When you don’t shop often, going to a department store can be intimidating. The dazzling display of row upon row of clothes from designers I have never heard of and looks, styles and colors that don’t resemble anything in my existing wardrobe makes me want to immediately leave just moments after arriving. When that fight or flee response kicks in, I’ll dodge the hip and stylishly dressed sales associate who offers to help me find something, I’ll make a beeline for the nearest exit knocking over the Salvation Army bell ringer if need be and I’ll make a promise to myself to return sometime soon and, next time, buy something outside of my clothing comfort zone.
Well that all changed this past weekend. Maybe it was the power of the New Year, the unseasonable warm weather or my new position in my newly transformed company, but whatever the case, I manned up in the men’s department.
Yes, it was a good thing my wife was there, and with her kind encouragement and steady support, I did it. I asked for help; for some fashion guidance, for some hip advice and hop counsel. You see I needed to buy some new jeans, and for once, not have the name Levi or Relaxed Fit sown into the fabric.
Well, let me tell you, the jean market today is uncharted territory. Who knew there were so many brands, so many shades of blue, so many stitch patterns, so much spandex.
The whole scene was downright funny, kind of an out-of-body experience, here a 52-year old carrying a few extra Holiday pounds pouring through pile after pile of jeans named 7 for All Mankind, DIESEL, AG, True Religion and Citizen of Humanity (am I at the United Nations?), and looking for just the right fit be it Boot Cut, Straight Leg, Slim and, heaven help me, Extra Slim.
Somehow, thanks to my excellent Nordstrom’s advisor (who was half my age and 100 times cooler), we selected four pairs to try on and took this mid-life crisis party into the dressing room. I was a little nervous about the length of each pair as it seemed like only NBA players could wear them. Undaunted, the tailor measured me up when I made the ultimate selection, only after texting a picture to my 19-year old fashion fashionista daughter for final approval.
The deed being done, I look forward to sporting my new jeans when I’m out on the town. Next, I might need some new boots; maybe a few new tees, some tats, and a Harley Davidson might work. Or, maybe I’ll just stick with the Hyundai.
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Yo BC – welcome to 2013. It’s OK to step out of your comfort zone. Not sure about the tats and the Harley though, you have to work up to that….
BTW – True Religion are the best (next to my fav Buffalo).
Too much free time and deposable income. But I guess if you are going to be an Arc and Stone dead head, you need to look the part.
The jeans are the easy part, Bob. Next up: shirts… long, short, dress, casual, nightlife, daytime, winter, summer, fall, spring, layered, open collar, v-neck…need I even go into the brands for each? Best to stay at home in a Tshirt with old college sweatshirt… and your new jeans… and just chill.
Bob- I am very impressed. They say the clothes make the man. “They” likely being your Nordstrom helpers great-great grandfather. I like the idea of a hipper Bob- maybe you can take it a step further like the old Jewish guys in S. Florida and just start wearing warm-ups. That way you can go straight from home to your figure head role at the new gig and then over to the club without a pit stop at the locker room. You could probably even wear it out to most of the hot spots in the ATL. They would probably think you are some kind of newfangled rapper.
Who knows? Maybe this is how you break into the entertainment industry? Its all about the clothes!
And they sure look good on you thanks to Nordstom, Sally and Sarah. Could we reunite the same dream team for Craig so I can burn his Silvertabs.