Every woman prides herself on being unique. From personality to hobbies and personal style, there are no two women created the same. So if we are all so different, why do we find ourselves wearing the same clothes as women on our street and coworkers at the office?
Ladies, I am here to tell you that there is hope. Say goodbye to the embarrassing moments when you realize that you and your girlfriend are wearing the same shirt out to lunch, and hello to your friends saying, “Wow, where did you get that?” Say goodbye to standing in line at a department store to purchase a dress only to discover that three other women in line are purchasing it as well. I had the pleasure of meeting with Colette Jury, a consultant for a company called Etcetera. Etcetera offers exclusive, top of the line clothing that you cannot find anywhere else. In Albuquerque, Colette is the only one who offers the Etcetera products, so chances are, your neighbor will not own the same outfit… Allowing you to keep on dressing like the unique woman that you are!
I asked Colette what attracted her to becoming a consultant for Etcetera. Her answer was simply “I liked the line, they are pieces that I would enjoy wearing myself”. Colette’s friend and show accessorizer, Berdel Boulanger (from Silk Road Connection) says, “Colette always dresses beautifully, it’s a passion that she has… It’s part of the sickness”. That sickness is medicated by the Etcetera products and helping women find the perfect clothing to compliment their unique style. Colette also loves representing Etcetera because they offer a wider range of styles. Some pieces are young and playful, some are geared towards the businesswoman, and others are for women who are looking for a more mature wardrobe. There is something for everybody.
Etcetera operates mainly by hosting “trunk shows”… Similar to a purse or jewelry party. For one or two weeks each season, Colette transforms her beautiful home into a clothing showroom. Clients can book one on one or group appointments with her and are free to browse through two to three hundred pieces of clothing. They are free to try everything on and have a personal consultant helping them through the process. While I was meeting with Colette, I was lucky enough to have the pleasure of witnessing one of these sessions firsthand. I asked the client what she thought about Etcetera, and if she was a first-timer or a returning customer. She happily replied, “I have been an Etcetera customer for four or five years, and Colette’s client for two years.” She went on to say, “I’m not a shopper that likes huge stores. These are not run of the mill clothes, not everyone has them, and I like the personal help”. She also joked that most of her closet was full of Etcetera pieces. These personalized appointments are free of charge and there is no obligation to purchase anything if you do not find anything you like (Which I doubt will ever be the case). Colette even offers refreshments for the sessions!
During the session, Colette uses her skills to find out exactly what the client is looking for. She gets a feel for their taste and pays close attention to their likes and dislikes. If the customer does not like a particular color, pattern, or cut, Colette is careful to avoid showing them similar pieces. She also takes special care to avoid showing pieces made from materials that clients are allergic to (such as wool). During the consult, she looks for pieces that will not only accentuate a client’s body type, but hair color and skin tone as well. If it does not compliment the client, she is honest and straightforward. “Clients want an honest opinion. If they don’t love it, they aren’t going to wear it”. Let’s face it; we all have clothes hanging in our closet that we never wear because we bought it without loving it. With Colette’s help, we can eliminate these pieces and only purchase clothing that we are head over heels in love with.
Colette offers four shows per year which each last anywhere from one to two weeks. Each show is either a single collection or a combination of two collections. The Fall collection is shown in August, and then October is a combination of the Fall and Winter collections. January/ February timeframe brings in the Spring collection, and April is the Spring and Summer collections combined. All of the pieces are beautifully made and display superb attention to detail. They are made to last season after season, year after year. The sizes range from 0 to 16, and extra small to extra large. Colette describes the Etcetera products as “fashion forward, yet not over the top. These pieces are timeless and are designed to never go out of style”. The pieces are reasonably priced based on the uniqueness and elegance in their design. They range from $100 to $400. The more expensive products are generally the heavier products, such as leather jackets and thick coats. Prices are not as high for items in the Spring and Summer collections because the material is not as heavy. Perhaps one of the most comforting details about Etcetera is the fact that their consultants keep a record of their client’s previous purchases. During the one on one session that I was privy to, Colette was able to pull up the clients previous purchase record. That way, she was able to assist her client in finding new items that would complement the old.
Etcetera representatives like Colette are also very active in charitable events. In fact, Colette has just finished a trunk show to support the Heart Gallery (an organization that helps find homes for children who are considered “hard to place”). A portion of the proceeds from the trunk show went right back to the Heart Gallery. What an amazing way to give!
I have included some of my favorite Etcetera products from Colette’s trunk for your viewing pleasure (please note: jewelry and bags are not Etcetera products, however, they are available for purchase at Silk Road Connection here in Albuquerque). If you would like to learn more about Etcetera, set up a consultation with Colette (for those of you in the Albuquerque area), or find a consultant in your neck of the woods, you can visit www.etcetera.com. Each piece must be purchased through a consultant; no orders can be placed online. I highly recommend the personal appointments. They are fun, educational, and tailored to your individual needs. I give Colette Jury and Etcetera two thumbs up!
