Bonjour darlings, hope my American readers all had a lovely Thanksgiving and that you are all having a good weekend. Today, I stupidly went to Oxford Street (the busiest street in the whole of London) to try and begin Xmas Shopping (27 days, 0 purchases). Mistake. Je deteste crowds - I get claustrophobic and stressed and its awful. Why on earth I thought that it was a good idea to go on London's busiest street, just over 3 weeks before Christmas on the middle of a Saturday I do not know, if I could slap myself this morning and tell myself not to be so stupid I would. It was carnage.Complete chaos. Checkout queues were literally going outside of the shop and onto the street, people were elbowing each other for the last purchase, there was mucho pushing and shoving and toe stomping. Simply awful. You couldn't even see anything in the shop and people were just frantically grabbing anything and everything.
I like to take my time shopping. I see it as therapy. I know it sounds ridiculous to most people but being in a shop genuinely calms me down. I don't have to buy anything, but admiring beautiful things, picturing how I would wear them, how they would look on someone else or putting pieces together for an imaginary editorial campaign can sort out the most stressed out of feelings. As i'm sure some of you will agree, us fashion-types aren't like "most people" - its both a blessing and a curse. Anyway, I digress - I like to spend hours browsing, going through rails, walking around the shop in a logical fashion, feeling items, (much to the annoyance of boyfriends and friends - off topic: why do guys just want to go in and out as quickly as possible?!) and I don't think its too much to expect to be able to breathe as well. All of the sacred joy of shopping was taken away from me today and quite frankly I feel violated. It was an ordeal and a half. And I still didn't buy anything!! Its only going to get worse the closer it gets to Christmas so I better get started although maybe I should try a less busy street?
At least I got to try out my new comfy sweater which I bought from H&M a couple of days ago. I got it from the guys section - I absolutely adore wearing guys clothes - there is just something so cool about girls wearing guys clothes and I regularly check out the girls as well as the guys section whilst shopping for myself. I'm currently single and am longing for a boyfriend mainly so I can steal all of his clothes. When I saw it, I knew it was for me - it reminds me of some super preppy English cricket club jumper and its so bloody cosy - totally glad I bought it.
What are you guys like with crowds? Has anyone done their Christmas shopping?Stay safe and chic.
English Rose x
Yes, I agree, mens clothes are needed. I bought a mens scarf the other day, they are so much warmer, then those flouncy women ones, honestly.
ReplyDeleteI actually like the bussiness of shopping, even though I too, like to browse along the racks, I do sometime mumble under my breath, about stupid mothers with push-chairs, but other than that, I'm fine.
j'aime
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You look great in a boy's sweater.
ReplyDeleteAs a guy, I admit to perusing the women's section for accessories. Scarves, beanies, that sort of thing—you ladies always have more options than we do.
As for crowds :: sometimes the people-watching is fun enough to compensate for the long lines!
suckmysavvy.com
I often borrow handsome husbands cashmere sweaters they are huge on me and I can wrap myself in soft layers of the stuff. As for Xmas shopping I have been doing quite a bit here at the every popular Christmas fares dotted around the county, they are a throughly relaxing experience and you can munch on mince pies and sip mulled wine as you wander from stall to stall, this enhances the whole experience and I have found some fabulous trinkets on my travels.... good luck with your Xmas London shopping
ReplyDeleteI! Love! You! Ohmigosh! I too want a boyfriend just so I can raid his closet. There is nothing sexier than a girl wearing her boyfriend's oversized tees and pants! It's just such a fabulous style! I need a cute boy for Christmas - and the contents of his wardrobe!
ReplyDeleteOoh, shopping has been a killer for me, as well. I managed to buy a few things - but nothing great. The crowds! The crowds are killing me! I need to start shopping Online more - but I miss the experience of buying stuff in the shops! The hustle and bustle can be fun - sometimes! :)
I hate crowds, I'm so glad to have my shopping done and dusted.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your sweater.
Thanks for such a lovely comment, I will add you to my links and am following your blog too. I agree the world goes mad this time of year, it is only safe to shop at 9:00am on Monday mornings! xx
ReplyDeleteUrgh Christmas shopping. I totally agree with you. You either need to get xmas shopping done 2 months before, or just figure out another pressie idea. Quite frankly, Ive decided on baking chocolate cookies and making French chocolate truffles and giving everyone the same thing with poems on a card.
ReplyDeleteHad the most depressing shopping experience yesterday... was looking for a pair of pants for work. There was nothing. NOTHING. absolutely no black pants in a stylish cut and with breathable material (which is imperative as SA is HOT). how can no shops have black pants? sorry. I needed to rant. thats not even to mention the throngs of people all trying to squeeze into the same shop either. Im still having nightmares. Have completely lost my faith in retail therapy. at the moment its just more stress than anything else.
Uggh, I hate crowds, too! I can't handle what crazies people turn into during big sale shopping so I mostly stick to what I find online :-). I love your preppy sweater with the contrast of the destroyed denim, though!
ReplyDeleteYou look so comfy and chic!! I hate crowds and do most of my shopping online! xxoxooxxo
ReplyDeletehahah, I know - Christmas shopping can be crazy sometimes eh? I love your outfit and what you got!!! I want to go shopping in London!
ReplyDeletehttp://candyflosspersie.blogspot.com/
which H&M did u get ur jumper from?i tried searching online but cant find it!
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