Monday, August 28, 2006

Help, I'm Shopping Challenged

Recently, a good friend and I went out for a much needed lunch, girl-talk and shopping. Neither of us are enamored by finding, trying on and purchasing apparel, but we were on a mission: to buy clothes that didn't say beaten down mommy all over them.

Looking through my closet, deciding what colors were lacking, I sadly noticed a trend. T-shirt after boring solid t-shirt stared back at me from the rack. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my t-shirts! They're soft, comfortable, inexpensive, quick to change once you're spit up on or marked with crayons, good at covering up my...ummm...lumpiness (no, I don't have a disease, just two C-sections and not losing the added pounds have left their marks), and most importantly, they're IRON FREE! Ah yes, t-shirts, a mommy's best friend. But enough is enough, how many different shades of blue could one have in the same style shirt before the fashion police show up at your door? Uh oh, I hear sirens.

So off to the store I go, supportive friend leading me by the hand, determined to NOT buy yet another t-shirt. We take a huge leap and head to Coldwater Creek. As I peruse the racks, I start thinking I need glasses. My mind boggles, "Could this be right? Surely, this is an error. Really? $59 for a simple, mostly cotton blouse? But it's not even silk!"

My fingers quickly grab nearby price tags of different blouses and pants as I try to grasp the fact before me: these ARE the actual prices! I'm sweating, my breathing is erratic, and my head is spinning. I look up to see if others are also in shock. No, everyone else is happily, nay, gleefully selecting item after item. All those years of shopping Target have definitely molded my sale/clearance priced mind.

"I can do this, I must do this," over and over I tell myself. My little pep talk begins to take affect, and I choose a couple of blouses and pairs of pants to try on. A vulture saleswoman quickly offers a dressing room to store my finds until I am ready. Slowly, my friend and I make our way through the store. Everything is beautiful, I really like what I see, but those prices! And then I see it, a white blouse that screams, "TAKE ME HOME!"

I gingerly pick it up and nervously look at the price tag...$69. Too late, I'm in love. If it fits, if I look good in it, it's MINE...MINE I TELL YOU, ALL MINE!

We are greeted at the dressing room entrance by another overly eager vulture saleswoman. She asks our names to find our rooms. My friend is whisked away to a room as I stand at the ready to try on my beautiful blouse. The saleswoman comes back to me, scratches her head and asks, "What is your name again?"

She quickly looks at the post-it-notes identifying each room's customer, sheepishly walks back and tells me, "I am so sorry. I thought you had left the store, and I put everything back. Tell me what you got and I'll go find them."

I tell her what I can remember, which isn't much after the whole get-use-to-the-pricing trama. This actually is a lucky break. Since she screwed up, I feel the need to only buy the blouse. Sure, I'll try on the other stuff, it will be my exercise for the month day, but the white blouse is the only thing I have to have.

I'm escorted to a room and try on everything. Funny thing, the only article that actually fits is the blouse. Hmmm, a case of predisposition? Next door, my friend is having lots of success with complete outfits, no less.

We go to check out. The sound of my purchase...cha-ching. The sound of my friend's purchase...CHA-CHA-CHA-CHING!!! I am happy. I have spent a wonderful afternoon dining, shopping, and most importantly, giggling with a friend. There is a lovely white blouse hanging in my closet, ready for the next date I have with my husband or girls' night out. I think I'll wear it with my, ummm, my sweatpants, ummm, my denim shorts, ummm, my knit shorts, ummm...oh for Pete's sake!

12 comments:

carrie said...

Yeah for girlfriends and shopping! We did this a couple of weeks ago and I am totally laughing because I got 2 new t-shirts, and even worse, a hoddie to go with them (but hey, they were from the Gap, which is waaay cooler than my usual Tarjay). But the best, the best was the NEW COACH purse. I am in love!!! I really feel this post!

Carrie

Damselfly said...

Sounds like a great time! I'm also lusting after a crisp white shirt for fall -- preferably with one of those cute short black vests....

Damselfly said...

Sounds like a great time! I'm also lusting after a crisp white shirt for fall -- preferably with one of those cute short black vests....

Knitting Maniac said...

We all deserve those days out... and those purchases. But I am with you. I have to remind myself that I am totally worth it. But it is hard to get up and over that price tag shock!

Sounds like you had an awesome time, which was well worth it, regardless of the fact that you now have a wonderful blouse in your closet. And my vote... the sweatpants! :)

Sara said...

If you want some tips on places that are cheaper but still nice, The Budget Fashionista's book is great.

Or I could tell you all my favourite haunts, but since I'm in Australia it probably won't help!

Lady M said...

I just did a big clean-out of old maternity clothes and there are some big empty spaces in the closert now. Hmmmmm.

Anonymous said...

I love Coldwater Creeks clothes! I use to cringe when I went in there, cause in my mind it was all old lady stuff, but it's really not, it's comfy slacks that look nice and cover my ass. I went in there one time and bought a $50 shirt because it was lurvy. I got it home and realized that it was lurvy but it was also "dry clean" only. I took it back and bought two turtle necks and when the woman asked me why I was bringing it back, I told her "cause I must have been on crack when I bought it because a toddler and the words 'dry clean only' simply don't mix."

beth said...

Yay, you got out shopping. Good for you for trying to bust out of the T-shirt pattern. I know what you mean though, whenever I look at a non-Target price I lose all the color in my face. But when you find your true love, sometimes you just have to drop that $69 - and then it feels oh so good.

Chicky Chicky Baby said...

Good for you for breaking out of your comfort zone! I'm still in the Target t-shirt phase. They're my security blankets.

Anonymous said...

Can you wear it with your old navy sweat capri pants? Thats all I ever wear!

The Domesticator said...

I am laughing over here at the "vulture"...I often have struggled to find an appropriate word for salespeople like that. And enjoy the new blouse!

mamashine said...

Oh yes. I'm exactly like that. I remember when I was a teenager and shopping used to be easy. Now it is SO HARD.