The *fit check* heard around the world
And what exactly is a Tyrolean hipster chick?
Last week I was riding the M4 bus down 5th Avenue on my way to a photoshoot for work after a doctor’s appointment uptown. In front of me was an older woman on her phone, holding a lapdog.
If you live in NYC, you know that avoiding people’s phone screens while riding public transportation is nearly impossible. We’re sitting or standing inches away from someone else (sometimes so close that we’re actually touching one another) and a glimpse of the phone next to us is all we can see in our view.
Well, that happened to me on this M4 bus. The woman in front of me’s phone screen was unavoidable and when I saw her receive a photo with a text that said “FIT CHECK” along with a photo, there was no way I was looking away. 1) Because I was genuinely curious about the fit, and 2) Because the phrase “fit check” is primarily used by Gen Z and young people online, so I loved that the woman was privy to this vernacular. She was obviously “with it!” The group chat name was called “Peters Women” which was also intriguing. Who is Peter? Who are these women?
She replied to the text she received with “Fire”. Omg, I hoped she kept going.
She did. Next text: “Tyrolian Hipster Chick fit”. Omgggg what?! That is niche.
Her texts continued: “Don’t worry about it”
“Gonna have me some schnitzel for lunch”
“Maybe fuck some shit up at aritzia later”
This series of her five texts left my mouth wide open. I was so pleasantly surprised, amused, and inspired, that I took a photo of the woman’s screen with the texts so I could admire her exchange forever.
She got off the bus, and I had two more stops to go. I sent the photo to a couple of friends who were just as happily shocked as I was, and they texted me back saying, “you have to post that” to which I said, “I know right?!” So I posted.
I posted the below series of photos on my Instagram Story with a transcript of the texts:
My DMs went crazy. I heard from followers who have never messaged me before and from strangers - the response was wild.
The fit check woman was undeniably sharp and had a sense of humor that we could all relate to.
Since IG Stories expire after 24 hours, I moved the photos to my Instagram feed to immortalize her forever, and that’s when the story got even better.
A follower of mine named Caroline apparently reposted my post to her own IG Story and received a message that said, “Oh my god I know her. This is my exs aunt.” Caroline screenshotted and sent me the exchange and that was it. We had found her.
Minutes later, there was a comment on my post from the woman herself, revealing that her name was Maggie Peters. Aha - “Peters women” refers to the last name of the gals in the group chat. Maggie commented:
I was pleasantly surprised by what a good sport Maggie was, but I was upset that she thought I called her elderly. I commented back:
She commented once more:
And this is when I thought to invite Maggie to have a coffee with me so that I could learn more about her and these fit checks:
We exchanged numbers, and I met with Maggie this past weekend at Café Bilboquet on 60th and Madison.
When she walked in she had a big smile on her face, bubbly as can be, and said “I feel like I know you already!” I took her coffee order (a perfect order by the way) - a small hot coffee with half and half - and returned to our seat where we began our chat.
I immediately noticed the gorgeous amulet necklace around her neck. She told me it’s by Temple St. Clair, a female-owned jeweler in the Meatpacking District. Stunning!
I told her that I received tons of questions from followers, and so today I’m sharing her responses below with you:
Dolly: Please, I’d love to learn more about you. Tell us about yourself!
Maggie: I’m from Andover, Massachusetts and have lived in New York since graduating college in 1986. I have two daughters, who were both raised in the city - Maude who is 24 and Lulu, my baby, who is 21 and the one who was having the fit check that morning. I am a portrait photographer, which is my passion, but now I work in residential real estate. And I just have to say, this whole experience brought me so much joy this week.
Dolly: Somebody messaged me saying “I need to be as excited as this woman is everyday.” How do you bring that positive sparkle to your life everyday?
Maggie: My girls. And their love of a good fit. And also the flip way that I was texting, that’s our mode of communication. Like, “fuck shit up at Aritzia” is stuff we say all the time. One of my daughters’ Georgetown friends once said, “fuck shit up at Aritzia” in their group chat and it’s become our own inside joke version of basically whenever you want to do something you say, “what do you wanna do? I wanna fuck shit up at Artizia.” It’s so silly.
Dolly: I have to apologize for reading over your shoulder, but it was hysterical, and you’re such a good sport.
Maggie: It’s hysterical. Especially for someone of my vintage, right?
Dolly: Yes, so funny! At the top of the group chat it says “Peters Women.” Which I’ve now learned is your last name, so you and your daughters are the Peters women.
Maggie: Yes. I’m divorced, so Peters women is just me and my two girls.
Dolly: That makes sense. I got a lot of responses that people wanted to be one of Peter’s women, which is just so funny. There were a lot of questions about the “Tyrolean” reference too. I actually went to the Dolomites two summers ago which is in South Tyrol Italy, so I understood the reference, but where did you come up with that reference for the fit and can you define “Tyrolean Hipster Chick”?
