“Bachelorette ”Alum Gabby Windey Reveals How “Selling Sunset's” Chrishell Stause Supported Her Coming Out (Exclusive)

Windey, who partnered with Cupshe for a new holiday collection, tells PEOPLE that the 'Selling Sunset' star reached out via DM and "it's been really great" to chat with her

After Bachelorette alum Gabby Windey came out this summer, a groundswell of support emerged for the reality star, with Selling Sunset's Chrishell Stause among those supporters.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE to promote her new 47-piece holiday collection with Cupshe, Windey opens up about who slid into her direct messages following the big personal moment.

"Chrishell DM'd me," Windey, 32, explains. "She was so nice [and] invited me to [her partner] G Flip's album release, but unfortunately we couldn't go, and we have the same hairstylist... I know she's really great, and it's been really great."

Shortly after her revelatory conversation on The View in August, Windey announced that she was dating Robby Hoffman. The seasoned writer and comedian won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2019 writing for the PBS children's show Odd Squad.

"Told you I'm a girls girl!!" Windey wrote in her Instagram caption at the time beside a photo of her and Hoffman.

Related: Former Bachelorette Gabby Windey Reveals She's Dating a Woman: 'Told You I'm a Girls Girl!'

Windey tells PEOPLE her sexual orientation and relationship initially came as a shock to her family and friends, who thought she might be going through "just another phase." After all, the former Bachelorette star was previously engaged to contestant Erich Schwer on season 19, however the pair ultimately broke up.

"I've put my whole family through the ringer with going on reality TV," she admits to PEOPLE. "I've always kind of been, not doing crazy things, but a little spontaneous, unpredictable. With that being said, I don't think that necessarily applies to sexuality."

"I think it still kind of came out of left field for them, but now, almost six months later, people and everyone, my good girlfriends have met Robby," she adds. "My family's coming for Thanksgiving, so I think that now they understand it's more permanent."

Related: Gabby Windey and Erich Schwer Are Pursuing 'Individual Interests and Supporting Each Other from Afar'

When it comes to Hoffman, Windey credits her partner for being a sort of "Sherpa," or an "experienced lesbian" who helps guide her as she learns more about her sexual identity.

"She just really allows me to have my space to grow into," Windey explains. "There's no topic that's off limits. So in the beginning, I think coming from such a straight, heteronormative world in my thirties, obviously, I have a lot of questions. And even though maybe some other people who have been in queer relationships, they wouldn't have these questions. She's really patient with me, and we just talk about it in a very non-filtered, non-judgmental way."

Now, Windey says the couple is in a good place — one where they want to "take our time and let things unfold as they are."

"Now I feel like I can finally appreciate the mundane little things in life, where we don't live together, much to everyone's surprise," she says. "But I think we both want to really respect the place that we're in now."

As she enjoys each moment with Hoffman, Windey is also looking forward to the holidays — especially due to her collaboration with Cupshe. Her new 47-piece holiday collection, "Take On The Starlit Night," features dresses, blouses, skirts, and other festive clothing with sequins, faux fur, asymmetrical silhouettes and plunging necklines.

Though her style is different from Hoffman's, Windey says she and her partner have found a shared joy in clothing.

"I think we both have good style," Windey tells PEOPLE. "We have different inspirations, but both really, I think, find important, kind of hand-crafted looks, like we want our pieces to come from somewhere and have some meaning. And honestly, she's taught me a lot of that. She has very capsule wardrobe, but pieces she's found along the way that are kind of tailored to her make her feel good."

Still, that doesn't mean they won't share clothes every now and then. "I would say we do wear each other's sweats, shirts, and stuff. We laugh," she says. "She's like, 'It's the best part about dating a girl. We can share clothes,' but obviously we're not sharing clothes, because we have two very different ways of dressing, but can't wait to match."

"Just being in a relationship gives you an excuse to do dumb s--- like that, which I'm here for," Windey adds.

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The Cupshe x Gabby Windey collection is available now at Cupshe.com.

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