Longy -- you're right -- they treated the non 'born ins' as 'less thans' with an attitude non-BIs were so fortunate to be around them - gag me! I felt sorry for them -- what weird people.
You caused FEAR among your insecure associates and we newbys are expected to conform to their comfort zone. I had a few of them approach/inform me they checked out the lines of clothing I purchase and the amounts. I dressed conservatively - nothing provocative but attire was not from their allowed stores. One even told me to shop at 'X' like everyone else. As you know, it would not have mattered what we wore. I had a skirt, jacket, blouse on with boots (flat/very low heel boot - cold, windy, weather) and a CO glared at me like I was a harlot. I didn't know he was the CO -- assumed some gawking misfit so I snubbed him. One of the do-gooders informed me he only liked low-heeled pumps -- all were trying to accommodate his desires and not happenin' in my world. The next meeting I made sure I wore boots with the higher heel - not sleezy boots!! My fave 😂 were a couple of JWs (one older and how she rocked spike heels at her age is beyond me) fashioned with textured hosiery -- now that's a tad on the trashy side at a place of worship in my book -- she could pull it off okay. The ole goat must have lost his vision checking them out.
Congratulations you're a free woman -- WOO HOO! If you lived near by we could visit a hall - oh my.🤣 No, we could commiserate and have FUN.