Help with My Pants...Again, Please!
My dressing room debacle at the coolest place in town.
I’ve never felt so comfortably uncomfortable.
Last week, my 11-year old daughter and I flew down to Palm Beach for a girls Spring Break trip. Such great one-on-one time, and we were never bored! From Worth Ave. to Dixie Highway, I think we hit every shop in town. She had to check her boxes—Alo, Free People, Roller Rabbit, Love Shack Fancy, etc. and I had to check mine—Show Pony, Casa Gusto, Meg Braff, etc. We also had a blast treasure hunting at the thrift stores! I found Mimi’s china, and she found a sweet little Kate Spade bag. Shout out to Hannon House and Elizabeth Cook for their insider haunts and tips.
After a light drizzle settled over our last afternoon at the Colony pool, we decided to make one more shopping outing to find one of my favorite follows on Instagram, Coniglio Palm Beach. I’ve been watching the founder, Christina Coniglio, grow her following the past year or so, and I have been in awe of her creative genius—from free size clothing, to brand storytelling through vintage and nostalgic momentos from her childhood growing up in Palm Beach.
As we walked up to the storefront, there sat Christina on a chair outside the entry, barefoot with her laptop, just as effortlessly beautiful as always. I almost had a fangirl moment, but I decided not to embarrass myself or even worse, my 11 year old. We walked into the store and were instantly immersed in the old Palm Beach vintage-glamour-cool that Coniglio exudes. Oranges, greens, florals, pinks, grasscloths and rattan—it was all intentionally choreographed, creating a warm and laid-back vibe that made you want to stay awhile. It was the one store, the whole trip, that I had felt completely comfortable in.
I instantly went for one of the dupioni silk tops in navy. I’ve been wanting a matching top and bottom set, so I grabbed the navy silk pants to match. I don’t know if you’ve seen Christina demonstrate how these pants work on Insta, but she makes it look effortless and beautiful. They are cunningly named the “Two Panel Wrap Pant”—sounds easy enough right? Wrong. As I start untying and unclipping the pants from the hanger it falls to the ground and became the most beautiful pile of dupioni silk drapery panels that seemed to loop like an infinity scarf. I was completely lost, and down to my underwear, so naturally I stuck my head out of the dressing room, and said “I’m going to need some help with these pants!” One of the girls working there bee-lined over like this wasn’t her first rodeo. She saw me tangled up and then proceeded to gesture the whole procedure with her hands, much like a mother would teach tying a shoe.
I gave it another go, hoping that my experience in baby swaddling would kick-in, and the pants would tie up like a dream. Wrong again. I stuck my head back out, and laughingly said “I give up!” This time the girl came all the way inside the room and just tied the pants on me herself. Everything about them was perfect, the way the panels lined up and finished, the ties front and back, and the matching cropped silk shell to match. I don’t know how to go to the bathroom in these pants, or how to get them on again, but I still absolutely loved them. SOLD.
If I was struggling like this inside any other store, with any other brand, with any other founder, I don’t think I would have purchased these pants. But, the graciousness and comfort I felt from the minute I walked in was just as authentic as Coniglio’s brand story itself. Everything about their experience made me invest in these clothes.
So thank you Christina and your crew, for being so kind to my daughter and me on our visit to your incredibly thoughtful and creative flagship. I’ve never been so comfortably uncomfortable in that gorgeous dressing room of yours. We will be back, and I will definitely know how to tie my pants next time!
Best,
I’m still laughing!