The last thing I thought I would ever become addicted to is dusters. You’ve seen them. The modern duster looks like a long sweater. Dusters are sometimes called long cardigans.

I don’t shop a lot, so I am slow to come around to most new fashion styles. I first noticed women wearing dusters in Church. I wasn’t impressed. They seemed cumbersome. However, I could see that they would help disguise a few figure problems. So that is how I viewed the new sweaters. Dusters were for women trying to disguise large hips, and I wanted nothing to do with them.

As time went on I noticed more and more women wearing them. In time my first impression softened, and I started noticing a little bit of elegance in the fabric flowing softly behind the women walking into Church.

Then came the day I was introduced to dusters. I had one literally fall at my feet, three times. Dusters have very little structure, so they don’t stay well on hangers. I was looking at a rack of clothing on sale when it happened. I saw the unruly looking garment on the hanger, pushed it aside, and as I moved to the next item the garment fell at my feet.

With annoyance I reached down to pick it up and try to secure it to the hanger. I placed it back on the hanger and on the rack. After a few seconds, the duster fell again. I repeated the procedure another time and was met with the same result. Finally, in exasperation, I just looped it over my arm and decided to take it into the dressing room. Anything was better than having to bend down again.

After I closed the door to the fitting room I began by trying on the puddle of fabric called a duster. When I turned and looked in the mirror I was shocked by my reaction. I liked it. More to the point, it felt so good. It is chilly in Seattle, almost year round, and the duster felt like it was keeping more of my body warm. It was comfortable and it was modest. What was not to like? I was in love!

I took that duster, which cost under $3.00 home, and you couldn’t get me out of it. I wore it during the day, and I used it as a bathrobe in the evening.

Eventually I started expanding my duster wardrobe to different colors, pattern and textures. I had dusters for around the house, and I had dusters for Church. The original duster became my permanent robe.

To this day I feel like my clothing is giving me a big hug when I wear a duster. I feel empty when I don’t wear one. The moral from this story is to be open to new clothing design. Do not automatically rule out new items without first giving them a try. I may not have been the first person to wear a duster, but I will probably be the last.

About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.fortfrugal.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!