How to Handle....

[Lafont]

Today I went to my favorite store for menswear in this metropolitan area, where I've frequently gone many years. I love the ambiance and experiencing the wonderful designers - including in the Hermes collection - and they even have elegant furnishings, accessories, art, etc. A lot of French influence but much to appeal to the "horsey set" and other "Old Money" types - very classic, in general. A few times I've purchased but usually I'm there just to look. I've considered their items other times, but once there I find they're simply not worth the high price. Today I made a remark about our Saks now carrying Charvet ties again, and noted they're at a higher price than those sold in this store. He made what seemed a "borderline off" remark - something to the effect that I've been coming for years and "enjoy the garden" but don't tend to buy, adding something like "You're welcome to buy something, too." I didn't appreciate the remark , but sort of made little of it verbally. I did respond something like I have purchased items there. Otherwise the guy, the owner or owner partner, was his usual cordial, if dignified self.

I went away and walked around other parts of the village shopping area, as I do, and decided this was kind of annoying but actually, this time, there was a gorgeous Ralph Lauren Polo shirt on sale I might consider. I went back and tried it on - letting the owner judge its fit for me, when we got into a decent conversation about last evening's "Downton Abbey" - of which we are both fans. I purchased this wonderful shirt.... I showed him!

 

[edmorel]

I don't think people here appreciate your posts to the level that I do. You are like top 5 for me.

 

[f800gs]

My wife is a Downtown Abbey freak.

 

[ter1413]

so what is the question?

 

[New Shoes1]

Today I went to my favorite store for menswear in this metropolitan area, where I've frequently gone many years. I love the ambiance and experiencing the wonderful designers - including in the Hermes collection - and they even have elegant furnishings, accessories, art, etc. A lot of French influence but much to appeal to the "horsey set and other "Old Money' types -very classic, in general. A few times I've purchased but usually I'm there just to look. I've considered their items other times, but once there I find they're simply not worth the high price. Today I made a remark about our Saks now carrying Charvet ties again, and noted they're at a higher price than those sold in this store. He made what seemed a "borderline off" remark - something to the effect that I've been coming for years and "enjoy the garden" but don't tend to buy, adding something like "You're welcome to buy something, too." I didn't appreciate the remark , but sort of made little of it verbally. I did respond something like I have purchased items there. Otherwise the guy, the owner or owner partner, was his usual cordial, if dignified self.

I went away and walked around other parts of the village shopping area, as I do, and decided this was kind of annoying but actually, this time, there was a gorgeous Ralph Lauren Polo shirt on sale I might consider. I went back and tried it on - letting the owner judge its fit for me, when we got into a decent conversation about last evening's "Downton Abbey" - of which we are both fans. I purchased this wonderful shirt.... I showed him!

. . . and then I went home to show my new shirt to my wife, but I discovered the bag had a hole in it. I wonder if the owner played a trick on me by intentionally giving me a bag that had a hole in it and then had a sales associate walk behind me to pick the shirt up and resell it. I'm not sure if I'm ever going back there again, but I probably will because I really like Downtown Abbey and it was nice to talk to another fan about the show. Speaking of which, when I got home, I was not able to watch Downtown Abbey because my wife accused me of cheating on her. When I got home and she asked where I had been, I said I had been shopping and bought a new shirt, but when she asked to see it, all I had was an empty bag with a hole in it. She did not believe me and accused me of lying about where I'd been. I had to go out to the garage to let her cool down and this got me really made because I was missing my favorite show and I became convinced that the owner of the shop did this on purpose. This is why I'm going to Saks next time I want to discuss Downtown Abbey while looking at Charvet ties. The only problem is what if the sales associate is a woman and when my wife asks me where I've been, I'll have to say I was out talking with "a friend" regarding Downtown Abbey and when she asks for the friend's name, the name will be a dead giveaway that I was talking to a woman, unless she has a name like Alex or Jo or Teddi or something androgenous. Which is why I'm going to name my future daughters with gender neutral names so that men can talk with them about Downtown Abbey without their wives becoming jealous. Sorry, I lost my train of thought, but I think my question involved wondering why shopping for shirts and watching Downtown Abbey is such a complicated process.

 

[Quadcammer]

k

 

[JubeiSpiegel]

 

[Huntsman]

That is the only store I've ever visited where you can buy a Kiton suit for yourself, some Hermes for your partner, and a bottle of d'Yquem for you both. Ana amazing place, but I am usually afraid to park next to most of the cars in that lot.

~ H

 

[Dib]



 . . . and then I went home to show my new shirt to my wife, but I discovered the bag had a hole in it.  I wonder if the owner played a trick on me by intentionally giving me a bag that had a hole in it and then had a sales associate walk behind me to pick the shirt up and resell it.  I'm not sure if I'm ever going back there again, but I probably will because I really like Downtown Abbey and it was nice to talk to another fan about the show.  Speaking of which, when I got home, I was not able to watch Downtown Abbey because my wife accused me of cheating on her.  When I got home and she asked where I had been, I said I had been shopping and bought a new shirt, but when she asked to see it, all I had was an empty bag with a hole in it.  She did not believe me and accused me of lying about where I'd been.  I had to go out to the garage to let her cool down and this got me really made because I was missing my favorite show and I became convinced that the owner of the shop did this on purpose.  This is why I'm going to Saks next time I want to discuss Downtown Abbey while looking at Charvet ties.  The only problem is what if the sales associate is a woman and when my wife asks me where I've been, I'll have to say I was out talking with "a friend" regarding Downtown Abbey and when she asks for the friend's name, the name will be a dead giveaway that I was talking to a woman, unless she has a name like Alex or Jo or Teddi or something androgenous.  Which is why I'm going to name my future daughters with gender neutral names so that men can talk with them about Downtown Abbey without their wives becoming jealous.  Sorry, I lost my train of thought, but I think my question involved wondering why shopping for shirts and watching Downtown Abbey is such a complicated process.

 

[MyOtherLife]



so what is the question?

I am getting the feeling that it won't matter what the question is. You know the answer is rosebud.

 

[GBR]

You perhaps only have yourself to blame. he does not run his store such that: "A few times I've purchased but usually I'm there just to look". You should consider your postition in this.

 

[Big Texas]

OP reads like an Onion article. I sincerely hope we are witnessing the debut of a fancifully entertaining new troll.

I went away and walked around other parts of the village shopping area, as I do...

For some reason I just love this turn of phrase (emphasis mine). I picture an older gent, perhaps a Downtown Abbey sort, strolling the grounds of the marketplace every Saturday, as is his custom.

 

[gsugsu]

Definitely not a troll.

 

[GBR]



Definitely not a troll.

Something less polite then?

 

[Huntsman]

OP is, at least, talking about a real place. I recognized it immediately from his descrption. The store is unique in the US, and the Vilage Shopping Area is also very nice, though not uniquely so.

~H