Boy If this Skirt Could Hear (and Talk)

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Let me give you a short–interesting–story about this here skirt. When I bought this skirt, over the December holiday, I bought it huge. When I saw it in the market, I liked the print so much that I just couldn’t leave it. I knew that I would never get it–or the chances of me getting a similar print in my size were extremely slim, if at all.

I thought it was cheesy to buy it in such a big size–it was like a size 20–so I left at first to buy that which I had gone to buy.  On my way back home, I saw the skirt again, and this time, I felt like it literally called me,😂
I had been looking for a similar skirt for a while so I was like, kama mbaya mbaya and I bought it. The lady selling it even gave me a discounted prize to cater for the cost I would pay to have a tailor slim it down for me. Interestingly, I got this really loud vibe from her that she knew it would be an epic fail. You know, she really hastened the “transaction.”

When I got home and showed my mom the skirt, she was baffled. She could not believe that I had actually bought the skirt. She kept on asking, “Wee wakenio nī iyo” (you actually liked that one). She even went a head to say that she could not even wear the skirt herself. It could fit her, but was slightly bigger around the waist.

Now when my dad saw it, he was shook. But of course, to his nature, he used humour. And what surprised him most, was that I liked it so much, that I had bought it in such a large size. So he was like, “Īyo anga kaba ūngīgūrire material” 😂 (instead of buying that one, it would have been better for you to buy the material) Like so I could simply have it made in my size😂
Fast forward to the following day and I really nagged my mother to take me to her “best fundi” to slim it down for me. For a pleated skirt, I needed a tailor who has had ample experience or they could have ruined the skirt for me, just like everyone envisioned.

Lucky for me, my mom knew of this lady whose work is quite impeccable–starting from the dress she was wearing.  She carefully aligned the pleats as she cut out the excess part of the skirt and diligently stitched back paying attention to the slightest of details so that the pleats could align seamlessly like no work had been done on the skirt.
All this while she asked me to put it regularly so she saw how it was coming along, and as she fitted even more to have all the pleats inline. Not to exaggerate–don’t mind me if I do–but she was the real deal! The best part was that in around 30 minutes, she was done. Needless to say, I was a happy client! 😃

For the first time, my mother got an idea of what I envisioned with the skirt. And even though she could not understand why I was interested in it–she felt the look was way off of my interests–she actually loved it.
When my dad got home in the evening and heard that I had fixed the skirt, he was intrigued that I actually put it on for him to see. Of course, he said, “anga tinjūru” ( its like it’s not bad)–you might not believe this, but coming from him, that was actually a compliment.😂

The interesting thing is, I was not shocked that they reacted like so. Because if I’m being honest, two years ago, I would never have even thought I would be interested in a pleated skirt. And to even buy it?!

I guess, I am evolving, which is a good sign. I mean, it is growth. But sadly it’s a classic sign of growing old😭
But also, I’m certain so many of y’all contemporary women can relate.

Bonus–Side– Story…….

When I first wore the skirt and took a picture in it, my cousin replied to my status calling me a “wife material.” Coming from her, that was an insult—a huge insult. ( I had on a tank top, so honestly nothing going on) So I sent her pictures of other girls wearing  similar pleated skirts–the look I was going for– and she was wowed. Now I wondered, how come they get a wow and I get a boo.😭

So she said, “the skirt is nice, I love it, but if you are to look good in it, wear a crop top.” Or as she put it “don’t be boring, show us some skin” 😂 I must admit, it did look better like so. Except to my cousin the top still wasn’t short enough lol😂

❤❤❤❤

Nyambura Macharia