Retail Epiphany

This endless recession, as difficult as it has been, can be credited for providing this "mature" woman with some interesting and unexpected life lessons. The latest one occurred earlier today, when I took a trip to Atlanta's poshest mall for the first time in more than six years.

A few weeks ago a local friend invited me to attend a Bobbi Brown makeover event at Saks Fifth Avenue. She couldn't make the event due to her work schedule --unlike me, SHE has a full-time job-- so she wanted me to go in her place in order to get the "free" gift bag of full-sized products given to each client who purchased $100 in products. Readers who are familiar with this cosmetics line will understand how disgustingly easy it would be to qualify for that gift bag, because the products are insanely expensive. So, having nothing better to do today, I agreed to don something other than the sweats I wear around the house and traipse off to the mall.

True to my compulsion to avoid being late, I arrived at the Bobbi Brown counter a full 25 minutes early for my appointment, so I signed in and then began strolling around the store.

Even years ago, when I thought I could afford to buy things in this store, I felt awkward and uncomfortable whenever I entered. It was just way too over-the-top for this product of working-class parents and grandparents. I looked for my retail drug of choice, shoes. Certainly I would feel right at home in that department. As luck would have it, my eyes were immediately drawn to a table full of stilettos, gladiator sandals and flats, all with bright red soles. I picked up a sweet pair of pumps that I might actually be able to walk in (in my dreams) and did what I always do -- flipped it over to look at the price. $795! Seven hundred and ninety-five dollars for one pair of shoes. Now, there was a time when I would have returned the shoe to its perch, taking great care not to give the impression to anyone who might be watching (as if anybody cared enough to be) that I was in any way shocked by the price stamped on the bottom of that red sole. By the way, this brand of shoes is so hot that J-Lo has a song out about them! And the pair I looked at were among the least expensive in the line. This time, I just laughed out loud.

A glance around at the signage informed me that I would not be feeling any more comfortable in any other of the departments on that level of the store, so I escaped into the vastness of the glitzy mall. Versace. Coach. Jeffrey. Barneys of New York. All these fashionable stores and not a person to be found in most of them. There was a guy standing forlornly in the doorway of his exotic tea shop who called out to me to ask if I'd like to sample some tea. Otherwise, nobody.

I finally wandered back to the pandemonium going on at the Bobbi Brown counter in Saks. By the way, that was the only place in the entire store with people who looked like customers. The makeup artist applied potion after potion to my face before she could start applying the makeup. If I had been remotely interested in purchasing all of that stuff, the price tag would have been $151. I think I'll stick to my Dove and the unscented face cream I buy at Kroger.

With my smokey eyes and way-too-bright blushing cheeks, I found my way through the Land Rovers and Escalades (they must belong to employees) to my car, a 2005 Lexus RX330 and wondered why I just had to have this car when I retired.

In the face of all that's happening in the world, it seems ridiculous to be so acquisitive and self-indulgent. I am hoping that I am not the only American who is changing her attitude about money and how it should be spent. It is way past time to get back to basics.