A few days ago, Gulley and I got an email from our friend Steph. She asked if we wanted to meet for breakfast and then go to the grand opening of the new Nordstrom Rack store.
Sure, count me in. By the way, what exactly is Nordstrom Rack?
Turns out it’s a fancy name for a Nordstrom outlet, otherwise known as the store where dreams come true.
So, yesterday after breakfast, we headed to the big grand opening.
Apparently we weren’t the only ones who decided to attend. There were women everywhere grabbing clothes off racks, waiting in long lines just to get in the dressing room, and balancing four boxes of shoes and eight handbags at the same time.
It was a sight to behold. Honestly, it brought a tear to my eye to see the dedication to shopping excellence.
Gulley, Steph, and I started off as a merry little band of shoppers.
We went straight to a rack full of Ed Hardy t-shirts and True Religion jeans. That was our first clue that we were in the midst of some seriously discounted prices.
Pretty soon, we all went our separate ways as we searched the store for bargains.
This is where I need to let y’all know that I am a fabulous shopper. Truly, I am like a bird dog in a field full of quail. (P will be so proud of me for that analogy, even though I really don’t know what it means other than I have skills for finding things.)
I have a sense of what will look good, what is truly a good deal, and the ability to skim merchandise quickly to ensure someone else doesn’t beat me to the last of anything. Honestly, I am a little prideful when it comes to my shopping ability and am even a little picky about who I shop with because I don’t need any dead weight holding me back.
And I mean that in the most loving way.
Steph left me in the dust.
From the moment we walked into the store, Gulley and I watched her eyes glaze over. She handed us each a Nordstrom Rack bag and began barking orders like a drill seargant, “DON’T OVERTHINK ANYTHING. JUST FILL THE BAG AND MAKE FINAL DECISIONS LATER!”
While I was standing by a rack full of sweater dresses, marveling at the incredibly low prices, she had already made her way through half the store and abandoned her tote bag for a full-on shopping cart.
Every now and then, she’d circle back to where we were with her cart full of things she thought we needed to see. Scarves, t-shirts, boots, and handbags. With dizzying efficiency, she’d say, “Gulley, you need this jacket because you can wear it to an Aggie football game! Mel, I found this pink shirt that will go with the scarf I showed you earlier! Girls, you need to get to the shoe department IMMEDIATELY and check out these boots! GO! GO! GO!” It was unlike anything I have ever experienced.
And just when I thought I’d seen the height of shopping excellence, I glanced up and saw her standing next to a rack of coats while talking on her cell phone. Not only was she simultaneously looking for bargains for Gulley and me, but she was on the phone with her mama describing various items that she thought she might like.
By the time we stood in a twenty minute line to check out, she had finished her Christmas shopping, bought three jackets for her mama and her mama’s best friend, found incredible sale items for Gulley and me, and become friends with most of the sales staff. She’d even befriended a lady whose shoes got stolen after she took them off while trying on a new pair.
I humbly bow to her shopping prowess. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever witnessed.
Sadly, I didn’t have my camera to document any of this in photos. P had the camera because he needed to take some photos for his landscape portfolio.
Whatever, like that’s important.
I desperately needed to take photos of all the mass shopping chaos and the cute scarf I bought. Oh, AND I saw Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs? Married to Eva Longoria?) getting out of his white Ferrari. But the important thing is that P was able to take photos of someone’s Southern Wax Myrtles.
So while I can’t show you photos of my bargain purchases, I can tell you about them. I bought a JWLA shirt very similar to this one for just $30.00. I found a darling multi-colored scarf with a ruffled edge. I bought a long, plaid tunic-type shirt that will look great with a belt and a beautiful sweater coat that was 75% off its regular price, otherwise known as dirt cheap.
It was one of the best shopping experiences of my life. The savings! The clothes! The realization that I am friends with the most proficient shopper in the San Antonio area and perhaps the southern United States!
My point is that if you find yourself in San Antonio, you need to head out to The Rim shopping center and get yourself to the Rack. There are some serious bargains to be found.
You might even see Tony Parker. And maybe you’ll be fortunate enough to have your camera with you.
Okay, don’t I usually answer some questions or something?
1. Heather asks: “Am I allowed to wear leggings if I’m 36? I’m wondering if I could pull off leggings with my boots? Obviously, I’d wear a long sweater or whatever on top, but are they too trendy?”
I may be slightly biased because I am 37 and don’t think I’m too old for leggings.
Yes, it’s a trendy look but I am a fan. It’s all about finding the right pieces. A good pair of leggings, a nice sweater dress or tunic top and boots. Plus, I think you need to be a little tall so that the look doesn’t overwhelm your figure.
You can find leggings everywhere right now, but these are really inexpensive. I’ve also seen these at Target.
For the top, you could do something like this. Or this. Or this from Old Navy is cute and affordable.
When it comes to boots, you can find them in all colors, sizes, styles and price ranges. I really like these. Or these because I have been dreaming about them for the last year or so.
And don’t forget, even skinny jeans are okay if you wear them tucked into boots. It’s like the boots are miracle workers that redeem even the worst fashion travesties.
2. Hollie asks: “I just bought these UGGs, they are really tall or you can fold them over. What would you wear with them to look like you bought them with some sort of clue? Please help.
Hollie, please see answer to question 1. Those boots would be perfection with leggings or over skinny jeans.
And I’m only about 98% envious that you own them.
Who knows? Maybe I’ll find my very own pair for 150% off next time I go to the Rack.
Which may be tomorrow.
Y’all have a great Friday!