Please tell me I'm not quite as big a mess as I seem to be.
I went shopping today with a very odd group. There was my SIL (38 and dressed matronly even back in high school...love her though ), my 17 year old sister who's a fashion snob though I couldn't tell you what her style actually is, my 12 year old niece who's just starting to find her way around the store...and me, the hardest to describe of all. I am 35 years old and haven't set foot in a store for the purpose of buying something I thought I might have a chance of looking good in for over a decade.
I went out with them with two purposes in mind. One, I wanted to do the "girlie" thing...something I really don't do. Two, I wanted to try on clothes, see what fit, and start thinking about what I need for Fall. I did not want to actually purchase anything...just marvel at my new size.
I ended up in a dressing room with a pair of jeans that were skin tight and stretchy, but the way the waist fit it seemed like the jeans ought to fit. So I stuck my head out the dressing room door and whispered to my SIL and whispered "I don't think there are jeans in this world that fit me." Something about that brought about the eyes and ears of a female worker, a MALE worker, my little sister, and a kindly motherly type woman. I wanted to bury my head in the sand. Then the male worker wanted me to turn around so he could see my butt. All the while everyone's marveling at how good I look in these jeans that I feel totally exposed in because they are so painted on! Everyone assured me that was the style, they were stretchy and would stretch within a few hours of wear and that I absolutely should NOT go up a size. It was horrible and I wanted to crawl into a hole! Then the kind saleslady brought me four other pair to try. I ended up sort of liking a pair. So then how do you leave the store without buying anything?
It was just very traumatic.
And I don't know where to shop!! My niece (12) liked Aerostotle and Rue 21 but I'm pretty sure those were not stores for me. I rather liked Gap. I felt like I was entering different decades with the stores I entered and I didn't know which one I belonged in!! What does a 35 year old woman wear??? What does a very intimidated 35 year old wear?
I do not like this!! I want to be a good shopper. I wish they taught some kind of class about how to navigate stores. I just feel like I have missed out on a very critical stage in my life...like I just woke up from a decade long coma.
And you know what's weird about Gap? The Gap was THE place to go when I was a teenager. And it still is...for women my age! It grew with us. How strange. Neither my niece nor sister would set foot in the Gap. How did that happen?