It was delightful being fussed over by the oh-so-attentive staff, a stylist, and my two new friends at Plumage of the Vanities. After we spent a few minutes talking about my goals for the day's shopping experience, I was quickly trying on a flurry of clothes in beautiful fabrics and colors, all of them incredibly flattering. I willed myself not to look at the price tag and hoped that the consulting gig really did come a clothing allowance.

When we were done I wound up in a dark grey suit with a perfectly-styled cream-colored shirt with hints of pink and orange highlights. Artemis picked a silk kerchief for me in azure and turquoise to match the bracelet, and I was thinking it might be too much, but everybody ooohed and aaahed and said it was me.

There was a pair of Christian Louboutins that I wanted soooo badly but they wouldn't have worked with the rest of the outfit so instead I settled for a sensible-but-sexy dark grey pair with almost no heel that fit a lot better. Artemis did some tallying and told me that if I bought the tie and shoes and rented the rest of the outfit, my clothing allowance would cover it. And Juno bought me a present, a lovely soft top in a dark red color that could go with jeans or something dressier.

I walked out of Plumage of the Vanities feeling ready for Manly McStud's or anything else life put in my way.