Stimulatin' the old economy
Mar. 14th, 2009 03:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gurdymonkeyWas kind of antsy this morning despite grey skies and a chill in the air so I headed out intending to go up to Ross for a bit of bargain hunting. The Emeryville one was kinda disappointing, so I thought maybe I'd use that Starbucks card someone gave me at Christmas, grab a chai then head up to the Target in Berkeley. I misremembered the exit and got off at Gilman Street instead of Buchanan. As I headed east on Gilman, I saw a sign for some shops that I'd been meaning to check out the last time I was up that way, so I turned onto Tenth Street.
And got into trouble.
Territory Ahead. The assault of color (and I mean that in a good way) was what tempted me through the front door. (Plus Number One.) There were three sales clerks, all of whom looked up from what they were doing, said "Good morning" or "Hi" or just smiled - then went back to what they were doing without fussing at me so I could browse in peace. (Plus Number Two.) I headed for the capacious back room where all the stuff was sale priced. After fighting the good fight at Ross and Marshall's all the time, finding the correct size garment filed on the appropriate spot on a rack for said size feels like sheer decadence, even though it was obvious from the mix of what was on those racks that I was browsing remaindered items. I found a gorgeous vest in warm rust and gold for $29.99, marked down from $59 and in my size. (Being an "average" size often means striking out where bargains are concerned!) I admired a very stylish white denim jacket ($49 down from $89) and set it back on the rack. One of the sales clerks came into the back room to hang some things back up and informed me that if I'd get an additional 20% off my total purchase if I bought any three items. I ended up going back for the jacket and picking up a very pretty sleeveless silk dress in a sort of cinnamon color ($59 down from $99). I spent more than I meant to, but with the markdowns I did very well. (OMG! Some place that sells clothes I actually LIKE.)
(OK, I guess I've been a little starved for non-SCA pretties. The dress code at work is "Can you climb into a 4' deep cabinet, dumpster dive for packing materials and not mind a little copier toner getting all over you from time to time?")
More trouble loomed a couple doors down at Ethnic Arts. I oohed and ahhed and geeked over everything from shibori to bark cloth and vowed I was not going to get into trouble. Until I spotted the bone earrings with monkeys carved on them. Had to get them. Had. To.
And got into trouble.
Territory Ahead. The assault of color (and I mean that in a good way) was what tempted me through the front door. (Plus Number One.) There were three sales clerks, all of whom looked up from what they were doing, said "Good morning" or "Hi" or just smiled - then went back to what they were doing without fussing at me so I could browse in peace. (Plus Number Two.) I headed for the capacious back room where all the stuff was sale priced. After fighting the good fight at Ross and Marshall's all the time, finding the correct size garment filed on the appropriate spot on a rack for said size feels like sheer decadence, even though it was obvious from the mix of what was on those racks that I was browsing remaindered items. I found a gorgeous vest in warm rust and gold for $29.99, marked down from $59 and in my size. (Being an "average" size often means striking out where bargains are concerned!) I admired a very stylish white denim jacket ($49 down from $89) and set it back on the rack. One of the sales clerks came into the back room to hang some things back up and informed me that if I'd get an additional 20% off my total purchase if I bought any three items. I ended up going back for the jacket and picking up a very pretty sleeveless silk dress in a sort of cinnamon color ($59 down from $99). I spent more than I meant to, but with the markdowns I did very well. (OMG! Some place that sells clothes I actually LIKE.)
(OK, I guess I've been a little starved for non-SCA pretties. The dress code at work is "Can you climb into a 4' deep cabinet, dumpster dive for packing materials and not mind a little copier toner getting all over you from time to time?")
More trouble loomed a couple doors down at Ethnic Arts. I oohed and ahhed and geeked over everything from shibori to bark cloth and vowed I was not going to get into trouble. Until I spotted the bone earrings with monkeys carved on them. Had to get them. Had. To.
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no subject
Date: 2009-03-15 12:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-15 12:19 am (UTC)Love the earrings; definitely very you!
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Date: 2009-03-15 04:07 am (UTC)Good for you! Pretty clothes - heh, what are those? After working in a similar place to yours (leather dust=not pretty) and then working from home with kids: I'm lucky to have clothes that aren't stained/ripped/with a company logo on them. Go you for buying things that make you feel good - especially at a discount!
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Date: 2009-03-15 06:10 pm (UTC)