Wow.

[rivka]

My research assistant Greta took me shopping today.

I had humbly cast myself upon her mercy. I hate shopping so much that I'm usually low on clothes that look good and fit, and the current situation was compounded by the fact that I hadn't really bought new non-maternity clothes in about two years. My shape changed with the pregnancy, too - I tried to order some things online, and wound up having to send almost everything back. I needed to go to stores.

Greta was the perfect person to ask for help: brisk, determined, doesn't shop for fun, always looks smart, and - perhaps most importantly - about my size. She dragged me on a lightning-quick tour through a DSW shoe warehouse and a Filene's Basement. I came away shocked at what I found:

Shoes: Three pairs of shoes - brown leather casuals, elegant black loafers, and sneakers. Shoe shopping has always, always been a nightmare for me before. I've never bought three pairs of shoes at once in my life. Hell, I've never had three pairs of shoes that I liked at once, in my life.



Clothes: a gorgeous rust-colored cashmere sweater; a fitted fine-gauge corduroy jacket in a brown and beige print, styled something like a jeans jacket; a grey skirt that falls straight over the hips and then flares; two pairs of Ralph Lauren slacks, in tan and black; two pairs of tights, brown and black.





Frankly, I'm a little stunned. Everything was very bargain-y, but it still added up to a lot of money. I'm trying to tell myself that it doesn't add up to all that much if you spread it out over time, the way normal people shop. And I didn't buy anything I didn't need.

Still, wow. I have clothes.

Comments

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

I buy clothes in big gollups too, when I like the style/color for a season. I definitely think those are very sensible, excellent choices. Go you!

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

Mmmm. Wanna see/feel Rivka in a rust-coloured cashmere sweater. :-)

Congratulations! I know just what this is like.

-J

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Memo to self:

For J's next visit, turn up the air conditioning. ;-)

[von-krag.livejournal.com]

Ook. Remember Easter is cold and we want you back to Minicon.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I tend to buy clothes in bunches, myself. I think of it as being akin to car repair; you realize you need to do it, you bite the bullet, and spend enough to make sure it's done right, so you don'thave to do it again for as long as possible.

Then again, you said "the way normal people shop". I guess you can exclude this datapoint.

[tavella.livejournal.com]

Me too. Mainly because when I find something I like, I'll usually get a bunch of them; jeans that fit, colors that suit me, etc.

[richtermom.livejournal.com]

Retail buyers are just insane. It seems like maybe every four or five years it'll work out that I have some cash PLUS the store offerings work well -- good colors, camoflage styles, etc. So I go crazy.

After cleaning out part of the attic, I know one of these big bursts happened about 13 years ago because I had a huge bunch of size 10s, and that only happened for about three weeks in 1992.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Those look very nice, and having seen Gretta before I know she has excellent taste in her own clothes. I'm looking forward to seeing this stuff on you.

[beaq.livejournal.com]

Woo! l007!

:-)

It all looks very "you" in a fresh new store-bought kind of way.

[txanne.livejournal.com]

Ooh, look, Clarks!!! I love mine. You're going to be very happy with those! The rest of the goodies are fabulous too. I shop for clothes like a guy--I know exactly what I want, I find it, I go home. I save the pleasure of the chase for yarn and books.

[lcohen]

yay!!!!!!

i am so glad you found someone to go shopping with you--you know i would (and will some time if you like) but it sounds like greta did a great job!!

[ailbhe]

THREE pairs of shoes? I am in awe. I really am.