Another Shopportunity

First, please go back to Friday's post and then take the "bride" poll.  I'm thinking "bridesmaid in a friend's wedding" for the next poll.

My current office is not far from the Springfield Mall.  This is a mostly dying mall that has a couple of typical anchor stores (Macy's and JC Penneys) and one not-so-typical (Target).

I saw an ad for Macy's for a few different dress pants and thought I'd pick up a pair or two.  At lunch, I went to their website to see if I could get some details that are important to me: pocket style and placement and belt loops are important in Pants That Pass.  Some had what I was looking for, some did not.  All were pricey ($40 and up) but I wanted something new for the new job.  I also checked out the Penney's site and found slacks for $25 to $35.  I figured I'd start there.

Curvy (L), Modern (R) ~ look the same?

They listed several styles and they had lots of pairs of each.  Most were unacceptable ~ the one I had the most hope for ("Worthington Modern Fit Dress Pants") had front pockets that were useless.  I still don't carry a bag so I have to rely on those pockets.  If winter was approaching, I'd just dump everything in my jacket pockets but the warm weather is here so that's out.

They had a similar style, "Worthington Curvy Fit Dress Pants," which allowed for a belt and had useful pockets.  I wanted to try on a pair to see if the fit was too curvy for me.  It was hard to tell from the pictures in the ad.  From the front they looked identical.  I wondered if "curvy" meant it would be too loose in the caboose, so to speak.

Curvy (L), Modern (R) ~ too much butt for me?

You can take a look at both pair in the pictures.   Do you think curvy might be too curvy?  I really can't tell.  I have no idea why the pockets should be useless in the "modern" cut.  I'm sure they had a reason.  I did see several pants in ads which said "no pockets or belt loops for a cleaner look."

They had at least twenty pair, scattered over a few different racks.  They had sizes from 4 to 18.  They had tall and short and regular.

They didn't have a single pair in size 10, which is what I expected to need.  I may still order a pair on-line.  Or I may go to a different Penney's.  There are not a lot of them around here though.

On to Macy's.

I looked at different slacks that I saw on-line in different brands.  I settled on the Charter Club "Slim It Up" pants.  They had my size and I started looking for a fitting room.

I found one near to where I picked up the pants but a teenage girl was in it, and her father was parked outside.  I didn't think he'd appreciate it if I walked into the fitting room so I continued to look at pants and other women's clothing and wandered on.

As I wandered, a pretty 30-ish woman with long blonde hair and (as it turned out) a Swedish accent asked if I needed any help.  I said not at the moment.  I then saw a very nice black pleated skirt and decided I'd pick that up as well.  I walked over to the blonde saleslady and asked if I could try them on.  She said "on you?"  I was going to point out that it would be silly for her to try them on, or to mention that I neglected to bring any other body.  I just said "yes.  On me."  She said quietly "the fitting rooms are occupied."  Then she seemed to brighten up and said "but you can try them on downstairs."  I thanked her and headed for the escalator.

I made a concession to "care" on the escalator.  I shifted the clothes so the skirt was under the slacks and the tags were hidden.  I found a fitting room guarded by an Indian man who asked if I was looking for a fitting room.  I said I was and walked right in.

Inside the fitting room was a sign: This room is monitored by a same-gender security guard.  I had two thoughts: first, it is most certainly not the same gender.  And second, boy is he in for a surprise! If my dark brown lacy panties didn't catch his attention, and he missed the hem of my pink camisole showing under my shirt, he should have sat up and taken notice when I tried on the skirt.  I didn't care.

Both items fit well.  The skirt was a bit longer than I like, but I loved the wide elastic waist and the tight pleats ~ it has a sort of transparent pleated layer over a pleated lining that I found very appealing.  Yes, I have enough black skirts.  Well, I was clearly short one.  I have enough now.

The Indian man wanted to take the clothes to check them out.  I said I was going to look around a bit more.  What I really wanted to do was go back to the Swedish lady to check out there.

I went back up the escalator and found her at the same register.  She said "did you try them on?"  I said yes, and that I wanted to buy them.  She rang them up, and put them in a bag.

I've mentioned before that when I go out dressed I almost always have some regret ~ something I didn't do, or didn't do in a feminine enough way, or something.  Here's my shopping regret: she looked at me and said "you need more colour!"  I smiled and said "next time."  I should have started a little discussion about that skirt, which was very pretty, or asked her for some suggestions, or mentioned that the pants were for "everyday wear" and the skirt was for "special occasions."

I did not, and now that moment is gone.  I have to remember to slow down, remember it's OK to talk clothes when the person you're talking with is OK with it.  I can think of few ways to better spend my time than to talk to a saleslady about colourful clothing I might enjoy.  But if I go back and seek her out (assuming I remember what she looks like ~ I've talked about that before!) I'm not shopping; I'm stalking.

*sigh*

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