Glitz, Glamor and Shopping Bags. Why does this repulse me?
I love a lot of girly things, but somewhere in my biology is
a distinct dislike of shopping.
I know women who love it. My daughters love it. My daughter, Katherine, will shop for hours and not even have an inkling of desire to buy for herself. She is perfectly content choosing outfits for her friends, checking out colors and textures. To me pointless shopping is like going to the dentist for pleasure.
I just can’t imagine it.
Today a faux pas met a fantastic opportunity. I made a mistake and the prom dress I thought I had ordered for Emma was never ordered. I was in a dilemma. Emma wanted a special dress and complained about last year’s dress being like “an old lady” dress and too many of the stores in our malls suited toward her age group looked too “skanky” or some other such word she would be more likely to say.
“I know,” I said, in a moment of delirium, “Let’s go to the Bettie Page store!” I thought there would certainly be one in Santa Clarita, about an hour from our house in Bakersfield if I drive fast.
Maybe all this time Shopping IS an artform and I just didn't know it?
After further research there were only two stores in
road-trip distance. Santa Barbara and Hollywood. It was about ten o’clock at
night when I said to Emma, “It looks like we’re going to Hollywood!”
I love mini-roadtrips, so this part wasn’t a problem for me and I knew Bettie Page carried some figure flattering retro-inspired fashion. I figured we could waltz in, quickly grab a dress and be done with it. I put an hours worth of quarters in a parking meter close to the store and as we walked over the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Burns and Allen – they rest side by side in front of a very cool hot dog stand – I saw the looming vision of the Bettie Page store.
We walked in and started looking and this adorable, petite brunette young woman said, “May I help you find anything?” and Emma said no, immediately, as I suppose I have taught her to do, but something came over me and I said, “My daughter is looking for a dress for her prom, but it isn’t super formal like proms used to be and….” With that our capable sales woman was parading us in front of possible dresses and had Emma set up in a dressing room in no time flat.
Shopping Miracle Part 1: 3 Shopping Bags from the Bettie Page store!
She brought shoes and a crinoline in for Emma to try under
her the dresses with circle skirts.
It was after I went into the store to find another size of one dress and a different dress entirely that something strange came over me and I was transformed into a normal shopping girly girl. Amanda said, “If you need another size or anything, I can get it for you.” I was rehanging a dress for Emma that didn’t fit and we went into the store together. I said something like, “I love the clothes here. I can actually feel really pretty and feminine and not like an unattractive big fat pig.”
We went into the store and next thing I know Amanda was showing me an adorable bathing suit – in my size – and another dress for Emma. I complimented a woman who not only looked smashing in a green pencil skirt style dress, she was also a flight attendant who had her mother with her as well.
She showed me a dress she really liked – a sailor style dress again with a pencil skirt. She said, “I love this dress but how often would I wear it?” I looked at her, wide eyed and offered, “Every day. You could wear it any and every day.”
I walked on air through the store. I checked out the dresses in the window and saw the dress Emma liked with a green crinoline.
My shopping self napped into higher gear. In that moment I knew Emma needed a pink crinoline. “I’ll check on my credit line,” and when I got the results I said, “We can get both the crinoline AND the shoes.”
Emma was giddy and a bit concerned that someone had taken over the grouchy shopper Mom she was knew and (usually) loved.
We assembled everything and Amanda reminded us about the need for a clutch to complete the ensemble.
I couldn’t believe the adorable clutches. We swooned over a lavender, a pink and then a purple and pink possibility. We all agreed the purple and pink was the best choice. “It is unique,” I said, “I like it the best.”
As we were checking out I said to the clerks, “I love this place so much, I want to move into the apartment upstairs. Is there one?”
The clerk said, “Rupaul owns it. Upstairs is his club. He owns the whole building.”
I said, “Wait. You said Rupaul as in THE Rupaul?” I somehow think this would make the Bettie Page who inspired the name of this fabulous store very happy to be renting a space from Rupaul. The next thing I knew we were walking out the door with three shopping bags in Emma’s hands.
We turned our car North to Bakersfield and managed to get home before Samuel was
Emma, all put togerther and ready for Prom!
finished with school. The funny thing is I spent more
money than I ever have on a single outfit but I had so much fun doing it, I
want to do it again. It is closer to bathing suit season, after all, and I would
love some new Summer dresses, too.
My instagram photo we took of Emma and the three bags outside of Rupaul’s club has become quite popular. Emma wrote on her facebook page, “Perfect day. I've never had such a good time shopping. My mom even liked it.”
Who knew success and sweet joy could fit into three distinctive shopping bags?
* * * * *
This post is Number 18 of 30 and was inspired by the Ultimate Blog Challenge. Throughout the
month I will be posting writing and creativity tips
especially to make your writing (and your writing experience!) better.
I'm so glad you are here!
Please stay in touch: Follow me on Twitter: @JulieJordanScot
Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook. (Thank you!)
Follow on Instagram
And naturally, on Pinterest, too!
