kate spade, new york, a one-time visit...

I chose to go to kate spade-new york, a high-end women's boutique store.  This store was at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Outlet Stores, which was also a first visit for me. I chose a high-end boutique store because it's not my normal habitat...used-store shopping is. I've always wanted to go to one, and experience what it feels like, and even be a consumer in one. It was almost like going to a party. As soon as I walked in, the vibrant colours assaulted my senses, and loud, upbeat music was playing. Initially I was the only customer in the store. The Sales Clerk was very inviting, providing good vibes, eye contact but gave me space and freedom to just meander. I felt safe.  I enjoyed the 'bling' and how the lights displayed on the jewelry. You could almost taste the opulence. It seemed like a scent free place, although there were whiffs of perfumes from incoming customers. I loved the vibrant colours and mirrors that reflected the displays. Red was used as an accent against the turquoise blue, with splashes of lime green and orange. White was used as an offset colour. Being a very tactile person, I touched the fabrics, enjoying the feel of the silks, wools, satins, taffetas and materials I didn't recognize. I loved the weaves of some of the fabrics, and softness of others. It was very sensual. The massive collection of purses was almost too much to take in, all this 'eye-candy' displayed on walls and racks. I would have loved to bring one of them home, but even with 40% and sometimes an added 30% sale price, the prices were exorbitant...and the items remained where they were. I felt pleasure in visualizing, touching, feeling and enjoying the environment, listening to the music, hearing the background chatter of incoming customers and the greetings of the sales staff.

Eventually, I was able to pick something out that was appealing and that I would use, some eye candy to remember this moment. Experiencing the purchasing had a warmth to it as my item was wrapped carefully while friendly chatter was going on, sales slip discretely slipped into the bag, and the Sales Clerk walked around the counter and handed the bag to me personally, like a friend passing along a gift. As I walked out, I felt the cool on my face of the winter afternoon and breathed in the fresh air. As I heard the theme song from "Friends" with the words, "I'll be there for you..." on the outdoor speakers, this became a serendipitous moment. I had a grin on my face, and felt a bit like what Carrie Bradshaw must have felt like on "Sex in the City", with a special purchase in a bright, pink and white bag, just kind of dangling in my hand and swishing to-and-fro as I walked. My step was lighter, and although I don't feel the need to go  back, it was fun to experience being a part of an environment that isn't my own.