I gave my friend Simone a ride to the airport today so she could pick up her car. Her brother drove it there yesterday and left it before catching his flight back home to California. Simone – and all of her friends who would be willing to give him a ride – had to work yesterday afternoon so this was what worked…him taking her car and leaving it, and me giving her a ride this morning.
I haven’t been out of Manchester in a while. I’m struggling to think of when it was the last time I left. It was kind of nice to be on an hour and a half car ride with a friend. We chatted about a lot of things – especially lovers and relationships – and at some point I said, “Can we go to the mall and shop for boots after you get your car?” She immediately said, “Of course we can!” I said, “I need boots and I’m bummed that Manchester Footwear closed. Can we go to Macy’s? I need shoes.”
I was amazed following Simone to Colonie Center. She knew EXACTLY how to get there from the airport and EXACTLY where to park so that we walked right in to Macy’s. I got out the car and said, “You know, Simone, I’ve been impressed by a lot of things, but you getting us here from the airport was really something.” She smiled and nodded like the cat that ate the canary. Hilarious…
First unintentional stop was to the “Free People” department. This brand is cool and Simone often rocks it. I like the stuff, but have never owned anything by them. I found myself putting a sweater on “hold” that I really liked and “really” needed…
The Dunkin Donuts coffee was settling in so we had to use the restroom, which was right near…you guessed it…the lingerie department. (brilliant, right?) Whoa. Walking up to the bra department at Macy’s is like walking into the hugest candy shop ever. Bras as far as the eyes could see: tan bras, black bras, striped bras, red bras, plain bras, big bras, little bras, leopard print bras, and SALE bras. Panties in piles touting 3-for! 5-for! It was really something and I have to admit for a second I said to myself, “What the hell am I doing opening a little bra shop?”
But then I continued to look around. I didn’t see a soul…not a shopper…not an employee. I didn’t even see a check out counter. I didn’t even see a fitting room! But there were bras…everywhere.
It’s no wonder we hate bra shopping. I KNOW my size (well, all four of my sizes depending on what time of the month it is, my feeling about my body and outfit, and my mood…), but even the thought of trying to find something off of all of those racks and then trying to find a dressing room… and then the next thought of what if I hate it and then I have to put my shirt back on and come back out to this ocean of bras…ugh…I’ll say it again, it’s no wonder we hate bra shopping.
I learned a lot looking around that Macy’s bra department. I got some validation in that I have the same prices as they do on about 99% of the bras. The one big difference (and thank you, Macy’s because I think you are on to something here and I’m going to steal it, thank you) is that I saw bras in “fashion colors” were deeply discounted. (Bra companies will take a best selling bra and put it out in pink or turquoise or some other color and call it a “fashion color” and give it a limited run. You can’t re-order it. It’s really cute in this color and you probably want the matching panties. The trouble is, as a shop-owner, you don’t want to get stuck with too much bra or too much panties…So, I’m sitting there in my shop with these fashion color bras that have no matching panties still at full price, and Macy’s has moved on to the next fashion color and is selling those NEW fashion color bras at full price with the matching panties.) I ALMOST bought a blue striped “fashion color” bra for $13.80 that I can’t even wholesale that cheap…but there were no matching panties and even I can’t order them because they are no longer available…amazing that they had only one left and it was my size…but I said NOPE, not gonna do it! (I’m probably in some sort of minority here…)
We finally moved on to the shoe department where I found myself saying the same types of things that some women say in the shop. ‘I’m just looking.” “Those won’t work for me.” “No, I don’t like that.” “I’m an 8 and 3/4!” “Too plain.” “Too fancy.” At some point Simone suggested we start trying some things on and let these sales people who know shoes and sell shoes for a living help us. A world opened up.
I think his name was Ian, but this guy in the shoe department was awesome. Brought us stacks of boxes of shoes to try. Ellen (not sure if that’s her name either, but she was awesome too) was around to say, “Eh, those are ok” about one brand and, “Omg, we sell so many of those. Sold the black out in like a day.” about another.
I settled on some Born shoes and Simone special ordered some boots that they didn’t have in her size. Both of us left the shoe department feeling good and taken care of.
We drove back separately, which gave me an hour and a half to think about things. I thought about shoe departments and my bra shop. I thought about how the hell to get women get used to BRA shopping in JOY like they do SHOE shopping at Macy’s. Shoes…bras…they are really tough to just buy off the rack. Or online, for that matter. (you might notice the Zappos box that has been riding around in my car for about 6 months…I saw these boots online that looked cool so I ordered them. Too small. Pain in the ass to return!)
I’m glad I didn’t open a shoe store. And I do miss Manchester Footwear. And I’d really like to help you find a bra that works for you. And so would Connie and Courtney. Let us.
Snuggle up,
Joy
PS: Full disclosure: In addition to the shoes, I went back and got the Free People sweater. It’s orange. I’ll wear it Thursday. J
Epilogue: November 27, 2013. The old Manchester Footwear has re-opened as Famous Footwear and is AMAZING! Took what was great about Manchester Footwear and added some new things and did some re-modeling. Met the owner…a woman from Pownal. Still locally-owned. Love it!
