STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I drove in traffic!!

theotherjess · Chanel

Yay! That must be really exciting for you! I was/still am a nervous driver so I feel ya.

Metric · Gucci

I'm a nervous driver, too. I didn't get my licence until I was 21 and that was only b/c there was a transit strike so I had to learn to drive just to get around. Parking sucks, I'm still not great at parallel parking and I've been doing it for 5 years.

halleybird · Hermes

YAY! Congrats!

I still remember my first time on the freeway (with my grandma, no less, who's worse than I was at driving). It reminded me of that scene from Clueless.

Alegria · Kate Spade

Good job!!!! I still have a hard time parking and I've been driving for ummmm I think 13 years. The first time I had to take the freeway the law changed that very same day and the speed limit went from 55 to 65. Talk about freaking out. I still get nervous when I drive. Too many crazies.

TheLovelyLady71 · Hermes

Yeah for you, ILC! Just take your time, you'll get the swing of it, it's really not that bad, but there ARE bad drivers out there, just be careful. The highway DOES have its advantages, LESS stop lights.....LOL

I'm like BrazenCanadian - I 'hate' parallel parking, I did fail that part on my driver's test.....LOL

Ritz · Dooney & Bourke

yay! congrats. i used to be terrified to drive on highways and would avoid them at all costs. now i hate driving anywhere else! you will get used to it dont worry!

bex · Chanel

yay ILoveChoo!!!! good for you! it gets easier and easier... and i found that backing into parallel makes it MUCH more easier!!

ILoveChoo · Hermes

thanks guys! I seriously felt like the biggest loser when I was doing circles around the parking lot (um, yeah maybe I look 15 but I'm 22! And there were people watching!), but I have been so nervous to drive again since I got into an accident about 3 years ago. It really not that bad though- I don't think it will be very long at all before I'm ready to take the road test.

ayo · Coach

good for you! :)

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I got my license at 19, and thought I was the only person over 16 without a drivers license. I remember that I was most nervous at stoplights, especially if I was the one in front! Parallel parking was so easy. I got it perfect the first time I ever tried it since I read the instructions on how to do it in the driving guide. I think it said to line up next to the car in front of where you are going to park, turn your wheel all the way to the right, back halfway into the spot, turn whell all the way to the left back in and straighten out. That doesn't really work on busy roads since dumb drivers will get right behind you so you can't back up.

Lilykind · Hermes

Congratulations! I totally know the feeling because when I drove in traffic the first time around I was flipping out.

No shame in your age! I'm 20 and I still don't have my driver's license. While I seriously contemplated moving back to New York because of it, I figure since I've made a life for myself out here in Los Angeles I should probably learn to drive...though I wish the public trans system would ge their act together...traffic is so bad nowadays.

esquiress · Marc Jacobs

yay! good for you! i got my license at 22 and had to take the driving test three times before they finally gave me my license so i feel you!

p.s. lilykind--seriously, anytime you're ready, we'll get you out there. don't hesitate to call!

dc · Dooney & Bourke

Good for you! In this area, that takes real guts!

My tip about parallel parking - pull up alongside the car in front of the sapce you want, and then slowly turn your wheel to make a little pie wedge in between you and the front car, while "aiming" your curbside taillight at the back car's curbside headlight as you reverse straight back toward it. Once you have like 2 feet to go into the space, continue reversing and cut your wheel harder to turn into the space until you are parallel. Voila. I don't know if that makes sense, but when this guy in college taught me, that's what he said, and the whole aiming of the taillight and the pie wedge bit made perfect sense to me. You have to cut things close and hold on to that piece of pie.

Best of luck - you can do it!