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Melanie drove to Tyson’s Galleria and used the valet parking service. She had her list and began at Neiman Marcus in the Dolce & Gabbana shop, where she walked to the sales associate and asked for the banded stretch lace cocktail dress in black. “Size eight, please.”
“Of course, signorina,” the woman said with an Italian accent. “One moment.” A few minutes later, the woman reappeared with the knee-length, sleeveless dress. She showed Melanie to a private dressing room, where she quickly pulled off her slacks and sweater and wiggled into the beautiful confection. She gave a spin before the mirror. “Perfect.” She hung the dress up and handed it back to the sales associate. “I’ll take it.”
“Would signorina care to try others?”
“No, thank you.” She slipped back into her clothes, and out came the credit card. When they were at the register, Melanie asked, “Could I leave the bag with you? I have a lot of shopping to do.”
“Yes, of course. We have a valet service that will bring your purchases to your car when you are finished shopping.”
Of course you do. Heaven forbid someone should have to lug around shopping bags filled with thousands of dollars’ worth of goodies. Melanie played along. “Oh, yes. It’s been a while since I shopped here.” The woman gave Melanie her receipt and a call tag.
“The valet is on the main floor near the south entrance.”
“Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.” Melanie decided to wait until she’d purchased all the clothing before she bought shoes and handbags. She checked her list. Next was Dior.
Again, she approached a sales associate and told her exactly what she wanted. “The Cady gold lamé midi, please. Size eight.” Just as before, the salesperson retrieved the dress and showed Melanie to a dressing room. Off came her slacks and sweater and on went the fluid, lamé dress, cascading down her body. “Wow!” Melanie almost didn’t recognize herself. The gown was stunning. She gently removed the dress and handed it to the salesperson. Another, “I’ll take it!”
During the transaction, she showed the woman her call tag, and she replied, “Certainly. We’ll send it down for you.”
Next stop, Armani. “The washed silk jumpsuit in gray. Size eight, please.” It was the same routine.
Lastly, Chanel. This time, it was a short cream-colored bouclé jacket, with a cream-colored silk blouse and matching silk Bermuda-length shorts. She’d wear sheer white stockings with it.
Now it was on to shoes. First stop was Gucci. Black moire fabric, slingback heels. As she walked past the stores, her attention went to a spectacular pair of Louboutin yellow patent leather pumps. She could wear them with the Chanel outfit. That might be the only time, but they were on sale! Originally $800, but today, they were merely $500. She couldn’t resist. She’d never had a pair of stilettos and went into the store to try them on. They certainly made her much taller, but they also accented her long, well-toned legs. “Why not?” She gave herself permission. She also spotted another pair of Christian Louboutin shoes. These were a neutral block heel sandal that would go with anything.
One more pair and she would move on to handbags. She stopped at the Bottega Veneta shop and bought a pair of black ankle boots with a mid-heel. She’d be able to wear those again, too.
She browsed the handbag boutiques on the main floor of Saks. First was a Mach & Mach iridescent top handle bag, then an Alexander Wang faded neon, and a black silk Oscar de le Renta purse. She also stopped at a few perfume counters. She couldn’t risk smelling the same, either. She bought the smallest versions of Baccarat Rouge 540, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, and Tom Ford’s Black Orchid. As much as she liked Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl, she didn’t understand why the bottle was in the shape of a stiletto. What were you supposed to do with it when you were finished with the perfume? She adored Creed’s Wind Flowers, but it was too expensive for her to justify the $425 bottle, so she settled on Hermès Eau des Merveilles Bleue. It was much more reasonable at $150. She snickered at the word “settled.”
Melanie made her way to the main level and approached the valet station. She showed him her call tag. “Does madam also have a car with us?”
Melanie dug the ticket out of her purse, which was looking very shabby after all the gorgeous and glimmering things she’d seen during her quest. She handed the ticket to the young man. “We’ll have your car and purchases for you momentarily.”
Melanie sighed. So this is how the one-percent lives. She remembered when the saying used to be “the other half.”
It was almost four o’clock by the time she pulled into her driveway. She was bushed. Who knew spending tens of thousands of dollars on clothes could be so exhausting? She could hear a bark coming from the other side of the fence. At least one of her boys was enjoying the fresh air. She would have to learn the difference in their barks.
She clicked the hatch open and grabbed half the shopping bags. They even smelled expensive. She brought her purchases into her newly appointed dressing room and hung them on the rolling clothes rack she’d bought. She decided it would be much more convenient if she could keep all of her clothes in one place instead of swapping them in and out of storage boxes when the seasons changed.
Melanie paired the shoes and purses with the dresses. She gazed at her new wardrobe. It was rather spectacular. Tomorrow would be wigs, nails, and contact lenses. She made an appointment at a specialty shop and told them what she was looking for: one short cropped blond wedge; one wavy auburn shoulder-length; one black chin-length bob, and one white blunt cut to her collarbone, with bangs. The salon told her they could accommodate her, and she should come in the morning for a fitting.
She needed a nap. She flopped on her bed and went out like a light. The next thing she heard was the sound of dogs barking in the yard. She woke with a start. First off, she wasn’t used to hearing dogs bark, and second, she had no idea what time it was. But it was dark. She checked her watch. It was after seven o’clock. She heard a car door shut and looked out the window. It was Gilmour. She’d forgotten he was stopping by to go over some details.
She slapped some cold water on her face, dragged a brush through her hair, and ran a tube of lipstick across her mouth. She stared at the lipstick for a second. She’d never cared about how she looked in front of Gilmour before. Why now? Maybe it was all the heady perfume she inhaled while shopping. Every boutique was filled with the delicious scent of something.
Gilmour used the door knocker he had given her as a housewarming gift. It was a bronze Irish horseshoe and thistle with HERE’S LUCK inscribed on it.
“Coming!” Melanie raced down the stairs.
“Did I wake you?”
“Actually, you did.”
“Long day at the boutiques?”
“Actually, yes. Who knew?” Melanie stepped aside to let him in. “Let me see what my dogs are up to.” She could hear them barking in the yard.
A few minutes later, Melanie returned with Cosmo and Kramer. “Sit.” And they obeyed. “Imagine how easy life would be if people behaved like they do?”
