Today was payday. I decided to reward myself by going shopping.
First cab off the rank was my favourite local thrift shop, 'Beatniks & Bohemians'. It's a tiny and uninviting place which is attached to a drop-in centre for Street People. I find going there a bit stressful, because you've got to fight your way between other pushy woman bursting for a bargain & junkie shop-lifters.
But it has the best stuff, generously donated by the Grand & Guilty woman of our area. I just love cruising the designer labels as I flick through the racks. Today, for instance, I tried on a Dries Van Noten amazing thick boiled wool sweater with huge unfortunate sleeves that gave me Footballers Arms.
I ended up buying a whole lot of polyester clothes, which suits me fine as I absolutely don't iron. I was discouraged from ironing at an early age by my mother who found watching me doing anything that involved a degree of risk, like holding a hot iron, too upsetting to watch. She claimed my left-handedness made everything I did look somehow wrong or dangerous.
So, I've never ironed.
I bought the brown dress above, & The Mature Shoes which I'm sure some well-heeled Old Dowager got loads of fun out of. I'm not sure about either item, but that's the beauty of Thrift Shopping, particularly at charity stores. If it looks crap, shove it back in the bin.
My second shopping expedition involved going to a posh shop in a posh shopping street & buying a scented candle. It was by Jo Malone & the perfume is Wild Jasmine & Mint. Have you noticed that Smells are getting more & more complicated & exotic?
Even my Tea-Tree, Lemongrass & Kaffir Leaf Cruelty-Free 'Kitchen Hands' liquid soap sounds like it was cooked up by a celebrity chef.
You may wonder why I splashed out to buy an expensive scented candle.
1. Cheap candles from China are toxic.
2. Candles made from essential oils hardly smell.
3. I wanted an endorphin high from shopping.
4. I enjoyed carrying the 'Jo Malone' shopping bag around. In fact, a stylish young lady got into the lift in my apartment building this evening, & when she saw the bag said, 'Oh, Jo Malone candles! Aren't they divine?' I felt affirmed.
Isn't that what shopping is all about?
9 comments:
I like both outfits, perhaps the black is my favorite tho.
Never heard of Jo Malone candles. For the most part I burn natural beeswax candles and if I want scent I toss a few things in a tiny pot and let it simmer on the back of the stove. Cloves and oranges appeal to me at the moment.
Darla
What a great idea Darla!
I'm definitely going to try the cloves & oranges idea.
Jo Malone perfumes are from London & have only been infiltrating our stores for a short while.
hello, I am lurking a bit - can't recall how I found your site, but I like your take on things. And your style, of course.
I do iron - although it never looks as if I did - so what's the point really?
Is the black bangle by anthropologie by chance? (the "hope" one)
The bangles are both from 'Forever 21' of all places. I bought them on a recent trip to LA.
But Anthropologie is one of my favourite stores, & in fact I've got on a top right now from there.
thanks hollarback
You look lovely in both of these dresses!
I am in complete agreement on the polyester - I rarely buy anything that can't go in the wash (I grudgingly use cold water, delicate, and low heat on the new washer/dryer, which terrify me with their newness and strange settings). The few items I have which require ironing (which will be replaced as soon as I find something better than them), go into the pile for my husband to do. Ha!
Hooray to finally find another person (besides my daughter) who doesn't iron!
Thank you Sheila!
Absolutely. Every tie you smell the candle you will getthat shopping high. I love both outfits.
That's a great thought, Jane. I'm actually smelling the candle at the moment while I type & while I watch 'The Big Sleep' with the sound v. low.
I wouldn't say that I was on a shopping high right now, but I feel pretty good for a friday night!
Post a Comment