shapes, the quality of whose fabric called to you across the room with its beautiful drape. A single gold bead, no bigger than a kernel of Arborio rice swang from an almost invisible gold thread from each ear, glinting against the column of her graceful neck.
With this simple statement, she was far more royal than the tiara -topped queens of Europe.
Minerva's almond shaped eyes surveyed us, the shoppers, dressed casually after class. But not in the way you find in some Neiman Marcus stores, where you are carefully screened while it is decided whether to actually help you or write down the address of the nearest Steinmart and send you on your way.
Come on, you know what I'm talking about..the outfit total tote-up with each part of your ensemble given a dollar amount and thus your worth as a customer is calculated, until you flash the AMEX black card.
Minerva is searching for our plusses, and she is in no hurry. First, there is the ritual espresso. We are stumbling along rather well in Italian while she collects her thoughts. Rigmor's height and long limbs catch her eye and will be her strong points. It's all going to be about the column with Rigmor. Plus she needs big hair.
She likes my close-cropped silver hair, white skin, big eyes and good posture. For me, it will be all about drama over neutral, statement jewelry with chandelier earrings, bold necklaces and shawls. Accessories will take center stage. Plus I need bold lips.
I try not be feel dejected that I have no body parts worth accenting except my lips.
Now, wait a minute, isn't this what we ordinarily wear? So perhaps, we are more in tune with ourselves than we know. How comforting that we might realize our strengths at this stage of the game.
We let Minerva work her magic and leave after baci with shopping bags containing a slim column dress and a vibrant shawl that is Jackson Pollack gone floral....but no earrings. Minerva pronounces the ones I am wearing, bought in Venice last year, perfetta!
While Minerva may not be a professoressa or a dottoressa, she is still a master. Brava Minerva!
It was widely acknowledged, within her family at least, that Minerva was none too bright. Last in a large brood cluttered with un avvocato here and a couple of professore there, many of the family had completed sufficient post-graduate education to claim the title Dottore before their name.
Not so Minerva, she was a shop girl, and this was our day dedicated to boutique shopping.
Yet, there was something about her. Not classically beautiful, she was lithe, lean and dressed in simple, well-cut shapes, the quality of whose fabric called to you across the room with its beautiful drape. A single gold bead, no bigger than a kernel of Arborio rice swang from an almost invisible gold thread from each ear, glinting against the column of her graceful neck.
With this simple statement, she was far more royal than the tiara -topped queens of Europe.
Minerva's almond shaped eyes surveyed us, the shoppers, dressed casually after class. But not in the way you find in some Neiman Marcus stores, where you are carefully screened while it is decided whether to actually help you or write down the address of the nearest Steinmart and send you on your way.
Come on, you know what I'm talking about..the outfit total tote-up with each part of your ensemble given a dollar amount and thus your worth as a customer is calculated, until you flash the AMEX black card.
Minerva is searching for our plusses, and she is in no hurry. First, there is the ritual espresso. We are stumbling along rather well in Italian while she collects her thoughts. Rigmor's height and long limbs catch her eye and will be her strong points. It's all going to be about the column with Rigmor. Plus she needs big hair.
She likes my close-cropped silver hair, white skin, big eyes and good posture. For me, it will be all about drama over neutral, statement jewelry with chandelier earrings, bold necklaces and shawls. Accessories will take center stage. Plus I need bold lips.
I try not be feel dejected that I have no body parts worth accenting except my lips.
Now, wait a minute, isn't this what we ordinarily wear? So perhaps, we are more in tune with ourselves than we know. How comforting that we might realize our strengths at this stage of the game.
We let Minerva work her magic and leave after baci with shopping bags containing a slim column dress and a vibrant shawl that is Jackson Pollack gone floral....but no earrings. Minerva pronounces the ones I am wearing, bought in Venice last year, perfetta!
While Minerva may not be a professoressa or a dottoressa, she is still a master. Brava Minerva!
Once you go AMEX black you aint never coming back.....
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