The Stella McCartney Boutique on West 14th in Chelsea. We passed it on the Sex in the City Tour.
My son’s partner and I went to New York for one day this weekend, and on our way back, at Canadian Customs, the agent was rude to her. “What did you do in New York?” (The appropriate form is “Was your trip for business or pleasure?) She said she went to theatre. When he asked if she had anything to declare, she said “No.” He asked “No clothing? ” She didn’t know what to say, so she replied, “Too expensive.” He then said, “What? You can afford to go to New York FOR A DAY, but you can’t afford the clothes?”
Totally inappropriate. I suspect he was either ‘joking’ and as he was French the tone was all wrong, or he was in a bad mood. Or he liked having power over a pretty young girl. (No one bothered to hassle me.) She got hassled on the way in also, for not filling out her customs form in advance, while I was treated kindly and with respect for the same stupid mistake. Indeed, because my glasses were packed away the agent practically filled the form out for me.
What’s so strange or elite about a day trip to New York? A friend of mine (a well off artist) went the week before and used airmiles and stayed at a bargain basement hotel in the Village and the trip cost her next to nothing. I treated myself to a fancy hotel, the Chatwal, because I like a dose of fancy (using both senses of the word).
New York can be an expensive city, or a cheap city. Just walking around and looking at the buildings, the people and the shop windows is a thrill.
I did my shopping in Montreal before the trip. Winners and Costco. Two cheap cheap outfits made of indestructable textiles by slave labour somewhere.
I myself wouldn’t dare step into one of those high fashion boutiques in New York, (lest I be kicked out). And nothing would fit anyway, were I inclined to splurge away my ‘long term care’ savings. Well, I would have liked to pop into Stella McCartney’s boutique in Chelsea. But she’s like ‘family’ with Paul and all.
And then we got directed to the place where they checked the bags and a very polite agent explained the problem: we hadn’t stayed in New York long enough to purchase duty free cigarettes.
He too asked “No bag?” We both had big purses that carried our change of clothing. Who wants to drag luggage around New York for six hours while we wait for our time to check into the hotel?
It all seems perfectly logical. Maybe it’s a cliche or stereotype, that all women are clothes obsessed? On this trip, I marvelled at the many, many many beautiful period buildings and my son’s girlfriend admired the many many many period trees in Central Park (although she likes clothes too.)
Hmm. I see that coming up in May in New York my ‘pal’ Stella is going to be c0-chairing some high fashion affair along with Colin Firth. Hmm. That man, with his beautiful posture and elegant gait, is a marvel to look at too, at least I think.
You know, speaking of clothes obsessed women, on the Sex in the City Tour we took the guide told us to keep any eye out for any ‘celebrity’ and to shout out if we see one. Who cares? I can go to Toronto in September if I want to see famous actors. The Guide, “Lou” an actress herself, praised all the SITC actors to the sky, saying they are all nice and approachable and she said she’s often seen Chris Noth in the Village. Truth be told, my husband looks just like that man, feature for feature. (Just picture Noth in a baseball cap with grey hair) And my son looks like my husband, pretty much.
So neither of us was that impressed.(I bet Chris Noth has Isle of Lewis Scot genes.)
