And then there are the post-Christmas sales. I know that (a) I should be saving my money and (b) I really don’t need much. But when someone is dangling lovely clothing in front of you for massive markdowns and you are being told that you can help the American economy by buying … well, who could really say no?
Boxing Day (the 26th) found me at Chesterfield Mall at 8:30, where a hopeful Dillards employee was handing out black garbage bin bags at the entrance to facilitate the massive amounts he expected people to buy. Sadly for Dillards, it was neither as crowded as I’d expected, nor were the deals as good. My bin bag remained unopened. Macy’s was a different matter, with lots of 75% off signs and additional early morning specials. I walked out with a beautifully designed Evan Picone suit for less than it costs me to fill my car’s tank at home. Next off to Frontenac Plaza, St. Louis’ poshest mall, where some of Saks’ markdowns were so extreme you wondered if they were taking a loss. A Cole Haan handbag that retailed for more than $300 came home with me for $65. Selected high-end designers throughout the store were 75% off. Yes, I bought some of them, too. We then attempted West County mall, but by this point the whole city was up and shopping. After losing an hour looking for a parking space (40 minutes of it trapped in a gridlocked multi-story garage), we gave up, leaving me to imagine what glories might have tempted at Nordstrom.
This strategic retreat left some cash in my discretionary shopping budget for Round 2 at the Osage Beach Outlet Mall in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, where I was visiting Dad for the weekend. While he couldn’t share my shopping glee the way Mom did the day before, he was wonderfully helpful in carrying bags and had the patience of a saint hanging out on various chairs and benches while I indulged.
I am usually pretty ambivalent about outlet malls. Long experience has taught me that many brands manufacture a whole different, and cheaper, range of clothing for their “outlet” stores, and sometimes the so-called deals aren’t as good as in the department stores. You really need to know your base prices before you can evaluate whether or not you’re getting a deal. While Ralph Lauren
and Liz Claiborne were a bust, the Jones New York store was beguiling, with a well-stocked rack of summer clearance stuff for foolish prices. Some people find fulfilment bagging game; No hunter could feel any more satisfied bringing down an elusive buck as I did when I snagged a pair of tailored Bermudas that retailed for $80 for $5.99.And then came Coldwater Creek. This branch of one of my favourite shops is new since I last visited Osage Beach, and it is a true outlet. Everything I saw on the racks I’d seen in the main stores, and everything was well below the original price. Summer and autumn stuff was priced to clear; plenty of items were 85% or more under the original cost. I bought a pair of formal trousers I had seriously considered buying for full price at $95, and for which I already own the matching blouse, for $4.99. I was nearly delirious with happiness, only surpassed when I found a pair of espadrilles that matched the Jones Bermudas for $4.99. Similar deals abounded, in such profusion that I had to force myself to stop shopping after an hour. I might not have needed that bin bag at Dillards, but I could hardly lift the hefty bag of goodies I emerged with here. Dad had his work cut out for him to haul this largess back to the car.
At this point I officially called it quits and retired to a Mexican restaurant for restorative margaritas, content in the realisation that I’d done my bit to fight recession. God Bless America, and God Bless American Retail.
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