(no subject)

[rm]

Do other people dress strategically for shopping? Not in terms of stuff being easy to try on or anything like that, but just in terms of the wealth you wish or don't wish to project to get what you want? I have some things particular to the New York of my childhood to do today, and the deliberateness of my clothes and jewelry is somewhat absurd. But I believe in it. Common sense, anachronistic weirdness or just the general dose of compulsiveness?

Today's message, "I'm a very nice girl who doesn't know much about these things, but here are the parameters, do you have a nice chair I could wait in while you fetch my options? Thank you." The tone, of course, that there aren't like actual seperate words involved just a stream of melodic, meaningless and not particularly true pleasantries.

Le sigh. I love the NY of my childhood, often because everything takes more time there. But sometimes it's a true hassle. and I realize I don't have an icon appropriate to this at all. I need me a silly society picture.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

You sound like white trash to devorece around.
Working class redneck. 私のこと一度も結婚の契りを経験してない、だって。ばからしい。あんたみたいな低俗な男には、あの３人とかその他大勢の娼婦たちみたいな汚らしい女がお似合いよ。ば～かめ。

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

Nice spelling there, moron.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Of all the surreal things. Really, now.

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

When I was a kid, my mom would always insist that I dress up to go clothes shopping. Not like formal wear or anything, but a skirt and hose/tights, etc. "We're going shopping, so dress nice."

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

My aunt has a horror story of being in Bendels, I think it was, where the salespeople ignored her based on her clothes (probably jeans, a button-down shirt, and a blazer) until the saw her watch, at which point they fell all over themselves to help her.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

if i'm going to nordstroms to purchase something (usually bras!), i definitely pay attention to what i wear. i don't wear a skirt or a dress or anything, but i try for better than the jeans with the holes in them and the flannel that i paint in. if i'm browsing in nordstroms, then i will just wear whatever, as i don't expect to need help.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

I do if I can. I get this working downtown in the Financial District near the Macy's and such - I have timed my occasional trips to a makeup counter based solely on what I was wearing. And I will dress a certain way if I am going into certain stores on Newbury Street (not buying, just looking, but I enjoy the game) and I also have certain parameters when I am consigning clothes. With the latter the store has a lot of vintage, so I want to make sure I look vintage-y but well kept up, so she is not scrutinizing my stuff extra hard for cat hair, holes etc. In the world of clothing consignment especially I find it counts.

Oh, and there is a high end shoe store at Faneuil Hall where you can find pricey brands for $20 or $50 on the sale rack, and I am always sure to wear very good shoes when I shop there - I want to differentiate myself from the irritating tourists and teenagers and imply that I am, like them, a thrifty Yankee lady buying something that looks more expensive than it actually was - like we are in cahoots. I realize this is compulsive, but I fully support such compulsions. The salesladies will notice and comment on my shoes with an approving nod, too.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Kali and I are going to go more than window shopping (but not buying) on the Upper East Side soon, which involves stores with buzzers and no price tags, so I felt like today was a warm up.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

What will you wear?

[rm.livejournal.com]

No idea yet. This is all vague and plans for summer, as she's in the throes of her schedule as per usual. I own a few designer silk dresses I got for $20 here and there and should have cost over ten times that, so probably one of those.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

I love this stuff.

Incidentally, the fundraising dinners we do for work are all about this kind of thing. $40 sequined dress from Marshall's = woman who writes $500,000 personal checks.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, yes. For me, I usually finesse these things with jewelry. Because of where my mother works, I own lots of very pricey stuff that she got for 90% off. I just have to throw on a pearl and diamond ring and the watch and I can pass all gates.

[aynatonal.livejournal.com]

If I'm going somewhere that I would like to actually be helped, then yes, I do try to dress up, mainly because I don't need the aggro of being ignored.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

I almost always dress for the occasion. Can't help it. And especially in shopping, which is *all* about appearance and buying a new one; you know the sales clerks can read you like a book.

These days, the wheelchair would keep me out, probably - unless it got me in on sympathy points. And not on access issues, but because the wheelchair is oh so obviously beat to shit and not well kitted out. Stupid five thousand dollar accessories that I can't luck into at discount stores. ;)

[miep.livejournal.com]

yes. i try to dress nicely, but I inevitably end up seeing myself in a random mirror and thinking, "ewwww! who is that? oh." not that i actually question who it is -- I know it's me.

i love the icon, btw.

[shayguevara.livejournal.com]

guilty.

but I do have fun when I am doing it - I don't bother if I feel pressured about it and then I just deal with the looks from snotty salespeople.

dressing as ritual

[goodlife-dubai.livejournal.com]

When I was a child, we dressed for certain things: going out for dinner. Church. Going to the museums and the theatre. As I grew into my teens, I learned the value of a good set of pearls. Now, whenever I need to go shopping for anything other than groceries, I dress up. I want the sales people to think my money is more valuable to them than someone else's. even though it's the same old greenbacks. or whatever colour they are these days.