RBOC: Shopping edition

• I often think that it's a good idea to go shopping by oneself. This was confirmed today when, within 15 minutes of arriving at the mall, I witnessed one toddler meltdown (a little boy was screaming at the top of his lungs that he HAD to take his shoes off, which mom wouldn't allow. I felt bad - he was clearly miserable, in that "no one understands me!!!!" way of little kids. I remember feeling like that) and one intergenerational spat (adult daughter to elderly-ish mom: "If you tell me one more time all the things you want...!").
      
• It's not that I like to shop by myself because I want to avoid enduring such moments. I just want to avoid inflicting such moments on others.
      
• I didn't really NEED anything, but it's been a while since I spent the day traipsing round malls trying on everything that looks remotely interesting and coming home mostly empty-handed, dehydrated, with low blood sugar. (Especially since one of the places I went was an outdoor mall and it's pretty hot and dry here.) As awful as that experience sounds, I find it soothing every now and then.
     
• I was sort of semi-looking for a suit. No, I don't NEED a suit. I have two suits. But neither is the PERFECT suit, and I continue to believe, against all empirical evidence, that I can find the PERFECT suit that will be all things for all seasons and, while we're at it, make me look 20 lbs. thinner. The exciting thing was that I found a bunch of stuff that fit me, and actually looked pretty decent. But nothing was different enough from what I already have, or cheap enough, to justify buying a THIRD suit. Still - if some unforeseen suit tragedy occurs (like the dry cleaners mangling all my current dress clothes), I have options, and that in itself is reassuring.
     
• Oh, and I did I mention that I don't have any interviews yet? I don't NOT have any yet, either; I'll find out next week if anyone wants to interview me. So whether I like my suit(s) or not may be moot. But if I focus my anxiety on whether or not my suit is right, I can actually do something to assuage it (go shopping!), whereas I can't do anything at this point to convince people to interview me. So, you know, shopping is really just a healthy coping mechanism!    

Comments

[rageyone]

I generally enjoy shopping by myself, mainly because I don't care to go to every.single.store. in the shopping center. My goal is to get what I need and leave. Others, generally, don't share that sentiment.

Interviews? Isn't this the start of your 2nd year? What are the interviews for? Clearly I don't know anything about law school.

[Another Damned Medievalist]

RBOComments...

• yes. I totally understand the need to do this -- including the dehydration/low blood sugar end of the day. OTOH, I like shopping with a couple of my friends because we are good at looking without spending, and my friends always make me stop and eat/drink, so I don't turn into migraine girl! But they are two different activities for different purposes, I think.

  
  

• Have you started looking at good consignment shops? I have a friend who is a thrift store/consignment shop monster, and whenever I go with her, even to the Goodwill, I find fantastic suits and office wear (although frequently for small people), sometimes never worn, sometimes incredibly expensive (when new) suits from bygone eras when women were built a little differently (and expensive designer-y things seem to fit me best). Plus...cheap and also ecologically sound!

[Seeking Solace]

I enjoy shopping by myself. I get into that mindless zone. It's great.

I second the thrift store idea. When I was in law school and shortly after graduation, I didn't have much money. I found beautiful suits, some with the tags still on. I would look for dry cleaning coupons to spruce them up.

I do love Banana Republic for suits. Very nice!

[Anastasia]

this is why my children are perpetually shoeless.

[Susan]

I enjoy shopping by myself, but I miss the friend giving an honest assessment of what I've just tried on. I'm not always the best judge -- not just that I buy things that don't work, but I don't buy things that do.

[New Kid on the Hallway]

I agree, shopping with others can be fun, too - they just serve different purposes. :-) I agree, Susan, that an objective pair of eyes is useful; my marathon shopping days are often scouting expeditions, for coming back later (and making NLLDH tell me what he thinks ;-D).

Seeking Solace, I love the BR suits, but alas, I have a hard time fitting into their bottoms (phooey!).

Anastasia, I have to admit that if I were the mom I'd have probably just let the kid take his shoes off, but you know, not my kid! (I actually seriously wondered if he had a sensory thing going on because he was so. very. upset. about the shoes!)

Consignment shops - I've never tried them. I should, but the only place I know of is Goodwill. And I'm sort of convinced I'll never find anything in my size (no reason to think so, though!). Will have to consider that...

[Rudbeckia Hirta]

When buying separates at BR the word you need to look for is "Jackson." There is no point in even touching the pants labeled Martin. The Jackson pants are the only ones worth looking at.