playing dress up
August 23rd, 2006 @ 11:51 pm | blonde moments, dc | Post a CommentAnother day of shopping, another day of not buying. I even took Nic’s advice and went to Anthropologie, where everything I tried on made me look like an ogre playing dress up in a children’s theatre costume room. Anyone else every have that experience there? In Nic’s defense, none of the pretty dresses featured on their website were actually in the store. I really don’t know why. Except that in Washington, people are preparing for fall and winter. Nevermind that it’s AUGUST, and dammit I need a dress for MEXICO.
But enough about shopping. What I really need is someone to design a dress for me, a la Project Runway. Preferably Uli or Michael (I heart them both) and preferably not Vincent or Jeffrey (gag). I would like it to be v-neck, have some structure, and come in a great pattern that has jewel tones in it. Is that really too much to ask for? Does anyone look good in the thin shapeless jersey dress-ish things hanging in every store right now?
Oh right, we are done. talking. about. shopping.
Let’s talk about happy things, like how I have gotten nothing done at work this week! And how I think I have a UTI! And how I have skipped two morning workouts in a row!
No really, I am going to stop being Debbie Downer with ADD and tell you a happy story.
I have a very good friend who is moving to my neighborhood this weekend. She signed the lease papers, changed her car registration, paid the deposit, hired the movers, and picked up her new keys. The lease obliges her to fork over $X,XXX per month, which is about one full paycheck, because this is DC, and please fork over one arm and one leg per month just to live in a crime-free-ish area. Today, three days before move-in, she gets a call from the leasing office informing her there has been a mixup in prices, and actually, because of some weird and bizarre set of circumstances, the management is required BY LAW to rent the apartment for ($X,XXX minus $1,000) each month. Just like that, through some foreign goddess we will call Obscure Rent Control Laws, she saves a crapload of money every month. It’s as close as any of us will ever get to money simply falling out of the sky.
Because I do not seem to have such good luck, I will just have to continue following armored trucks around town. One of these days, one of them is bound to tip over in a strong gust of wind, and I plan to strike it rich. And hire my very own dress designer.
Thanks for the good news…that’s awesome for your friend. It’s good to know things like that can even happen in D.C.
written by Erika
August 24th, 2006 @ 6:46 am
Bah, I hate it when you expend a whole lot of energy shopping and nothing actually gets accomplished. Have you tried the sale items at JCrew? They have summery dresses all year long…
Oh, and I heart Project Runway! I taped it last night, so I haven’t had a chance to see what happened, but I am so with you on your choice of designers. I was sad when Alison and Katie were “auf’d”, as they say.
written by RA
August 24th, 2006 @ 9:32 am
I love Michael and Ulli, too. It’s always so much easier to like the designers who are kind to other contestants and, um, not monkey ass crazy.
And, oh, the urban legend of a super rent controlled apartment. Sigh. My pregnant friend and her husband live in an uber cheap 2-bedroom. It is also a 5-story walk up. After the baby is born, I plan to hang out in the entry way and wait for the day when she has a breakdown while trying to hall baby, stroller, diaper bag, and groceries up five flights of stairs. Then I will innocently suggest that maybe they need a new place? And maybe they want to transfer the lease over to me.
written by Laurel
August 24th, 2006 @ 10:56 am
Her rent is going down by a thousand dollars?!? HOLY CRAP! WHERE IS THAT? I WANT TO MOVE THERE! When I rent out my condo in December, I already know that I’m not going to be able to get the full amount needed to cover my mortgage. Ugh!
written by Liberal Banana
August 24th, 2006 @ 12:19 pm
Oh - and no, no one looks good in those shapeless jersey dresses. And if you do? We hate you.
written by Liberal Banana
August 24th, 2006 @ 12:20 pm
I honestly thought that rent control was an urban myth that only existed on 6 rat-infested stuido apartments in New York City.
It’s so unspeakably awesome. I can’t even begin to think about all the things I’d do with $1000 extra dollars… EVERY MONTH!
written by Jennifer
August 24th, 2006 @ 12:40 pm
I know what you mean about Anthropologie clothes, the stores are beautiful, but unless you a Kate Moss spindly thing, trying on any of the dresses makes one feel like a pig in a tutu. I would be tempted to hit the thrift stores, seeing as retro is in. Or is it? I find it hard to find time to follow trends these days.
That story about the rent controlled apartment is as close as any of us will ever get to a modern miracle. It’s lifted my spirits somewhat.
written by emma
August 24th, 2006 @ 2:30 pm
Wow, your friend is SO lucky! That kind of stuff NEVER happens!
written by haggalicious
August 25th, 2006 @ 4:51 pm
I practically live in Mexico and we have all those cool lazy summer dresses hanging in our stores year round! What size do ya need? I’ll send ya a few, they are super cheap and we can return the ones you don’t like!! Welcome to the “Della Wear” boutique!!
written by Della
August 26th, 2006 @ 1:39 pm
Girl do I know what you’re going through! Try shopping for a pretty bridal shower dress or rehearsal dinner dress or for that matter after wedding day brunch dress in the middle of February or March! That was my life just a couple of months ago and I remember how stressed I was because of it. But now as I sit here looking over at my amazing hubby I know that it didn’t matter what I wore to any of those things because at the end of the day I got to marry the man of my dreams and live happily ever after.
Try not to stress and enjoy these last couple of months… but know that all your efforts will be worth it in the end!
written by Ella
August 26th, 2006 @ 2:29 pm
I bet you can find all sorts of summer dresses on sale (since it’s time for Fall) online, no?
And awesome rent Gods needs to come my way also. Rent SUCKS.
And even though he was kicked off, I like Keith’s stuff. He can make me a dress any day.
written by Isabel
August 28th, 2006 @ 3:11 pm