A Disturbing Fashion Adventure
In connection with a project for school, some friends and I went to the most upscale mall in Spokane dressed as street people, to see if we’d be acknowledged in the nice stores. 
Certainly we were not given the respect we were later when we went back shopping in our regular clothes; however, the most disturbing aspect of the experience for me was how creepy I felt about acting like that. Because, of course, my body language and character of interaction had to change in order for me to become a bag lady.
The humor in this outfit is the knit hat: The knit hat I actually bought new at Banana Republic last year. BR was actually one of the stores I went into dressed like this. To make it look worn, because it hasn’t been, I lint-brushed it backwards! lol
In discussing this project with one of our classes, the group concluded that many of us are denied the service needed to accomplish the purchases we are planning to make - even if we have the money.
My advice to those who can’t get waited on is two-fold:
- Carry a prop. A bag from an expensive store in the same mall, filled with tissue, works really well.
- If that fails, shop online.
My advice to retailers: Customer service can overcome nearly every customer objection. The only one I think it really can’t overcome is not having what the customer wants. If you want to compete with online shopping and come out on top, you need to make the shopping experience pleasant!
The winner of the (imaginary) customer service award for this experiment was Macy’s.
Related Posts:
Spokane Thrift Stores: Corbin Senior Center
I may have a new favorite thrift store in Spokane. Did you know that the Corbin Senior Center has one? The Senior Center is where I am going for my drawing class this summer; every Tuesday at 11, the drawing ladies take a break and go shopping. This week I bought something - a pair of nearly new, made in Italy, Classiques Entier, brown patent “croc” (as in reptile) loafers - for $2! Sorry, no camera today.
Just to review, my favorite Spokane thrift stores:
- Value Village on Boone (9 am on Mondays for the real bargains)
- Bobbi’s (formerly BJs), in the Goodwill on Third
- Salvation Army, both the one on Division and the new one out in the Valley
Apparently, this past intense winter, the Volunteers of America thrift store experienced a roof collapse. No word on re-opening.
Any thrifting tips or finds you’d like to share?
Related Posts:
Have You Ever Wanted a Different Eye Color Temporarily?
Have you ever wished you could change your eye color, just for an evening or even a few minutes? I imagine any number of young ladies were thinking that a few weeks ago, as they were auditioning to be Disney princesses.
Spokane is pretty white. I don’t mean to be racist or anything, but there are times when I wonder things like: can you have a blue-eyed Pocahontas? I mean, you can always put a wig on somebody, but changing eye color isn’t an everyday thing.
Ah, but it could be! In our increasingly competitive world, 15-year-olds could stand out from the pack (or blend in with it) by wearing colored contacts. Play with different eye color looks at lensshoppers virtual color studio.
Now I’m wondering, since it’s Tuesday and we’re thinking about young people, do you think it’s wrong for parents to allow kids to change their eye color? Does it make a difference if they wear contacts anyway?
As I look at what’s changed in the world just in the recent past, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if colored contacts became as common as body piercing or tattoos.
Related Posts:
How to Order a Latte
How life goes: yesterday my daughter had a fabulous idea for a Teen-Style Tuesday post and this afternoon we were going to shoot it. Instead, my other daughter got released from work early (she’s a nanny and the kids’ dad got some time off), so the two ladies went thrifting. I could have gone, but I had to wash my hair. Okay, that was probably over-share.
While aimlessly floating around the blogosphere, looking for inspiration for a teen-oriented post that does not require a model, I encounter The Oracle of Starbucks, via Fabulously Broke in the City. What a cute concept! Too bad it’s so poorly done.
(Disclaimer: while I do believe that our choices reveal something about what’s going on inside, I would never advise seeking supernatural wisdom apart from God. That would be foolish. This is just for fun.)
What the oracle said about me:
Personality type: Clueless
You don’t go to Starbucks much; when you do you just tag along with other people since you have nothing better to do. You would like to order a Tazo Chai Crème but don’t know how to pronounce it. Most people who drink short double split shot mocha breve are strippers.
Also drinks: Wine coolers
Can also be found at: The mall
Now, since ordering a latte is an important skill for a teen to master, at least here in The Great Northwest, I will walk you through my order and the reasoning behind it, proving that I indeed have a clue.
Short: a short is an 8 ounce cup. If you choose to order a short, you may have to explain that to the person behind the counter. Many coffee houses start their sizes at 10 or 12 ounces.
Always give the size of the beverage first!
Double: two shots of espresso. When ordering a hot drink, I always order one shot for every 4 ounces, for iced I add an extra 4 ounces. Most people consider this pretty intense.
Split-shot: half regular, half de-caf. Depending on how much caffeine I have already had, and whether I want to be bothered adding extra syllables to my order, I may leave this out.
Mocha: The simple reason I order mocha? It’s way too easy to get a flavored latte too sweet. Chocolate syrup is less sugary.
Breve: simply means use half & half instead of milk. Yum!
