This year, I accidentally shopped the Black Friday Sales. Really, I did.
I'm usually anti-Black Friday; I've even written about it here on the blog. I abhor the whole frenzied shop until we (or the sales staff) drop thing. I've always eschewed the Black Friday sales here in Canada because, well, aren't they supposed to be an American thing? I mean, our Thanksgiving is in October.
Of course, I'm not opposed to saving money on clothes that I would probably buy anyway. And if I could shop a sale without the crowds and the frenzy, find something that fills a niche in my wardrobe, fits in with what I already own, and with what I'm currently hoping to find, and which is even on my list for that season... well... that would be wonderful. But usually next to impossible.
I normally have to put in lots of legwork to fill empty niches in my closet once I've identified them. And I'm totally unaccustomed to finding pieces when I'm NOT even looking for them, most especially when they are on sale. I'm normally a very deliberate shopper. Accidental shopping does not usually happen to me.
So I arrived at Nordstrom planning to pick up my burgundy plaid pants and went home with two pairs of pants and a sweater. Totally unexpected. One might even say accidental. The sweater was 40% off, and the pants were an even bigger bargain at 60% off.
And, there was absolutely no traffic when I left the mall; I made it home in lots of time to squeeze in my afternoon work-out, and enjoy a pot of tea and my book for an hour or so. A serendipitous day all round.
I don't know why I'm usually so rabidly anti-Black Friday sales. Maybe it's all the hype. The huge signs everywhere shouting about Black Friday deals. Maybe it's all those annoying Black Friday and Cyber Monday e-mails. Maybe it's the hysteria to buy, buy, buy. The endless gift guides, the engendered panic that Christmas is coming and we won't be ready. And Black Friday is like the crack of the starter's pistol. The race to December 25 has begun; it's time to ramp up the stress level.
The whole thing just makes me lethargic. Makes me want to brew another cup of tea and, overcome with inertia, sit even longer with my book. Maybe I've created a new psychological phenomenon: passive aggressive shopping behaviour.
But when Black Friday sale shopping is purely accidental, uncrowded, is combined with tea with a friend, and a calm and stress-free drive home... well... as Hubby says, "that's a horse of a different hue." Particularly when I arrive home with two great new pieces that I'd probably have bought even if they hadn't been on sale.
I'm usually anti-Black Friday; I've even written about it here on the blog. I abhor the whole frenzied shop until we (or the sales staff) drop thing. I've always eschewed the Black Friday sales here in Canada because, well, aren't they supposed to be an American thing? I mean, our Thanksgiving is in October.
Of course, I'm not opposed to saving money on clothes that I would probably buy anyway. And if I could shop a sale without the crowds and the frenzy, find something that fills a niche in my wardrobe, fits in with what I already own, and with what I'm currently hoping to find, and which is even on my list for that season... well... that would be wonderful. But usually next to impossible.
I normally have to put in lots of legwork to fill empty niches in my closet once I've identified them. And I'm totally unaccustomed to finding pieces when I'm NOT even looking for them, most especially when they are on sale. I'm normally a very deliberate shopper. Accidental shopping does not usually happen to me.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| I love my new checked pants which I "accidentally" bought at a Black Friday sale. |
Bu-ut... that is exactly what did happen to me last week. When I arrived home from New Brunswick, I contacted Liz to see about picking up the Rag and Bone plaid pants which I'd purchased before I left on my trip, and which had been altered while I was away. I'd planned to pop into Nordstrom at the end of the week. Then it dawned on me that Friday was BLACK Friday.
Ackkk! Cue the Psycho shower scene music. The last thing I wanted to do was to get caught in Black Friday furor. Crowds, long lines at check-outs, sitting in rush-hour traffic. Since I've been retired, and no longer have to travel or shop when everyone else is doing so, I've almost obsessively avoided these things. So I rearranged my week to allow for me to pop into Nordstrom on Thursday morning.
The store was quiet when I arrived, so Liz and I went for a cup of tea and a chat. And afterward when she ran down to the alterations department for my pants, I had a browse. Most of the Black Friday sale merchandise was already out on the racks, much of it marked down only that morning. Hmmm. It wouldn't hurt to have a rummage around. See what I could see... while I was waiting.
I tried a few things on. Some just because they were on sale. Most things I knew I wouldn't buy.
The exception was this cosy cashmere sweater from Theory. It's a lovely basic, will go great with my black leather trousers, with jeans and my black boots, and most particularly with the long skirt that is still on my list. Can't you just see this sweater with a long full skirt and boots?
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| This sweater fills all kinds of niches in my closet |
And I picked up these black and white checkered, cropped pants from Rag and Bone. I love them with my burgundy Akris sweater, my Paul Green loafers, and this necklace and matching earrings from Anne Marie Chagnon. I haven't decided if I will have the hem let down like I did with the burgundy plaid pants. I'm still thinking about that.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| I love these pants with my now ubiquitous Akris sweater and Paul Green loafers |
But, since I can't wear my Akris sweater all the time with everything in my closet, I'm working on what else works with these pants. Maybe my new sweater and my Stuart Weitzman black boots, with my black Max Mara knee-length coat. I'm still playing around with pieces. No rush. I agree with Liz that these pants will be great in the spring too.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| This outfit is a work in progress |
And, there was absolutely no traffic when I left the mall; I made it home in lots of time to squeeze in my afternoon work-out, and enjoy a pot of tea and my book for an hour or so. A serendipitous day all round.
I don't know why I'm usually so rabidly anti-Black Friday sales. Maybe it's all the hype. The huge signs everywhere shouting about Black Friday deals. Maybe it's all those annoying Black Friday and Cyber Monday e-mails. Maybe it's the hysteria to buy, buy, buy. The endless gift guides, the engendered panic that Christmas is coming and we won't be ready. And Black Friday is like the crack of the starter's pistol. The race to December 25 has begun; it's time to ramp up the stress level.
The whole thing just makes me lethargic. Makes me want to brew another cup of tea and, overcome with inertia, sit even longer with my book. Maybe I've created a new psychological phenomenon: passive aggressive shopping behaviour.
But when Black Friday sale shopping is purely accidental, uncrowded, is combined with tea with a friend, and a calm and stress-free drive home... well... as Hubby says, "that's a horse of a different hue." Particularly when I arrive home with two great new pieces that I'd probably have bought even if they hadn't been on sale.
Now I must go ice my foot and make some tea with lemon and honey. Chirpy, smiling photos to the contrary, I'm feeling pretty low today. I hurt my foot at Mum's, tripped over something, exacerbated the bruise (or sprain, or whatever it is, even the doctor's not sure) by too much walking in my hiking boots on the raggedy, icy trail and it's been swollen and difficult to walk on ever since. And now I feel a cold coming on. If it's not one end it's the other, and sometimes it's both. Ha.
Imagine my chagrin if I'd injured my foot tripping over rampaging shoppers at the Black Friday sales. Now that really would be accidental shopping. Sort of.
How about you, my friends? Did you partake of the Black Friday hysteria, accidentally or otherwise? Find any treasures that made it all worthwhile?
Linking up this week with: Visible Monday, #IwillwearwhatIlike, Thursday Favourite Things, #ShareAllLinkup.