Really, I do hate shopping, but there's an Ann Taylor Loft on the first floor of my office building, so it's convenient. Swiped this pic from elsewhere, although it may very well be the one in my building. Winter sale, 60% off most of the originally overpriced prices. Just wanted to get a nice pair of high heeled dressy leather boots I can wear to client meetings--my Harley Davidson ankle boots are great with slacks, but look ridiculous with a skirt or dress.

Found the boots during lunch hour alright; last pair was the display one, which just happened to be my size, so I sent a clerk looking for its mate. $130 boots on sale for $40. Dark brown, but they look black anyway, and they don't pinch my toes, even with 2.75" heels, which is pushing my heel height limit. Not quite "hooker heels," but getting up there, if you will. They aren't stillettos, but aren't chunky fugly, either.

Looking around, I shifted into "power shopper" gear, and within five minutes found a $160 gunmetal gray suede jacket for $50, a $118 faux-suede, faux-fur lined vest with Tyrolean style trim for $25, a $70 pair of black cotton velvet slacks for $40 (last pair in my size), and a $79 black mohair sweater for $30. Spent more time waiting for the clerk to find the matching boot than I did finding everything else, and there weren't many customers milling around. Sounds like a lot of black and gray, but in NY, there's no such thing as too much black for office-wear. It never shows the dirt, and it never goes transparent in a rainstorm.

There was no need for me to try on any of it before getting in the checkout line. I can just look at something, and know whether it'll fit. It's odd that for tops, I have to buy two sizes larger than I do for slacks or skirts to accommodate my shoulder width, but it's just a fact of life for me with almost every clothing manufacturer. Think scrawny high school football kicker with his shoulder pads on, and you get the picture.

All in all, it was quite a successful power shopping trip.