27 June 2009

i am boring (apparently)

I know this because I was told so today.

Twice. By two different people.

I've said it before but it bears repeating - I loathe clothes shopping. I especially find it torturous during the summer time. Mostly because I'm more of an earth tone kind of color palette person and I'm allergic to sequins and glitter on my clothing. (Many people look very nice in this, I do not. In any way. It makes me look like a pinata, I simply can't pull it off.)

I was out and about picking up some artwork for a show I'm hanging tomorrow and decided to swing into Kohl's to check out their sandals and maybe see if I could score some plain t-shirts.

I was milling about in the shirt section when a very nice sales lady asked if I needed help.

Her: Is there something I can help you with?

Me: Yeah, do you have any shirts that aren't neon colored?


Her: Its summer. (Good thing she mentioned it, I had noticed the burning ball of fire in the sky as well as the smothering heat bouncing off everything. Wondered what was going on with that.)


Me: I'm aware, thanks. I was just wondering if you had anything in more neutral tones.


Her: Not at the moment. Besides, that would be boring! (Said with a smile, though.)


Okay...

So off I went to the other side of the store to look at sandals. My pair has served me well for several summers and have taken the definition of pathetic to a whole new level. I have no choice, they have to be replaced.

Problem is my back. It doesn't take kindly to heels so I need to find a flat one. Fine. But one that is more then a quarter of a millimeter thick. Which makes things tricky.

I encountered another saleswoman at the shoe department.

Her: Can I help you?

Me: (feeling leary, that question didn't go so well the first time) Yeah, do you have flat sandals that are thicker then these? (Holding up something that looks like a sheet of paper with a couple of licorice strings hanging off it.)


Her: Aren't those cute?


Me: Yeah, but I need something with more support but no heel.


Her: That's kind of boring, isn't it?



**insert colossally huge sigh here**

Needless to say, I didn't buy anything in either area. Because I'm boring. Good to know that's the reason I find it so difficult to buy clothes and shoes. I wasn't offended by their observations, its true. I'm a plain clothing and shoe person. In fact, it was kind of amusing. Just didn't help with my goal of new shirts and shoes.

I went off to another shoe shop where I also struck out. Came home and visited this site. (Which I highly recommend. I order shoes from them all the time and their customer service kicks butt so there's no problem with sending shoes back that don't fit right or are just plain ugly in real life.) Ordered these. Problem solved.

So now my very nice boring sandals are on their way. At least someone has realized dull people need shoes too.

8 comments:

Eva said...

Someone who writes a posting that makes us laugh like this can't be boring. My husband and I noticed that Germany maybe isn't the service desert as the roumors say. But what worries me is the growing uniformity. I am this kind of minority customer, too, I have special needs -- like flat shoes, too, that are not perfectly flat. I'd look silly in neon colours. Or I'm looking for special tools, materials or paints in vain. I see diversity disappear more and more. By the way: I don't think it is proper behaviour to tell a customer she -- or her choice -- is boring. Uniformity is boring. Neon colors for each and every one -- this is boring.

Jean Baardsen said...

I could hold a competition with you for most boring. My shoes are walking shoes. I have two pairs, one white pair and one black pair. The kind where you have to tie up the shoelaces. I have back problems too, and this is all I wear. I own absolutely no other shoes. T-shirts? I get them at the thrift shop. Several years ago there was something here billed as a Pepsi Sail for tall ships. It was a joke, and my favorite thrift shop is still trying to sell off all the leftover t-shirts. They are either navy or beige, with a small logo. I have some of the navy ones. Actually, I get almost all of my clothes at thrift shops. For one thing, you don't have to deal with salespeople.

Cathy said...

FWIW, I recently became a *HUGE* fan of Merrell shoes. Their Siena sandal is my go-to shoe for summer. I have narrow feet, weird arches, can't abide heels either, and require shock absorption. NAYY, but they are available at Zappos and Shoebuy (among other sources). An added feature: the cats don't chew on them, as they do with some of my OTHER favorite footwear.

Cathy said...

FWIW, I recently became a *HUGE* fan of Merrell shoes. Their Siena sandal is my go-to shoe for summer. I have narrow feet, weird arches, can't abide heels either, and require shock absorption. NAYY, but they are available at Zappos and Shoebuy (among other sources). An added feature: the cats don't chew on them, as they do with some of my OTHER favorite footwear.

Naner Lady said...

I'm a big fan of Merrell shoes as well, both Rob and I were them.
I researched them online before I spent $100 on my first pair to see if the value was there and I have been very happy.

Quiltin' Mama said...

Love the clothing from here:
http://firstmountaindesign.com/
comfy, unique, love the tencel Kimono jackets
Also love my flat LLBean flip flops whatever the base is made of they are very comfortable and no toe pinching.
Happy Sunday!

Kim Hambric said...

If you ever find you've got insomnia, please feel free to step into my closet. I do have an array of shoes however. All flat, all black, all boring. No wait! There's a brown pair. That's when I really want to live it up.

I consider modern shoe designers (Manolo Blanik) right up there with the same b*st*ards that came up with Chinese foot binding. Not only do a have a wardrobe of flat black shoes, I also have a wardrobe of shoe inserts and ankle wraps.

I find people who try to force clothing trends on others to be boring.

Yarnhog said...

I refuse to wear uncomfortable clothing or shoes. Not doing it. I used to work in a high-profile sort of job and had to wear hose and heels every day. When I left, I swore I would never dress uncomfortable again. I love Dansko sandals; every summer I buy a new pair in a different style, and they last forever, so now I have a mini wardrobe of them for all sorts of different (comfortable) outfits.