One Lavish Way To Find The Perfect Little Black Dress
Well, I did it. I replaced the Little Black Dress That Couldn't with the Little Black Dress That Most Certainly Could.
First there was Miss Blumarine. Just too dang short for the over-50 and too dang worn for anyone else. Enter Ms. Lhullier. Purchased in exigency, worn in regret.
Exeunt Ms Lhullier. Au revoir, mon amie. Tu ne me manqueras pas.
But wait, what's that I hear? Who is whispering seductively in Spanish? Oh, Mr. Rodriguez, I've been waiting for you. Thank you for arriving before I develop dowager's hump and can no longer fit your siren curves.
So. Once upon a time I needed a new little black dress. I know, by now, that I require structure, sleeves, classic materials. I know, by now, to do research on the Internet. I looked online all around. And, on the Barney's New York site, (40% off sale on selected items today, if you are so compelled) I found this.
"Aha!" I thought, "Good design, private label, equals luxury bargain." And off I went to Barney's New York. In San Francisco. Which begs the question of why isn't it Barney's San Francisco? Do they think we feel the words "New York" add style? Have they talked to anyone in California? At all? But I digress. (The most compelling word in the English language, digression.)
Small lobby, Barney's. Elevators at the back of the store. Rather like those old New York emporiums, Bergdorf's, etc. Up. You can see almost everything on the women's designer floor from the moment those elevator doors slide open. Find a saleswoman. Explain that you want the Barney's private label dresses. Wonder if you feel a faint chill of disdain. Remind yourself about impunity.
Try on the dress. It looks awful. Hostile pleating. Oh well. Best laid plans. But since we're here....
Try on on Balmain, Balenciaga, Gaultier (twice), DVF. Break into loud guffaws, snorting to the salesperson, (you've been passed over to an important guy, sensing wallet blood, male, gay, fabulously stylish, both discrete and reassuring), "I AM JUST TOO FAT AND TOO OLD FOR THIS!" Tell him you have been in denial. Tell him, laughing, that you didn't realize things had gotten to this point.
8 dresses later, pull on Narciso. Feel the click of yes. (You know that click?)
Realize you don't really mean that you are fat*, just that you certainly aren't willowy any more, and you, most of all, aren't 20. Or 30. Or even 40. But that, at 50, the Narciso dress locates every bit of your current appeal and says, "Uh huh."
And, since the dress is in fact a present, receive confirmation that the atmospheric price is within lavish budget and take your purchase home. Where you will pull it out as soon as you walk in the door, just to look. And again, for Thanksgiving, and probably Christmas parties. For Christmas dinner, and New Year's. Any time at all you travel to Manhattan. Uh huh. New York City.
*I'm not "fat". But, being female in America, I sense the possibility, always hovering nearby. The right question is, fat compared to what?
Labels: Fashion, Fierce at 50, Interesting Brands