I hate clothes shopping. I know, I know, I also hate “The New Yorker” and packing boxes. There must be something I like… But I digress.
Shopping is at the top of my ‘most dreaded’ list. This is no more evident than looking in my closet, where my friend Adria recently spent about 30 seconds before she started screaming. “Is this it?! Where are the rest of your clothes?”
Sheepishly I stammered, “I don’t know… Oh wait… There are few things in my office closet.” I took her hand, marched her there, and stood with my head down so as not to witness her expression.
“Are you kidding?! There’s no such thing as a Jewish princess with so little clothing!”
Crap. I was busted and demoted. I felt ashamed and questioned the validity of my DNA. She was right, I was a disgrace to my “title” and mother. Mom–by the way–could dress the entire third world with the clothes in her closet she has never worn.
I was determined to prove Adria wrong. I was a Jewish Princess! With trepidation and medication I set forth. First stop, JCrew, where I had my friend K on speaker phone.
“Now go to the back of the store and look at the “minis”… So cute,” she commanded. “Then you definitely need the little blue pin striped jacket with the rolled up cuffs… Oh, and ask the salesmen to show you the jeans in all those great colors.” Click.
I was overwhelmed and had started to itch. What “cuffs,” what “minis?” I left the store in tears, searching desperately for the meds. “I am a Jewish princess… I know I am… I know I am.”
I set out again the very next day with my mother in tow. After all, why not bring along the Czar of shopping as support. Store one, I stayed long enough to try on two pairs of pants. My shopping A.D.D. kicked in and we left.
Store two, I didn’t get as far as a dressing room before I dragged my mother by the hand out the door. “MOM, let’s go, I hate everything!” I’m not sure she was completely in the car before I pulled away from the curb.
Store three, same scenario, only this time faster. Mom was getting dizzy from our pace. I offered her the meds.
Store four I was dazed and prepared to face my fate… I wasn’t a Princess because I didn’t have a wardrobe worthy of the crown. Then like a “once upon a time” moment, I spotted a consignment rack. Thanks to a quaking economy a sexy little black dress called to me and I grabbed it. “Mine!”
Was I on a roll? A fabulous jacket was next; so cool, so soft, so cheap! I was suddenly giddy. I did it… I shopped and purchased. The crown was mine!
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Oh dear. If shopping is that stressful don’t put yourself through it. Too much shopping causes people much more trouble than too little. Beside, our style is more than the clothes on our backs, it’s who we are and how we live our lives, our style should be the best we can fashion for ourselves. It should come from the inside out. Here’s an article I wrote on updating your style without going through major overhauls and big bucks. Use what works for you. http://tinyurl.com/l9o32z
Mary M. : Oh I have plenty of style just low desire to spend my time in a store. I’ve discovered Target which has darling tops for very little money….the rest of the clothes would be great if I was 23. I know exactly what I like … it’s trying it on that I really don’t enjoy. And ixnay to shopping on line as I’m too lazy to send things back if I don’t like them or they don’t fit! See I’m hopeless but stylish.
Are you still in Chicago? If you are, I can put you with personal shoppers who ‘edit’ the shopping experience for you. That way, you spend very little time, if any, in a store. I’m personally a TJMaxx/Marshall’s fan…all the fab designer things but for WAY less. Call my friend Nancy B. at the TJ Maxx on Fullerton.
Thanks for the tip and I am in Chicago. I will say TJMaxx is tough for me but I know people love it. I take one look at all the racks and head for the hills. I do however love Target for t-shirts and if I was 20 I would buy all my clothes there…so cute, but for the young girlies. I like to drive by shop, but I will remember about Nancy B.!