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Jacket (Finity); Skirt and Blouse (Kasper Outlet); Scarf (Echo); Boots (Anne Klein); Bag (Brahmin); Cameo (Vintage - passed down from my grandmother) |
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Jacket (Parisian Signature); Scarf (Echo); Skirt (Focus 2000); Bag (Fossil); Boots (Aigner) |
Nubby, slubby, boucle fabrics feel cozy when the temperatures drop, and the colorful textures add visual interest and warmth even on the grayest day. It seems appropriate that I pulled out the autumn hued boucle skirt and bright salmon satin blouse in the top photo this week before Thanksgiving because it was purchased in a spur of the moment, middle of the night Black Friday shopping expedition in 2009. And what an expedition that was....
Nearly every year for the last decade, we've been spending the weekend following Thanksgiving with some dear friends who live just outside Chicago. Our itinerary for the long weekend has evolved over the years, but this time with friends is a tradition I've come to treasure. It has always included a bit of shopping: sometimes along Michigan Avenue's Magnificent Mile (with an obligatory stop at Garrett's Popcorn); sometimes in a more suburban setting; and always with a nice dinner and lots of laughter. Oh, and pancakes - there are always pancakes (we've had McDonalds pancakes, hotel buffet pancakes, homemade Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes, and Costco pancakes from a can). Mmmmm, pancakes.
In 2009, we added a late night girls' trip to an outlet mall into the mix. It was a spur of the moment decision to trek out to Michigan City at midnight, but we weren't tired, the boys were playing video games, and there were deals to be had, so off we went. Oh boy. What we envisioned as a three hour tour somehow turned into a Black Friday Shopping Odyssey - we left the house at 11 pm on Thursday, and didn't stop shopping until 6 pm on Friday. We didn't mean to do it, but one store led to another, and by noon, our husbands thought we'd been marooned on Gilligan's Island. By 3 pm, we realized we hadn't even stopped to eat. Luckily, we were in Costco at the time, so we greedily took advantage of every sample station in sight - including the one serving up silver dollar pancakes using prepackaged batter in an aerosol can. I'm not sure if they were actually good or not, but we were so hungry we went back for more than one sample!
I normally shop alone; I'm not a fan of crowds; and I hate to wait in line. So, you would think that setting foot in a mall on the day after Thanksgiving would be my shopping nightmare. But, for me, Black Friday is about friendship with a side of shopping. And pancakes - always pancakes....
Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!