13 September 2007

An evening in Adams Morgan in downtown Georgetown

I like Betsy Fisher, I like Cusp, I like Anthropologie, I like Club Monaco, I like Barney's Co-op and I really like - okay, I love - Saks Fifth Avenue.

Don't be fooled, I can't afford the majority of the wares neatly folded and meticulously hung on these stores' shelves and cloth hangers, but nonetheless, these are the retail sanctuaries to which I most often flee to look at pretty things and to temporarily forget about my hectic, sleep-deprived schedule.

What draws me most to a shop, be it of a large department variety or a quaint, local boutique, is of course the clothing itself - as you well know, I tend to go for unique, simple, neutral, tailored, Katie-esque looks - but also the atmosphere, the quietude of the experience. You see, I'm a solo shopper, so even when I have a girlfriend or two in tow, I'm alone in that store, and I really require a certain level of privacy with that pair of calling-out-to-me high-waisted Katharine Hepburn trousers so that I can make the decision, free of pressure, free of false excitement, whether or not there exists a bond strong and special enough between the two of us for me to appropriate a portion of my tightly-budgeted analyst's salary for its acquisition.

Last night, as soon as I exited my lovely post-work drink at Hook* and saw the shockingly long Pucci-printed, flat suede-booted queue snaking around the corner of 33rd and M St., I knew I was in for the kind of shopping experience I not only dislike but physically can't stand for more than 20 minutes.

And in actuality, it was more like 17 minutes.

Now, I'm not saying the District Sample Sale** was poorly organized or poorly stocked with last season's ugly stepsister remnants - not at all, and judging from the gleeful looks on most shoppers' faces, my discomfort and anxiety with the fashion frenzy were not widely shared - but I will say this -- last night was my first and last foray into this sort of competitive, passive-aggressive-behavior heavy shopping experience.

Frankly, I love clothes too much to see them soiled with makeup stains and strewn over folding tables, hanging halfway out of plastic Rubbermaid bins and stretched to within a threadbare inch of their lives over a pair of you-knew-those-wouldn't-fit-in-there DDs. And because I honestly do believe in the notion of falling for that perfect dress*** or those perfect shoes, I want - just as I do with a lover - a beautiful memory and an awwww-inspiring story to go along with the moment at which we looked at each other, looked down, smiled and just knew we had to be together.

So just as I may skip out on the Adams Morgan nights with my girlfriends because I don't want to have to say to my parents, "Well, we met when he spilled his shot of Captain Morgan's down the front of my blouse," from now on, on DSS night, I'll be staying snug-as-bug put in my apartment noshing on baby carrots with my first love watching Carlito's Way on Starz.


*be sure to chat up bartender Duffy -- he's ador-uh-bull
**big snaps to BabsieD for her hard work in organizing the event and for her generous, fun-to-paw-through swag bag
***big snaps to K & L for having introduced me to my newest circus-necklined obsession

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think a good rule of thumb is WWMD--what would Monte do? Monte most certainly would not dignify a doggie sample sale to find his Burberry sweaters or mini-Wellingtons. Baby shops bricks-and-mortar retail at full price and full respect or nothing else.

Anonymous said...

the link to your "perfect dress" emphasizes your recent passion for special necklines/neck features. i think this has alot to do with the new short 'do. you've got this modified look that is so different than last year at this time that you can really create a whole new series of options that you might not have been so enamoured with before.

when you shake up your look with a dramatatic change in hairstyle you really can open up to a new variety of tops, eyewear, jewelry, etc...

Anonymous said...

I couldn't deal with it either. Left after a half hour having "bought" nothing more than a few skewers of salmon and a glass of "eh" white wine.

Anonymous said...

how was it meeting those other bloggers? did you knock their inferior, obsequious socks off? wait, don't tell me, I already know... ;-)

Anonymous said...

I have to admit, I hung around the blogger's corner hoping to meet you, but all that was there was a lovely polaroid. That black top you were wearing was fantastic - where was it from?

Anonymous said...

I went to something similar once for a wedding gown and ended up with a stomach ache. I hate those shopping mosh pits.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure a lot of those girls woke up this morning with a bit of a wine hangover, eyed their purchases, and realized they weren't quite as hot - or as great a deal - as they seemed last night.

*JUST* like the morning after a night in Adams Morgan. ;)

Anonymous said...

I saw a few cute baubles, but it was so INSANELY hot and crowded that I grabbed the nearest Peroni, gulped it down and made my exit. I stayed a staggering 45 minutes.

CitizenDuMonde

Anonymous said...

Waste. Of. $100.

But at least I got to read this great (and honest) post about how disappointing an experience it was!

Anonymous said...

I thought it was *okay*, nothing special, but I couldn't believe how HOT it was in there. Would it have killed someone to turn on (not just up, but ON) the AC? And what about fans? Anything?

Food was pretty good. I liked those greasy pita thingies they had in place of crackers.

And the people watching was also top notch!

Anonymous said...

Cynthia's WWMD test is spot-on. I can't believe you get to go home to that face every night. Then again, he gets to see yours too...

Anonymous said...

I thrive on those highly competitive shopping environments! Last night was, however, as everyone has pointed out, so hot and uncomfortable even I couldn't enjoy myself. Did get a cute jacket at Wink, tho.

Anonymous said...

the 3.1 Phillip Lim dress is so cute! and so expensive :(

I was regretting not having bought a DSS ticket yesterday but now I feel better about saving the $40. I'm like you are, I like the full experience, not just getting the item back home and into my closet.

Anonymous said...

Monte is perfect. And I am not a dog person at all!

How were the handbags at last night's event? I remember last year they were the only redeemable reason to be there.

Anonymous said...

That dog...so cute.

Brooke said...

The paws! Those eyes! So cute.

Anonymous said...

I love when you post this kind of piece. You're such a natural storyteller! And the dog...well, so super cute!

Anonymous said...

I gave the sample sale another shot but never again. I am sure the heat was no fault of the organizers. That aside, my ticket was a waste of money.

Anonymous said...

Shouldn't this event be called an "overstock" sale? Sample sale is not the correct term. Would you agree?