I couldn’t even be benched. My recent shopping for MOB items started with a magazine pic and then went like this:
1. Online: Search online for the actual name of that dress ( only has brand and price in magazine) on the brand’s website. Brand only sells either online or lists stockists.
2. Online: Search for that dress on the stockists online sites. Keen to see if online sites say which stores have the dress. They don’t. I don’t want to pay $329 (shipping would be free at that price) in case it’s not right and I hate the bother of returning. So...contact the brand by email. What stores in Auckland did they sell that dress to? Response... only one chain. They suggest go to my local to see if it’s there.
3. B&M shop. Go to one of my two locals. They do...try on and take pics. I’m not sure.
4. Online: Decide against it but think about good things about it and try to emulate. Start massive online search on brands and boutiques, find some, remember about some nearby boutiques that might work...
5. B&M shop. Visit 2 such boutiques, no luck. Drive to nearby small mall. Check sister boutique of the other local. ( Have taken suitable jewellery and shoes this time, in case). See previous dress plus a new one that might be better. Try it on, take pics. Not sure. Leave store.
Wander through small mall. Go into department store. Find sale racks. Spot cobalt dress for $40. Try on, buy it.
6. Online: start searching 4 shoe websites for silver sandals. Save some ideas on wish lists. “Check in store”- 2 stores near tomorrow’s meeting place have options in my size, one in each. Drat. Also check 3 websites for clutches. One website has two local branches- but which one carries the clutch I spy? Another website is Australian but has stores here. Which currency are the prices in? Try to check in store- put in postcode. Nope, that postcode is not Australian. No good.
7. B&M shop. After meeting, now with time off, go to first of those shoe stores. They have the one pair and the wrong colour but right size of the other. Try both on. The wrong colour one hurts my little toes. The right size pair is not totally silver, slightly taupe...but only subtly. Lovely sparkly strap, small heel, comfy, made in Spain, half price sale. Buy them.
8. B&M shop. One branch of one of the clutch stores is down the road. Pop in. Oh sorry, our website is only showing Queen St stock. Thanks a million. I came here for nothing.
9. B&M shop. Queen St store is on my way home back to my side of the city, it’s getting later and traffic is getting worse... but in for a penny, in for a pound as they say. Go in there. Oh, the one you liked on the website was on sale? We have to go to the basement to get it for you. She does... IRL it is a lot smaller than on the website and the colour is not quite right. Apologise to her for her trouble ( have checked others, none quite right and all expensive) and leave. Get stuck in terrible traffic.
10. Online. I have a medical appointment on the other side of the city in 2 more days. There is a big mall near there. The Australian chain has a store there and so does another Australian chain. No info on whether either has the clutches on their website in store. Check both websites and think there may be good choices, but you can’t really tell the exact shade of silver or the size online...
11. B&M. After the medical appointment 2 days later I drive to the big mall on the way home. Both stores have several clutches that could work. Colette by Colette Hayman ( thanks Brooklyn!) has 30% off all bags for Mother’s Day. I cannot decide between 2 different ones. Both really good with the sandals. So... buy both!
And that’s my story. I don’t know how I got any work done this week!
Why can’t all websites say which stores the stock is in??