What’s In A Capsule?

Baye, McCray (Me), Katie, and Aspen attempting to be models.

Clothes shopping can be scary. There is such vulnerability in trying something on under the stark white fluorescents of the dressing room and hoping it fits. Pulling at the zipper as far as it can go only to have it stop at the midpoint of your ribcage, and leave you looking sadly at what should have fit. Maybe you’ve never had your eyes get glassy in a mall or boutique, but odds are, you have at least once. With women’s clothing being what it is, every brand and designer chooses sizing largely at random, leaving us to figure it out when we buy what we’re sure is our size, but misses the mark. It’s exhausting.

When we started doing capsule collections at Glass Tangerine, I hated trying on clothes. I went from a size medium to a large/XL through the course of college, and insecurity ruled my relationship with clothing and my body. While I was excited to see what Emma had picked at market for the summer of 2023, I wasn’t confident that I could wear, or wanted to try wearing, any of it.

In the first couple of collections, I could tell that many of our customers were nervous. No blame there, so was I. I saw multiple lovely older women say, “Oh, I don’t think this is for someone my age,” and “I could never pull that off now.” Curvy girls walked in and hardly bothered a glance at the racks, sure that we wouldn’t have something for them. It brought me so much joy to show all of these women that yes, we do have something for them!

We started doing photoshoots with each collection because Emma wanted people to see what our clothes looked like on real bodies, of all sizes. We carry pieces that range from a size small to a 3XL, and women want to see how it will fit them, even before they try it on. We get to be models for an afternoon, with hair and makeup done, wearing beautiful clothes Emma picks out for us, and we love doing it. All of this work for an event we do twice a year. Why does it matter? It matters because now, people are excited to come try on clothes with us.

Bobbie and Aspen being cute.

Women love it. They line up with their picks and wait to try them on with no fear of judgement. They exit the dressing room in a dress to show whoever is working (usually me) and ask their opinion. We grab different sizes when someone needs it. We clap and laugh when they twirl, or discover pockets in their new dress. During a capsule collection, we all become girls again, showing our friends our favorite dresses and thinking of the perfect outfit. When something doesn’t fit, these women don’t tear up and berate themselves for the cake they ate a few nights ago; they ask us what we think would look good on them. And we love to tell them.

“Yeah, that one’s running a little small, but this one has a stretchy waist, try it!”

“Oh my goodness, you would be stunning in this sweater…it matches your eyes perfectly.”

“I don’t love that one as much as I thought I would, but now I think you have to try this one on because it would be perfect.”

I used to be terrified to try on clothes. Now, I know that when the capsule collection comes out, my wonderful teammates at Glass Tangerine will be there to call me a baddie, and tell me to buy it all. But they mean it. It isn’t a sales tactic or a front to avoid awkwardness. We just genuinely believe it. No one leave a capsule feeling less than beautiful, because they are.

Emma knew from the get-go that these capsules were to bring people together and give them confidence. No more hating your body because you don’t fit clothes. The clothes are supposed to fit you.

Glass Tangerine’s 2025 Spring Capsule drops at the end of this month, and the clothes have started arriving and being prepped. I was sitting at work, tagging dresses, and I realized how excited I am to try them on. Truly excited. Something I haven’t felt about trying on clothing in a long time. It only took that one moment to understand how important these capsules are. I hope you’re excited too. Come play dress up with us; we’re so ready to see you.

From Summer 2024

The Tangerine Dress looked so good next to the floral towers.

News, Updates, and More…

• March 28th is the big day! Our official grand opening and the Spring Capsule Collection are both happening at 10am that Friday morning. You don’t want to miss it; these clothes are seriously too cute.

  • Just another super friendly reminder that all members of our GT Club get a private hour of shopping the collection before it drops for everyone else. If you’ve ever been personally victimized by just missing a piece in your size, this is for you. Food for thought ;)

• The seeds are coming along nicely at the farm. Bobbie has been working hard to take care of them and make sure they stay that way. Go Bobbie!

• We now have a phone! You can call Glass Tangerine now and chat or leave us a message. Can’t wait to hear from you!