Exercising My Shopping Talents

In preparation for the trip requiring a current passport later this year, I require a new swimsuit (that won’t be in danger of the spandex giving up the ghost upon hitting the chlorine of the pool…) and new dressy (sort of) shoes.

I thought I had the shoe thing already covered but alas, I was informed that my go-to strappy sandals had been 'judged' by those more in the know than I. Oh yes they had, and not in a good way.

A dress was also on the list.  When one has given birth to the bride, one must look…something.  And in this case, the something is described as ‘beach formal’.  I think I lived in a state that was not land-locked once, but that state was Texas, and I was living in the panhandle...which is a land-locked state, really.  I do not know this beach formal...

So shopping I went.  I first looked on the internet for likely targets of my suit shopping, as it has been umpteen years since last I ventured into a dressing room with full length mirrors, bad lighting, winter pale limbs, and an armful of the stuff of which nightmares are made, working their way off the hangars on which they were never meant to hang.  I was hoping to avoid the whole experience.

Then reality struck.  When have I ever bought a swimsuit sight unseen?  The answer would be never.  And for good reason…

And the suits I was looking at don’t seem to be carried in the brick and mortar stores for a look-see and a try-on, and also, very expensive.  Too many strikes, me thinks.

Girding my loins, I headed to the local shopping mall, took a deep breath and headed for the ladies swimwear.  I was almost overwhelmed immediately with first choice…which was size….I don’t know!?...and my word, it was the 2^nd week of March!  How can they be sold out of some sizes already?

Why must this be so ha-arrr-rd!

But being determined to ...pretty much just get this over with…I grabbed three suits I thought might work, and headed to the dreaded dressing room, where, believe it or not! I really liked the third one I tried on. It amazingly fit the bill…or the bod….the old, pale, flabby bod, in this case.

And upon checking out?  It was 20% off. I started flexing my shopping muscles, and headed to shoes.

Where I struck out.

But newly determined, I set my sights on the local DSW for Saturday.  I had been there once, and upon asking about narrow sizes (I have a very narrow foot) (a very narrow foot), was told that no…sorry, nothing but mediums, so I shrugged and left.  I thought I had a few other options, but my other options apparently have quit carrying anything by mediums as well.  I really hate shopping for shoes other than, you know, athletic shoes, or the outdoorsy type sandals we folk wear in Colorado...and sometimes that is a challenge.  One store did carry some narrow shoes.  But suffice it to say the dissed upon strappy sandals would be a better choice.  We are talking old lady shoes to the max!  I don’t need supah stylin’, but I still have some pride.

So I thought I needed to revisit DSW and actually…you know…try some on.  Some manufacturers run narrower, and I might find something.  And I did.  First thing I saw, first thing I tried on.  Problem was, I saw the shoe in blue, which I loved.  But then thought the camel would be far more practical, you know…but I loved me the blue ones, and kept coming back to them.  I looked through all the other sandal-y espadrille styles, found a pair of flat t-straps that will work, too.  Then came back to the big decision.  Blue? Or practical?

Well, I followed my instincts.

And they match a dress I already have just perfectly.

Totally awesome.

Shopping…done.  I am ready to go!