I recently had to do something I have hated doing most of my life – shop for jeans.
I’m just not a shopper and I dread going. I envy my husband because his jeans shopping experience is pretty easy: go to the store, find the Cowboy Cut Wranglers, find the right size, pay for them and walk out of the store. No frills, no fuss for him.
I, like many women, have to scour through rack after rack of jeans in hopes to find something I like and that fits. Being a “curvy” woman of a certain age, meaning that I am a heck of a lot closer to 50 than I am 30, makes it difficult. I’m also not 5-foot, 4-inches tall, which presents yet another problem.
On my recent shopping adventure, I headed to a store that normally fits the bill for what I am looking for, and they usually have the brands I like.
The first rack I went to was filled with jeans that looked like they had been run through a brush cutter. They did attempt to patch them up, but for the price tag, I figured they would have at least sold you a new pair of jeans.
As I combed through rack after rack of skinny jeans, some kind of pants called jeggings, and some colorful pants with fringe on the sides, I began to wonder if companies even made straight leg or boot cut jeans anymore. I also don’t have to have enough “bling” on the back pockets to set off a metal detector.
I know what skinny jeans are and I was shocked to see so many men wearing them on a recent country music awards show. I don’t think Willie, Waylon, Merl or George would have ever graced the stage of the Ryman in a pair of skinny jeans, but I guess the younger crowd thinks they are stylish. To me, they just look uncomfortable.
I really didn’t know what jeggings were, but my coworker, Amanda Newell, explained to me that they are leggings made to look like jeans. Again, sounds a little uncomfortable.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, the bounty I sought made an appearance! There, stuffed behind hanger after hanger of petite jeans, I found one pair of non-skinny, non-jegging boot cut jeans without holes in the front or rhinestones on the back; it was like nirvana.
Clinching my jeans tightly in my hand, I headed back to the fitting room. No one, I mean no one, was going to get these jeans away from me without a brawl.
As I entered the dressing area, I overheard a couple of older ladies talking between dressing rooms.
“What the heck is a jegging?” one of the ladies asked.
“Well, I’m not sure what it means, but they are supposed to make you look thinner,” the other lady replied.
If I had been armed with the knowledge given to me by Amanda at that time, I would have told them to just to go buy a pair of leggings.
Once it was determined that the jeans fit, I headed back to the rack where I found them in a desperate attempt to find another pair or two. After a few minutes, I gave up my pursuit and headed to the cashier.
As I stepped up to pay for my purchase, I realized that I had no idea how much these jeans were going to cost. This brand is typically around $60, but I didn’t care; I had my jeans in hand and was willing to pay just about any price.
The cashier rang up my purchase and politely said, “Your total is: $6.41.” Yes, $6.41!
I asked if she was sure, to which she said she was because they were on clearance. I like to call that a “score moment.”
I quickly paid, grabbed my purchase and headed out the door before someone could say there had been a mistake.
While the word “clearance” typically means you get a good deal, it also can mean, “we won’t be carrying that product any longer.” If the latter happens, I guess I had better find a new store, or learn to love skinny jeggins… not going to happen.
Julie
