Shopping Woes

As I have already announced to most people, there is an Important Interview coming up this Saturday, for which I went out to buy a new dress (yay! Legitimate reason to shop!). However, in my elation at finding a decent, nice-looking dress at an affordable price ($58.80, pictured below, from M)phosis), I neglected to take into account the fact that the interview venue would probably, in a show of how much money it has that it could turn the place into a mini-replica of the North pole, be invariably of the freeze-one's-nipples-off variety.

And so off I marched to get me a nice nipple-warmer (not discounting areolae, shoulders and arms, of course). But damn, I went with the wrong kinda shopping partner. Although it is imperative that you get a friend who will tell you honestly if you're looking like a bag lady or her favourite couch, this does not mean that you want someone so brutally blunt that it could shatter your painstakingly built up confidence - or bravado, if you want to be specific - with a simple "you need more lift" (gesture with hands in the chest area) upon setting eyes on the above-pictured dress which I put on together with the shrug I was test-driving. And that I'm-not-too-sure-about-that-dress look he was giving me? Withering.

It was even more humiliating that said friend uttered this within the earshot of shoppers, salesgirls and tag-along friend (his, not mine) alike. And the straw which broke this camel's back?

"You should wear a maximiser™ along with the dress". I was wearing a bloody maximiser™! And I told him, using all the effort in my entire being not to turn a bright tomato-red or die of embarrassment, whichever came first.

At another shop, while I was trying on a cropped cardigan, he told me that I should fasten only the lower of the two buttons. This I found weird, and in bad taste, but which I did to prove so. His response? "You need to pull the top down." By that time I'd already hastily undid the button. Tag-along friend (who, by the way, was very nice and did not complain once even though I very inconsiderately ploughed through two or three shops with full knowledge that he hadn't had dinner yet, and was hungry. I apologise, tag-along friend. But in my defence - I did suggest that he and my friend go off an eat their dinner first (I didn't really need them anyway). But of course they were too polite to take up my offer.) also was of the same opinion as me, so imagine my disbelief when he said "that'll make your boobs look bigger, mah".

At that point in time, I think I totally shut him off, and as such did not realise when he said my ass looked big in one cardigan, nor was I aware that I responded with a "shut up". Later on that night he told me he was very hurt at what I said, and I was - and still am - dreadfully sorry. It's just that my mouth sometimes moves too fast for my brain.

Disclaimer: I am in no way dissing my friend, whom I know was speaking with the best intentions. My point is that there are certain people (i.e. men) whom you should never go shopping with, not because they are mean and nasty, but because they'll unwittingly crush your fragile ego (and by "you" I mean me, not you of course, ohwonderfulreader). Oh and by the way, if I sound at all upset, I really am not. Anymore. But looking back, it was rather funny, so that's why I decided to blog about it. Friend, if ever you read this, do not be offended! I love you and I know you meant well.

Anyway, I ended up buying the Lower-Button-Only cardi - actually, I don't know what to call it. And, at $69.90 (Esprit, below), was considerably more expensive than my dress.

Also, people, I still do think I look rather chic in the dress. So no need to leave ego-boosting comments, bless your souls.

Edit (16th October 2005, 12.58am): And just so I can prove it, this is me, in my best model-esque pose (read: lousy - see fat oozing out my left underarm). Oh by the way the interview went well! I hope I get the job.