I Bow to the Shopping Gods

Today was an important day for me.

It was my first time every entering the following stores: Nordstrom (you gasp, but it's true), Anthropologie, and Zara. The new, highly luxe addition to my local mall is a thing of beauty, boasting not only the fore-mentioned stores, but also a Betsey Johnson, BCBG Max Azria, Stil, Marciano, and many other fabulous money-sucking places. I am seriously in love with Zara, because it's actually affordable, and Anthropologie, because it has so many pretty clothes and home items. But the real winners for the day were the shoe section of Nordstrom and Betsey Johnson. In Nordstrom, I bonded with all the shoe sales assistants (who were all men, by the way. Am I the only one who finds that odd?) as we oohed and aahed over pairs of Manolo Blahniks, gazed reverently at those Prada shoes that have been everywhere, and debated the merits of those studded Burberry heels. In Betsey Johnson, after soaking in the beauty of all the fabulous party dresses, I fell in love. With a pair of fingerless leather gloves. They were black and soft and smooth, with ladylike bows on the backs, and they were so gorgeous and comfortable and supple and lovely I could barely bring myself to take them off. They were $60, and they are now added on to my Hannukah wish list. Le sigh...

It may seem like a regular shopping trip to all you fashionistas, but for me, it was a religious experience of sorts. Not to mention my first mall trip in over a year (since I got sick.) I know many people hate malls, but not me. If they have the right stores, I find them to be some sort of fun alternate shopping universe, and an instant mood lifter. So head over to the Natick Mall if you live anywhere in the Boston area. The new part is wonderful!