Maggie: Oh sure. So Tyrol is the region of the Alps across Austria, Germany, and Italy, etc. And when I think Tyrolean in fashion, I think of those German standup collar coats with the boiled wool. So Maude had bought Lulu this Tyrolean-inspired gray velvet coat with blue suede buttons, and that’s what she had on in the fit check photo. And I called her a Tyrolean Hipster Chick because she had paired it with a jean and a wedge. And then I said the schnitzel part because it’s German.
Dolly: That’s hilarious, but that was your creation? You were just like, “gonna have me some schnitzel for lunch? That just came to you?”
Maggie: Hahah yes
Dolly: Too good. Where would you say is the best schnitzel in the city?
Maggie: Oh, Schaller & Weber in Yorkville. And Cafe Sabarsky in the Neue Galerie, but that’s a more high-end schnitzel. I like my schnitzel light and crispy, like they make it at Cafe Sabarsky.
Dolly: This is my favorite question that someone asked: how do you stay so linguistically young?
Maggie: God bless. That’s what keeps your mind young. Also having kids. And some of the stuff they come up with to say. Like, “she ate and left no crumbs,” what the fuck is that? Do you know what I mean? I just pay attention to the stuff that comes out of their mouths, so really if it weren’t for them, I’d be living in a 60-year-old vocabulary, but it’s them, it’s kids!
Dolly: And back to Aritzia, I know it’s become your inside joke now, but in all seriousness, do you frequent Aritzia? When was the last time you were there?
Maggie: Saturday! I love going with my daughters and I always find stuff for me. Someone of my age can definitely find stuff there. They have great work blouses.
Dolly: People could tell that you have a very special bond with your daughters. Do you have any tips for how to have the sort of mother-daughter relationship that you do with your girls?
Maggie: Oh, that’s awesome. Getting divorced took our closeness to a whole next level because we had to ban together and get through it together. I also have extraordinary young girls for daughters who want want me in their life as much as I want them in their life, do you know what I mean?
Dolly: That’s beautiful, and so lucky. Do you know how that happened?
Maggie: I do. I had a crazy close relationship with my mother and I think it has to do with showing them respect, like treating them as people more than just kids. Respecting them, being deferential to them, and being understanding. Believe me, we get in our snits like any mother-daughter does, but they’re my people, and I’m so grateful for that. Not only because they keep my vocabulary young, but because they’re the people I want to do stuff with.
Dolly: I’m like that with my parents too, so I love to hear that. Shifting gears here, but what’s your go-to outfit combo that makes you feel most yourself, or who are some brands or designers that you love to wear?
Maggie: I’m really into this designer called Kal Rieman. She makes elevated everyday essentials in beautiful fabrics and beautiful fits. I’m a big fan of a crisp white shirt, it goes with everything, and a tailored pant and a flat shoe.
Dolly: Who has the best crisp white shirt?
Maggie: I love Ann Mashburn, they have beautiful stuff. I also recently tried on a The Row white shirt, which was spectacular, but out of my budget sadly. The cotton was a really fine percale and the styling was great. I tried it on in a consignment store and the consignment price was $900 - I think it retails for $2,000.
Dolly: Oh this is a fun one - the founder of Glowbar, Rachel Liverman, messaged me to extend an invitation to you and your daughters to come into their studio for a facial.
Maggie: Oh my god. That would be divine!
Dolly: I’ll connect you! Is there anything else you want to share? When this happened, were you petrified or were you humored by it?
Maggie: When you reach a certain age, you can kind of become invisible. And the idea that this beautiful young woman, YOU, takes a snap over my shoulder and thinks it’s funny…like no one thinks I’m funny! So I felt seen!
Dolly: The text really didn’t feel too personal, it felt funny and very innocent, and so that’s why I felt ok snapping the photo.
Maggie: Completely. And that’s the vain in which I took it. So to me it was such a thrill that someone young and lovely like you thought it was funny, and it just made me happy. That’s all. You made my week! And also, if I didn’t think it was fun and engaging, I wouldn’t have responded, I would’ve just let it go, but it was too fun to let it go. And then the fact that my nephew made a family group chat to text and announce, “Are you guys sitting down? Maggie’s been discovered!,” it was just all great.
Dolly: And have you always lived uptown? What are some of your favorite Upper East Side spots?
Maggie: When I was married we lived on the west side, but then we moved east to be closer to my girls’ school. I love love love my neighborhood. Do you know the clothing store bocnyc? It’s on Madison and 93rd, I love their things. There’s also Edit New York. And for things to do, I love the Cooper Hewitt Museum and walking around the reservoir in Central Park. For restaurants, I love Island, and I love Paola’s.
Dolly: I have to go to all these places! Thank you so much Maggie, this was all so fun, and I’m so glad we connected and met up.
Maggie: I have to tell you, you have really made my week, and next time we meet, I get to ask you questions.
Dolly: Okay! We’ll do that.
Me smiling ear to ear reading this
AMAZINGGGG