Chapter 1: Introduction
How did I get myself into these situations? I thought I had heard all of Sarah's stories about her closet: Some kind of state-of-the-art, digital thing that she'd had installed. I brushed it off as yet another fashion designer eccentricity. The thing was supposed to pick her clothes for her, save time each morning, and keep things organized. When she explained how it worked, though, I only picked up about every other word: smart wardrobe controls, outfits presets, integrated style coach, barcode inventory system.
It seemed like a lot of unnecessary effort and technology to help you decide what to wear. But then again, I suppose that's the point of the fashion industry she's in, to innovate and experiment. I trusted her vision and appreciated the extravagant pieces she would sometimes bring home. My personal taste may have been a bit simpler, but her ensembles always looked fantastic on her.
I remember she first showed it off to me one evening when I came by her apartment. She giggled and announced she wanted to give me the full tour of her "magical closet." I followed her into a room, practically its own walk-in apartment with more space than our entire studio. She demonstrated as I gawked. With a wave of her hand, the doors swept open to reveal a showroom-caliber space, pristinely kept and custom-fitted.
I had never seen so many outfits in my life – clothing lined one entire wall, shoes lined another.
The back wall sparkled with shelves of cosmetics, accessories, and a vanity table that looked like it had been transported straight from a Hollywood glamour set.
Sarah must have seen the overwhelmed expression on my face, so she decided to demonstrate. She stood in front of this grand piece of technology, and as if by magic, the closet came alive. Racks spun, lights flickered, and after a moment, the hanger holding her chosen ensemble extended out into the room for her to take.
My jaw must have dropped because Sarah just chuckled and said, "Welcome to the future, John!"
The most attention I ever paid to clothing was making sure my pants and shirt matched. But since I met Sarah, I reluctantly admit I've grown a little more interested in fashion – or more accurately, I'm interested in her. She made shopping a bit more enjoyable and could always put together an outfit I never would have thought of. I guess that's why the technology behind her closet fascinated rather than bored me – it gave me a peek into her intricate world.