One thing the oracle said was true: I don’t go to Starbucks much. For the money, there are lots of places around here to get superior coffee.
What’s your order? Don’t worry, I won’t use it against you.
Related Posts:
Spokane Thrift Stores: Volunteers of America
Not for the faint of heart, the Spokane Volunteers of America Thrift Store is one of three major thrifting spots within blocks of each other, along Boone just north of downtown. Not for the faint of heart because it’s just not as convenient in some ways.
The inconveniences:
- having to ask for the fitting room to be unlocked
- they don’t take checks
- they do take credit cards, but not at every register
- no parking lot. There is plenty of free on-street parking, but you may be forced to parallel park if it’s busy.
- the racks are not sized. They are, however, colorized and sorted and labeled by category.
All that said, if you are up to the challenge, they have a variety of treasures you may not find elsewhere. The prices aren’t necessarily the best, but the day I stopped all white tags were 50% off. This Ann Taylor pink silk sheath said “soiled” on the tag (I have yet to find where it’s soiled) and was priced $4.95 on a white tag. With tax it was $2.72.
- Yesterday I wore it Summer Day Wedding style - with vintage pearls, bag, and shoes - when our church received our new pastor.
- For this Friday’s Fashion Lab, I will use this dress to test my theory that a single dress can cover the four seasons.
Related Posts:
Blogspotted!
The Space Between My Peers made the local newspaper.
Frank Sennett, who writes the Spokesman Review’s Blogspotter column, featured this blog in his column this week. And he didn’t make me sound stupid (thanks, Frank!) The funny thing is, it didn’t even occur to me until after I had done the email interview that perhaps it was for the newspaper and not just for online. He hee.
Then a real life friend sent the nicest email and said she learned something about me from the newspaper. Hey, bloggers, here’s a question for you: do all your RLFs know you blog? How did you tell them?
Related Posts:
Spokane Thrift Stores: BJs at Goodwill on 3rd
Located between Spokane landmark Dick’s Hamburgers and the vacated former Costco building on Third Avenue, the original Spokane Goodwill is worth popping in to anytime you happen to be in the vicinity. For me, that’s weekly. What if you only have a few minutes? Just park on the street or in their generous parking lot and run into Bj’s, the local boutique division of Goodwill, about which I found this quote in Goodwill’s From Yesterday to Today page:
Also in 1998, Goodwill opened Bj’s next to the downtown Spokane Goodwill store. The specialty boutique features Victorian décor, an espresso bar, and higher-end clothing, vintage jewelry, art and antiques, books, furniture and collectibles. The opening received enthusiastic local publicity. Bj’s is named after President and CEO Bobbi Johnson.
Offering quality name-brand items, many with tags still attached, as well as vintage clothing, Bj’s also has a women’s plus size section just inside the door, to the right. Unfortunately they have yet to implement sizing the racks, although the main store is starting to do that now. Also, the last time I was in there the espresso bar was torn apart. But espresso isn’t what we’re after anyway, is it?
Be warned: next week, June 4th - 8th, 2007, the parking lot will be being paved.
Bj’s, the local name for the boutique division of Goodwill, not to be confused with BJ’s Wholesale Club, which I had never before heard of.
Related Posts:
Spokane Thrift Stores: Value Village on Boone
If you’ve been around here any length of time, you have probably heard me talk about Value Village. The one I go to is on Boone, across from the Arena.
The good:
- Every Monday (with a few exceptions, usually Monday holidays), both Value Villages in Spokane feature 99 cent Monday - every item with a specified color of tag, no matter what price is on it, is only 99 cents. Look on top of the rack for the signage designating the color, or just ask.
- The organization of the racks cannot be beat! Each rack is labeled as to what sort of item is hanging there, the racks are sized, and within the sizes they are colorized.
- I almost always find current items, many brand-new, with tags still on, even in the 99 cent color tag.
- Need to try on? The fitting rooms are all on the east side of the building, used by men and women alike, but they have mirrors inside and most of them lock.
- Plenty of free parking.
The bad:
- Prices start high. (Although that may not be bad — that’s probably why there’s so much stuff left when it gets down to $1.)
- Rejecting a “colored tagged” item and hanging it on the rack outside the fitting room sentences it to the barrel. Where it goes from there, I have no idea, but no one else gets a chance at it.
- With tons of stuff only 99 cents, you can count on a crowd at opening. Most of the people are nice and friendly, though, even the ones that are making their living off it.
The ugly:
Not long ago, the store didn’t have many shopping carts. Apparently, people began arriving earlier and earlier in order to be one of the first in the door. Even if you were waiting out there when they unlocked the door, you were not guaranteed a cart. It was downright dangerous!
During this period was when we began going every Monday. I made a decision that getting a shopping cart wasn’t worth compromising my dignity. Thankfully, they now have alot more.
Now, since most of you are not here; where is your favorite thrift store?
Related Posts:
