Almost time...

...for a little shopping for mama.

Despite having found some real gems (my flutter-sleeve milkstars top is ridiculously flattering and comfy - and practical) online in the past few weeks and awaiting the arrival of more at my mama's house (shipped them there so I'd be sure to have them on our "vacation"), I'm jonesin' for some real shopping.

I'm sure I'll get frustrated and feel like a big cow in the dressing room (just part of the transition from M clothes to "real" clothes), but I'm excited. I'm feeling pretty good, and my Beans are relatively cooperative when it comes to being out and about. That means my mama and I can take them to the Exton Square Mall - or maybe even King of Prussia - and hit a couple of stores.

Yes, I'm going mall shopping.

For me right now - in transitional sizes - it's the most practical. It also helps that we're transitioning between seasons; I'm hoping for some sales.

On the list: a couple of pairs of pants, a skirt or two, and maybe some new shoes. I'd love to have more skirts than slacks, but so far, I'm not terribly inspired by what's out there. A simple denim skirt (lordy, am I having flashbacks there) will probably suffice, plus the black pleated one I ordered and have waiting for me at grandma's house.

My treat to myself, though (other than the massage my mama's making me get)? I'll see what fanciness I can find at Malena's. Like I've mentioned before, this is a gem of a vintage store (also reachable online) owned and expertly run by a childhood friend of my sister's (aka prettyinpink). She's always got a scarf or purse or buckle or pair of brilliantly gaudy earrings I just have to have. Unfortunately, even without the baby weight, I'm usually to Germanically-boned for vintage clothing, and my size 9s are usually too long for vintage shoes, but I can accessorize (what's that word? as Fancy Nancy* says) 'til the cows come home - and they will, up in southeastern PA, where I'll be spending the next week...

*Fancy Nancy is a gloriously diva-ish little girl who frequents a series of children's books. One of The Bean's favorite "aunts" brings her new installments in the series (sticker books, flip out books - the latest and most popular so far) when she visits. Thanks, BlueSuitGirl, for cultivating my daughter's interest in All Things Fancy.

Oooops! Toldya...

...it might just be a forgetful person.

And I really wouldn't have minded if someone had gently stopped me the first 3 times I wore this skirt, "Miss? [or ma'am, which I seem to get more and more - it's disturbing] Your back vent is still sewn shut."

Really. Stop the next person you see with sewn together pleats or vents - it's the genteel (and kind) thing to do.

I'd put it on by the time I noticed, and didn't feel like taking it off, so asked H to snip the threads.

Now I'm perfectly presentable.

To Pleat or Not to Pleat

Apparently there's a run on women not cutting their basting.

Basting, of course, being the type of stitch used to tack together pleats or vents on new clothes so they don't get folded a wrong way before their new owner wears them - you know those wierd "X"es on your winter coats?

artlush commented on yesterday's post: "i want to help them..maybe throw some scissors in my pocketbook and attack when i see them..which i may add is a few a day"

You're clearly not the only one, artlush. There was a thread in wapo.com's Talking Fashion chat about the exact same thing. "Have you noticed how many women forget (or simply don't know) to pick the basting stitches out of suit jackets, skirts, and so on after purchasing them? For example, I saw a lady in a very cute pleated skirt, but with all the pleats sewn up! Hey, fellow office drones, those stitches are just to protect the clothes in transit -- you can take them out now!" writes Washington, D.C.

I'm with you both. It's amusing, annoying, and a fashion faux pas.

And, I'll add, as The Bean's Mommy With Little Sleep, it's entirely possible that the poor woman on the street just plain ol' forgot. Be kind. I know I've meant to clip them, and just forgot (ok, not on a whole pleated skirt, but definitely on a coat). It took until I got to work to fix - and I did.

I know I certainly wouldn't mind a nice person coming up to me and saying, "Hey, did you know your pleat/vent's still tacked?" Even better, if said nice person (ahem, artlush, ahem) were carrying a pocketknife or pair of scissors.

Just don't wield either in the Metro. Could get you in a leeetle bit of trouble nowadays.