Do you think Connie had/has a period of struggling to dress herself after she escapes Orin? Like if there sre clothes available to her that are in the same vein of those that Orin liked her to wear, it's second nature, but if she has different colors than Orin's limited palette, different styles and cuts than the alluring kinds Orin preferred, different fabrics than what Orin insisted on, does sort of just... freeze because she's unsure what to do or maybe even what she can do? And if she does, do you think she relies on others to make those decisions for her for a while until they eventually catch on and are like, "Okay, this is an issue that needs to be addressed"?
And I love this question because, while the final answer is probably predictable, I don't think the period of when the epiphany 'hits' her is.
Like you mentioned, at first, she's fine. In every universe, she packs a suitcase and flees (or in the collegeverse, she has a wardrobe shaped by him and obviously can't throw away all her clothes after he assaults her. Trauma does horrible things and strange things to a person on the precipice of sanity.)
But eventually, out of both necessity and want, she does heed to choose her own clothes.
In the Classic-verse, Eb hires a dressmaker upon finding out she has only two dresses from New York in her suitcase. Technically three, but the one from the boat ride is basically unsalvageable. He lets her choose everything, of course.
And under pressure from the dressmaker, this is a universe where Constance kind of has to trust her gut, lol. She chooses the fabrics and colors herself.
If there is something Constance can do well, it's perform under pressure. And she definitely chooses well, even picking up on colors (pink) and fabrics (silk) that become eventual staples.
Bess is here, and we know that she is the one to persuade Connie that he does look good in white. But I also imagine that Bess inevitably plays a huge role in helping Connie discover her fashion bias during her time working at Scrooge manor.
After all, Connie can't exactly wear her old New York socialite dresses for doing chores around the manor and assisting with tasks.
And for many reasons, Bess doesn't strike me as the type to throw a maid's uniform to Connie and call it a day, lol.
Maybe Bess looks through her wardrobe to find some dresses to loan in the meantime. Connie is grateful and accepts, promising to take care of them. All is well; it's not real a choice-choice.
But if they go shopping? Connie would simply stare.
"Which colors do you like?"
"Well, I'll be working in the manor. Do you have a color you like your ladies to wear?"
"Oh. Um ... is there an option that's the least expensive?"
"They're all the same price. And money is no object."
"...Forgive me. I'm not sure how to choose."
"Oh ... you have no clue what you like, do you?"
But we know how things unfold from here. Bess encourages her, introduces her to pinks and blues, and inspires her to wear a ribbon in her hair. She meets Ezzie, and he reinforces those notions. Neither control her; they encourage her. And by the time she's married, she's excitedly trying new colors and cuts without hesitation.
Bess and the Pack girlies are essential.
While working at the coffee house and club, it's clear her clothes are mostly leftovers from her days with Orin. Seductive, fashionable cuts. All very fitting on her, but they show a side of her that the girls ultimately learn isn't true.
It's after a lot of thrifting and shopping sessions (and sharing wardrobe pieces) that a more clear picture of her kind of comes to light. The severe burgundy and green colors fade and are replaced by soft pastels. Her windswept waves become adorable ponytails. Her heels are, well, still heels. But more than just stilettos now. Heels boots, sandals, etc. She even gets (gasp) casual wear. She buys sweatpants. It goes down in the history books.
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