The Spree of all Sprees

Unlike my mom, who is able to shop for hours, find the best outfits in the middle of a sales rack that has been rummaged through by hundreds of hands, and mix and match from her own natural giftedness, I am the type of shopper who 1) goes in and gets out as soon as possible 2) doesn't have a knack for finding bargains, and 3) has to look at the mannequins or the front of the racks that have the outfits already on display to show me what goes together well. 

Being the traditionalist that I am, my favorite clothing stores are Ann Taylor and Eddie Bauer (that is, the outlets...or Ann Taylor Loft).  While I believe those stores' styles fit my personality, modesty standards (for the most part), my fashion tastes, and the practical side of me that wants to buy things that won't go out of style (a.k.a. "the basics), there is a part of me that wishes so much to be one of those girls with an amazing sense of fashion, whose figure carries off Banana Republic clothes beautifully, and hunts down the bargains for in style clothing.  Not to put her on the spot, but my sister-in-law, Julie, is such the type of girl I envy in this regard.  One day, I seriously just may make her my personal shopper.

In my life, shopping is usually an unsuccessful and traumatic experience because of my inner battle to want to be the hip, stylish Banana Republic girl.  But in reality, I'm not...but I so want to be.  So a day of shopping generally ends in tears and frustration.  Fortunately, at least Ann Taylor is a happy medium for me, and Eddie Bauer is my comfy t-shirt and jean store, but even then, I wrestle between wondering, "Am I an Ann Taylor girl full-on or an Eddie Bauer girl?"  And this doesn't even bring in the issue of finances.  Why do clothes have to cost so much!?  Buying one outfit from Ann Taylor is 1/4 of our annual budget for clothing.  Yeah, that's right.  I share my clothing budget with Matt.  Fortunately, he's low maintenance, but still!  So on top of the identity crisis that accompanies shopping, there's the whole issue of finances.  And I'm not a bargain shopper, unfortunately.  I'm a get in, get out type of girl, and so perusing the sale racks is just not my cup of tea.  I know it should be.  But it isn't.  And when Matt comes along with me, undoubtedly I hear him comment about the prices.  For example...

We happened to be in an upscale clothing store when the new shopping center, The Domain, opened in Austin, and we saw a skimpy black knit dress that didn't look that great to me (and I said skimpy, so it didn't take too much cloth to make it), but it was a designer label.  The sucker cost $400!  Matt's mouth dropped wide open and he said, rather loudly, "What!?  For that thing!?"  Needless to say I shot him a look of disgust and correction so fast that said, "Don't you ever embarrass me like that again; that is not the thing to do when you look at a price tag!  And most definitely not here!"  Granted, I was thinking the same thing he was, but wasn't so expressive about it.  A girl knows to hide her shock when subtly glancing at the price tag.  And now Matt has learned his lesson.

So, where was I?  Yes, identity crisis.  Breaking the bank.  Like I said, shopping just ain't my thing.  And one day, I really got fed up.  I was at the mall trying to find a simple pair of basic khaki pants.  After an hour of searching and trying on without any success, I was fed up.  Fed up!  I was so tired of not getting to buy the stylish clothes I wanted because of the price tag, and the battle of trying to determine what clothes I liked.  Fed up!  Maybe a little crazy in the head, too.  My friend, Lindsey, alluded to this experience earlier in one of her comments, but I knew exactly what would make me feel better, a bit of therapy you might say. 

I made an executive decision that I was, right then and there, going to shop at Eddie Bauer and Ann Taylor, try on everything I wanted to, and without looking at the price tag, buy everything I wanted to.  A whole shopping spree!  I would experience a moment of freedom in my two tried and true stores without the worry of the cost.  I always wanted a suit for work, even though I didn't need one and my co-workers would have wondered what got into me, but I bought a suit.  I bought everything I tried on and liked.  Everything.  It was so much fun, and quite therapeutic too.  I had the most beautiful outfits, a new denim jacket, colorful t-shirts, sun dresses, matching jewelery.  It was incredible!  Those sales ladies sure liked me that day as I walked out of the mall carrying $1500 worth of clothes that I couldn't wait to show Matt!

Oh yes, I knew I would have to take most of it back, if not all.  Hopefully my husband wouldn't have my hide first.  It was truly just so freeing to have a shopping experience that wasn't dreadfully painful or painstaking.  Knowing it would need to go all back, except for maybe a few things that could fit in our budget, it was still worth the experience of it all.  Still ecstatic to show Matt, I called him at work, knowing a warning would possibly help.  "Honey, I went shopping today.  I needed a little pick me up.  I know it will need to go back.  But I did it to help me feel better."  "OK, well as long as you know it needs to go back."  "I spent $1500."  Imagine Matt's jaw hitting the floor.  Hard.

Wrapping up a long story that was supposed to be short, Matt finally got home and I had a little fashion show for him.  Afterward, we went to small group and saved the discussion for what would need to go back for another day.  I happily and excitedly shared my shopping spree experience with our friends that night.  The other husbands in the room were glad they weren't married to me.  As for the sales ladies, well, they weren't so happy to see me a few days later as I returned those items that Matt and I agreed I couldn't keep because they didn't fit in our budget, including the suit.  But the feeling of being able to buy whatever I wanted, without the slightest worry about the cost, at least while in the store shopping, was one of the most memorable and positive shopping experiences I've had.  It was just the rejuvenation I needed to press on in my ongoing battle of being a clothing consumer.