The many reasons to hate shopping and one to definitely love it.

Shopping is great.  I love it.  But sometimes I dread it, especially when I’m required to find a specific outfit and I don’t feel cute that day.

Sure, I love just perusing the racks, brushing aside unwanted sale items and pondering the possibility of stumbling across a shiny treasure.  Hey, it happens!  But sometimes, the real thrash-through-the-mobs, tear-cheap-clothes-off-the-racks shopping just makes me want to collapse — even just THINKING about it makes me weak in the legs.  

   For example, after work today, Emily and I took the train to Soho and went into H&M.  For those of you who don’t know what H&M is, it’s basically the NewYork version of Charlotte Russe.  Everyone who thinks they’re anyone dresses themselves here, and can pull of a decent trendy look any day of the week.  Shopping here is like entering the circus.  For some reason, it’s always hotter than outside irregardless of the time of year, the people are mean (customers and employees) and my head starts hurting as soon as I glance around at the hideously scratchy pants and bright party tanks. I didn’t think I could take another moment of shopping, so I made up my mind and stepped outside to wait while Emily tried a blue gingham dress.  

 

Outside was amazing.  Soho is amazing.  It’s definitely one of my favorite neighborhoods of NYC, if not #1.  It’s right near the river (isn’t everywhere here near a river??).  But, it FEELS like it’s near the river.  The breeze meanders down the streets and avenues gracing buildings that almost look like they were plucked right out of a pastel watercolor.  The setting sun lights everything up with a nostalgic glow of the evening.

I was almost able to enjoy myself here outside the H&M when I was brutally shoved aside by a woman teetering down the street with 4 huge shopping bags and a kid hanging from each forearm.  I had to make it inside.  Stat. When I walked into Uniqlo, I found myself surrounded by beautifully organized skirts and dresses hanging on luminescent white walls. Neatly pressed shirts and pants stacked on top of clear glass tables called to me — it was like finally getting to peel and eat a ripe and refrigerated grapefruit after hours of staring at the computer at work.   Refreshing!

My headache was gone!  The space was airy and the mirrored walls in the distance made the rooms (note: plural) go on for miles!  I was excited!  And the clothes fit! The last part being the most important to stress here: the clothes actually fit.  I’m not talking about a singular piece of clothing looking “O.K.” as I hand over the hugely unsuccessful pile of badly stretched misfits.  NO.  Everything I tried on looked good.   And I always have a monster of a time finding clothes, especially pants or jeans, that fit these long legs of mine!  (Being 6-feet tall isn’t an easy feat.)

But everything I saw at Uniqlo was adorable and tailored.  I had to sensor my actions so I didn’t purchase everything in sight!  I tried a few pairs of jeans, all of which fit almost perfectly: they were long, made of nice, thick material and the waits hit my bellybutton (I want some jeans that do that!!)  

I ended up buying one pair: a bright, light yellow pair of skinny jeans.  The color reminds me of the state fair, lemonade and, more than anything, soft, stretchy yellow taffy.  Serious summertime jeans.  

I also bought a high-rise dark denim pencil skirt.  It’s perfect for work!  And the 100% I-need-this-now item?  A pair of high-rise, totally baggy, safari girl shorts (or are they skorts?)  Something I NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS thought I would wear!  But they look good and modern and great for work.

I can’t wait to go back soon to try on the rest of the store.  Shhh, just don’t tell anyone because it’s Soho has the only Uniqlo in America… if everyone knows how fabulous it is, there won’t be anything left for me! 

www.uniqlo.com

 

Tags: clothes, h&m, shopaholic, shopping, soho, store, tall girls, uniqlo, wardrobe, yellow jeans