“Ashley! This is Dolce and Gabbana.  I can’t wear this.  This must’ve cost a fortune.”

“Relax,” she sighed in frustration, “it didn’t cost me anything.  I get most of my clothes for free, simply because designers want me to show up at a club wearing their stuff.  I’ve never worn this one, because I wasn’t sure if the color worked for me.  But it’s absolutely perfect for you.”

She was clearly starting to get annoyed with all my questions and doubts, so I decided to at least try on the dress. I took a hot shower to wash off the day’s practice and to soothe some of the lingering soreness in my muscles, before slipping the dress on.  Although it fit me perfectly, I was not at all comfortable in it.  But I probably wouldn’t be comfortable wearing anything that was appropriate for a nightclub.  I also couldn’t show up in my own drab outfits and actually expect to be let in. 

As I walked back into the room, Ashley turned to look at me.  Her eyes silently traveled up my body, making me more and more aware of my exposed skin.  They also seemed to linger in some places more than others, places where the dress’s tight fit was made all the more obvious. She was quietly staring for so long, I started to think she was trying to keep herself from telling me how awkward I looked in this dress.  I cleared my throat to get her attention.

“Sorry, that dress just looks like it was custom made for you,” she said, pulling her eyes away and walking back to her closet. “So, you’re gonna need shoes as well.”

Ashley’s closet turned out to be a mini-mall.  We went through several pairs of shoes before we found the ones with the right fit.  She’d tried to put me in some high-heeled stilettos with only thin straps at the ankle and just behind the toes for support.  But I was so sure I’d fall in them or out of them, we finally compromised on some black, not so high-heeled stilettos with four buckles that went from my toes all the way up to my ankles.  I was somewhat wobbly on my feet, but now at least I was sure my foot wouldn’t slip out.  The shoes read “Manolo Blahniks” on the inside and I knew with a name like that they had to be expensive.