Or, when is a wrap not a wrap?

So yesterday morning, I hightailed off to our local branch for the much vaunted arrival of another +J collection, and grabbed the two pieces I had earmarked as destined for my wardrobe.

The quilted vest did not disappoint. Beautifully cut and surprisingly, quite flattering, it is the very thing. I ended up buying it in black, which makes it a duplicate. Or an upgrade, depending on how you look at it. Now I have two black quilted vests. I am trying to convince myself they do different things, and that I shouldn’t let go of a closet workhorse for this fancy new arrival which is looking like a keeper. Or not yet at least.

That is not the problem, though.

The problem is this very lovely plisse skirt. This was supposed to be a wrap skirt, and in my effort to escape the scrum, I failed to notice that for reasons I cannot fathom, they closed the waistband and fastened the thing with a zipper. The only rationale I can think of is to preserve the shape of the hem, which is feeble if you ask me, because it doesn’t even match to begin with. To all intents and purposes, this is a wrap skirt. With the wrap stitched into the waistband.

Like, why, Uniqlo? Why?? You promised me a wrap skirt. And as far as I can tell, that’s exactly what you made, until some bright spark decided to stitch it closed. Seriously, is your skirt factory being held to ransom by the Worshipful Company of Zipper Inserters?

It looks like the simplest procedure to open up the seam, release the waistband and add a couple of snap fasteners, but that’s not the point. The point is that feeling when a trusted brand lets you down, and you have to take the scissors to a lovely new skirt.

By the grace of the Goddess, grant me the will to make the first incision. I may never wear it otherwise.