Kismet Boutique

This past weekend I was invited once again to join a handful of customer models for a Liverpool Fashion show. I’m still recovering from surgery, but I would have hated to miss it. Hannah chose comfortable, sensible shoes for me to wear, with the goal of remaining stylishly upright. I’m happy to report all went well. The show raises funds for a local non-profit and unveils the current line of Liverpool clothing designed for comfortable and stylish dressing. I get to hang out with a fun group of women and play dress up.

The show is energizing but tiring, and I would have customarily headed home. However, the Hands Off protests landed on the same day. I’m seven weeks post hip replacement surgery, so Saturday’s rally was the first I could confidently attend.

I drove from Los Gatos to a shopping center in San Jose, rendezvoused with Mike, and took the light rail to the downtown San Jose event together. Over 5,000 protestors attended the San Jose rally.

According to National Public Radio:

“Hands Off! demonstrations were held across the country to protest the actions of President Trump and his billionaire advisor, Elon Musk.

The Hands Off! movement protested a wide range of activities from the Trump administration, from cuts and layoffs to federal departments to mass deportations.

Hands Off! demonstrations were organized for more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans, and elections activists, according to the Associated Press.”

As much as I enjoyed the day’s activities, I suddenly struggled to stand without pain. It was time to go home. We walked back to the light rail station, where we could sit while waiting for the train, but when it arrived, it was standing room only through the end of the route. It felt good to get home.

Early this morning, and for the second time in ten days, part of the knot of stitches at the end of my incision “spit out” through the skin’s surface. My body should absorb these stitches as I heal, but they’re moving the absorbable stitches to the skin’s surface, hence the term spit stitch. It’s unnerving.

My surgeon’s office isn’t concerned, asking me to pull the stitch taut and cut it close to the skin. There is nothing like a pair of sharp, sterilized crafting scissors and a willing spouse with a steady hand to get your day going. When an even longer stitch protruded today, first as a loop and then opening out to a 5mm straight stitch, at least we knew what to do.

What a weekend.

For the second time this year, I had the privilege of modeling in a customer fashion show at Kismet, a boutique in Los Gatos. Kismet is my go-to shop for affordable, comfortable, stylish, and special-occasion clothes. I wandered in one day several years ago and found the perfect dress. I’ve been a fan ever since.

Jennifer opened Kismet in 2002, fulfilling her dream of owning a clothing store, but it’s more than that. It’s a place where you feel like part of a family, with excellent customer service and a warm, inviting atmosphere. The fact that my friend Andrea works there only adds to the personal connection I feel. It’s kismet, indeed.

Saturday’s sold-out fashion show, featuring Liverpool’s fall line, was a unique event. All ticket sales from the show, hosted by Kismet, benefited the non-profit Unchained. This partnership between Kismet and Unchained is a testament to the boutique’s commitment to supporting meaningful causes. Marlo, the organization’s executive director, spoke at the event and joined us on ‘the runway.’

Unchained’s mission is “Achieved through our flagship program, Canines Teaching Compassion (CTC), uniting at-risk youth with homeless dogs in a purposeful bond of learning and healing. Each carefully structured CTC session involves small groups of youth working intimately with dogs, guided by our skilled trainers, to nurture empathy, master new skills, and build a positive future outlook.” Source

Liverpool jeans are renowned for their inclusive sizing, fitting all types of bodies. Their recent addition of jeans with longer inseams further emphasizes their commitment to inclusivity. I had the opportunity to model a pair and then purchase them (of course) with a generous discount. Jeans, often considered among the least eco-friendly garments, are being redefined by Liverpool’s focus on better alternatives, including sustainable trims, chemical-free closures, recyclable fabrics, processes that use less water, and organic cotton.

Pictured above: My friend Andrea and store manager, Hannah. Most of all, we had fun. We modeled jeans with a top, then returned for a second round and added a warm layer. Our third pass featured a second outfit. In my case, I wore a black knit sweater, black trousers, and a fuzzy white bolero.

Kismet provided models and guests with a bistro box lunch from Bleu Fig and a delicious and fashion-forward shortbread cookie by Love Vero Sugar Co. that tasted as good as it looked.

We rounded out the morning with a fun shopping atmosphere before the boutique opened to the public, then headed home with a bag of swag. Jen and Hannah know how to bring the fun.

Kismet produced a video of the thirty-minute fashion show. You can watch it here.