Marybeth_1966
12-07-2007, 11:53 PM
I would like to share a shopping story with everyone. Guess you can chalk it up to the fact that I am new to the site. Such liberation to actually talk about these experiences!
I love to shop--and their is no better time than the holidays to be a man in the womans department. I have shopped for my wife and myself for years. I've gotten past the fear of shopping in the womans department years ago. Maybe it has been the years of experience or just a sense of so what. What I have found lately is that shopping is maybe not enough. Lately I have become less stelth about trying to see how long a skirt or pants would fall on me. Or maybe how a jacket or coat would fit. I'm always in drab. I try to find a back corner of the department if I want to try on a coat or jacket. If it is a skirt then I try and just look for the coast to be clear and hold it up to myself. I feel an incredable rush from this experience! I do not make myself an sideshow. My goal is really to see if the clothing will fit--I'm not trying to get attention--really. In the processs I sometimes get caught by a customer or a salesperson. Generally it results to eyes raised to the sky or a gentle smile--I love that when it happens. I remember searching for pantyhose not willing to grab the first package that I found and rushing to the counter. Two young girls seem to know that my interest was greater than normal and provided knowing smiles.
In my last outing I stopped at a major department store with a big red star. I was looking at formal dresses and the salesperson said "I guess I dont have to start a dressing room for you" I dont know what triggered my response but I said "guess not cause I have not found anything that I want to try on" with a sarcastic smile. She was thrown. She then asked if I was looking for an outfit for a sepcial occasion. I answered that the occasion generally comes from the outfit and kept looking and touching the long dresses. She responded with if I had a color preference. I said in a half joking response that I needed to find a dress to go with a pair of black velvet heals that I just purchased. Without missing a beat she pulled the most wonderful dress off of the rack and said that she bought the same dress last week. The price was less than the cost of the fabric. She said that I was welcome to try it on--store was slow--no one in the dressing rooms. I froze but after looking at the dress I said I are you sure? She said yes and asked how high my heel was on my shoes. I said probably 3 inches and the next thing I know I was lead to the dressing room with her carrying the dress. I had on pretty underthings on which is not uncommon when I shop. The dress was like a magnet. I went in in drab and she floated outside to make sure that I was alone. I was shaking trying on the dress. My ead was buzzing. The dress fit perfect. She came back and asked how I was doing and asked if I wanted to step out onto the platform to look in the mirror. I was not ready for that although I really wanted to. I bought the dress and got such nice complements from her on my taste. She told me all about the function that she wore the dress to and the complements she got. OMG I have shpped for years but never expereiece this level of personal connection.
I left with my new formed confidence and purchased the shoes that I discribed in the shoe department of the same store carrying my dress in a large dress hanger bag!--same thing--no bias.
I've been shoppoing for womens clothes for almost 15 years and I honestly believe that the sales staff has never been more accepting than they are now! I hope this may inspire anyone who is shy in finding their dream outfit to push aside thier fears and realize that every salesperson wants to see that smile on a customers face regardless of gender.
Has anyone else noticed how approachable salepeople have become? Was it always this way or has the world changed in a positive way for us?
I love to shop--and their is no better time than the holidays to be a man in the womans department. I have shopped for my wife and myself for years. I've gotten past the fear of shopping in the womans department years ago. Maybe it has been the years of experience or just a sense of so what. What I have found lately is that shopping is maybe not enough. Lately I have become less stelth about trying to see how long a skirt or pants would fall on me. Or maybe how a jacket or coat would fit. I'm always in drab. I try to find a back corner of the department if I want to try on a coat or jacket. If it is a skirt then I try and just look for the coast to be clear and hold it up to myself. I feel an incredable rush from this experience! I do not make myself an sideshow. My goal is really to see if the clothing will fit--I'm not trying to get attention--really. In the processs I sometimes get caught by a customer or a salesperson. Generally it results to eyes raised to the sky or a gentle smile--I love that when it happens. I remember searching for pantyhose not willing to grab the first package that I found and rushing to the counter. Two young girls seem to know that my interest was greater than normal and provided knowing smiles.
In my last outing I stopped at a major department store with a big red star. I was looking at formal dresses and the salesperson said "I guess I dont have to start a dressing room for you" I dont know what triggered my response but I said "guess not cause I have not found anything that I want to try on" with a sarcastic smile. She was thrown. She then asked if I was looking for an outfit for a sepcial occasion. I answered that the occasion generally comes from the outfit and kept looking and touching the long dresses. She responded with if I had a color preference. I said in a half joking response that I needed to find a dress to go with a pair of black velvet heals that I just purchased. Without missing a beat she pulled the most wonderful dress off of the rack and said that she bought the same dress last week. The price was less than the cost of the fabric. She said that I was welcome to try it on--store was slow--no one in the dressing rooms. I froze but after looking at the dress I said I are you sure? She said yes and asked how high my heel was on my shoes. I said probably 3 inches and the next thing I know I was lead to the dressing room with her carrying the dress. I had on pretty underthings on which is not uncommon when I shop. The dress was like a magnet. I went in in drab and she floated outside to make sure that I was alone. I was shaking trying on the dress. My ead was buzzing. The dress fit perfect. She came back and asked how I was doing and asked if I wanted to step out onto the platform to look in the mirror. I was not ready for that although I really wanted to. I bought the dress and got such nice complements from her on my taste. She told me all about the function that she wore the dress to and the complements she got. OMG I have shpped for years but never expereiece this level of personal connection.
I left with my new formed confidence and purchased the shoes that I discribed in the shoe department of the same store carrying my dress in a large dress hanger bag!--same thing--no bias.
I've been shoppoing for womens clothes for almost 15 years and I honestly believe that the sales staff has never been more accepting than they are now! I hope this may inspire anyone who is shy in finding their dream outfit to push aside thier fears and realize that every salesperson wants to see that smile on a customers face regardless of gender.
Has anyone else noticed how approachable salepeople have become? Was it always this way or has the world changed in a positive way for us?