City Shopping

Shopping urges do not hit often, but when they do they are severe and must be nipped in the bud immediately. Wide awake at the luxurious hour of 7:45am this Saturday, I had an overwhelming need to get out of bed and buy a black cocktail dress. I've been seeking such a garment for at least a year and have literally tried on at least 60 dresses in search for the perfect fit. Believe it or not, one crucial place has been left out of my worldwide search: the city of Boston. After reading tale after tale of successful shopping sprees by Fearless, I decided to book it to her Beacon Hill 'hood.

Unlike the Back Bay, which is littered with national chains and department stores that I know and love, Beacon Hill is peppered with small boutiques that fancy people shop at. To be honest, it was all a little intimidating. However, I found a bout of courage in the fact that I managed to snag a primo parking spot on Charles Street. Perhaps, after all, Beacon Hill was truly meant to be.

I checked out two stores I had read about on Yelp - Crush and Wish. While Crush stocked some adorable frocks, the one I fell in love with simply didn't fit right. At Wish I must've reeked of Southeast Expressway, as I flat out ignored at that particular establishment (in all honestly, though, nothing really caught my eye). Defeated, I made my way towards the car when I stumbled upon Holiday.

Holiday had an adorable dress in a size 6 (ha! Dare to dream!) and informed me that if they special ordered my size that I'd be stuck with it regardless of fit. At almost $400, that was not a gamble I was willing to take. As I walked out of there to make my way over to Plan B (Newbury St), one of the girls informed me that they can make me a custom dress.....and (shocker!!!) the prices are totally reasonable (albeit the upper limit of "reasonable"...hey, this is Beacon Hill). The sales lady took my measurements and I suddenly realized that for the first time in my life I would be able to take home a dress that fits like a dream and wouldn't have to be altered. Best of all, the dresses are made locally so the turn around is less than 2 weeks, which means that I'll have it just in time for Flutterbyblue's engagement party.

I spoke of my brave Beacon Hill tales to Fearless when I met up with her and B for lunch on Cambridge St. As an extra bonus Fearless promised to take me to one of the top Mexican places in Boston (it's located inside a gas station....awesome!!) when I pick up my dress. Exhausted from the heat and shopping stress, I bid adieu to the bright lights and big city to mosey over to Brighton and experience the madness that is a 20% of sale at the New Balance outlet.