Crisis in Denim

I was going through my mail the other day, when I opened my Banana Republic bill, and found this inside:

Yes You Did. It was on a little card attached to $30 worth of gift cards I’d earned by sprucing up my work wardrobe at Banana Republic, and charging it all to my Banana Republic Luxe Card.

The next morning I was driving down my street and saw an Obama bumper sticker that read “Yes We Did!”

Three simple words, but I realized something. President Barack Obama’s election-night speech has so infused our culture in this last year, that everyone, even Banana Republic, is quoting it.

But it seemed a bit of a stretch. Were these gift cards, with their little “Yes You Did” notice, supposed to inspire the same swell of pride that President Barack Obama’s speech did, before that hushed Chicago crowd, just one year ago? I’m not sure I did very much to warrant channeling the president. I mean, what would the president’s acceptance speech sound like if you applied it to shopping at Banana Republic?

You. You selected the three best pairs of wool trousers out of a dozen styles and sizes. Yes You Did.

You tried them on with low heels and high heels, jackets and sweaters, to create the perfect outfit. Yes You Did.

You browsed the sale racks, searching for marked-down basics like shells and t-shirts, to fill out your wardrobe. Yes You Did.

You shopped strategically, passing up things you knew wouldn’t fit or that you didn’t need, asking the salesperson to show you the latest stock. Yes You Did.

Later, you helped your boyfriend find the perfect cranberry-colored sweater and wool trousers, then charged it to your BR card so he could get another 25 percent off and you would get the points. Yes You Did.

Actually, I am getting a bit misty-eyed just thinking of how much shopping I have accomplished. Thanks BR. You’ve inspired me. Still, I know I can’t grow complacent. To paraphrase that same election night speech: “There is so much more [shopping] to do!”

UPDATED:  Turns out that Nordstrom WILL indeed set up another day or two for you to shop if you missed your triple points days because of Rosh Hashanah. And, when I called Nordie’s 800 number to ask about it, there was no perplexed ‘ummmmm?’ response on the other end of the line.

In fact, the nice man knew exactly what I was talking about, and said customers would have to call their local Nordstrom and set up a meeting with a personal shopper, who would make sure the triple points were awarded.

I don’t plan to make any such arrangement. I found plenty of ways to buy what I needed, thank you very much, and with cardholders earning six points per dollar spent at Nordstrom’s, I now have… well… wow…I’m not going to tell you. But let’s just say I don’t need any MORE incentive to hit Nordstrom.

It’s a long-held custom in Judaism that you buy new clothes for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. It’s true.

I know it sounds like I’m just looking for an excuse,  like “Hey, I went to the mall because God told me to.” 

But this custom of buying something new to wear to High Holiday services, or to a family meal, is a pretty well-established one. In fact, a couple years ago  my cousin L came to visit for Rosh Hashanah, and after spending a virtuous morning at synagogue we took a little stroll down Newbury Street.

Later, Dad was like ‘You’re supposed to buy new clothes FOR Rosh Hashanah, not ON Rosh Hashanah.’ The idea being that you’re not supposed to spend Rosh Hashanah– AKA one of the holiest days in Judaism– shopping.

Fair enough.

Well, apparently, Nordstrom agrees with Dad.

 They issued this apology, for holding their sacred Triple Rewards Points days during the equally-sacred Jewish new year.

(Note: Here’s an example of how awesome triple points days are: On a regular day, if you spend $100 at Nordstrom on your Nordie’s card, you get 200 points. During triple points days, you get 600 points. And 2000 points equals a $20 Nordstrom gift card. So the goodies add up fast.  )

So here’s the question. This apology is a bit ambiguous. It never says that Nordstrom will grant Jewish people extra days to earn triple points if they can’t shop on Rosh Hashanah.

But that does seem to be the implication.

So I’m wondering, if one were to call, and tell them one was Jewish and had spent Rosh Hashanah eating honey cake with family, instead of trying on shoes, could one  really get the Nordstrom powers-that-be to extend the triple points days?  (Note: Triple Rewards Points days were from September 16-20, and Rosh Hashanah is only September 19th and 20th).

And  let’s say one were to well, heed MY interpreation of the Jewish custom to buy new clothes for the new year, and go to Nordstrom ON Rosh Hashana, and STILL call and ask Nordstrom to extend their Triple Rewards Points days, would one have to atone extra hard on Yom Kippur?

As for me, I have no worries. I earned my triple points by shopping online… ahem… the very first Triple Rewards day.

If EVER there was a weekend I could use some kind of time-transporting travel thingy, it would be this one.

Now, for me to use any kind of space reference, it has to be serious. Usually, all you have to do is start recounting some movie about space, and I’m already thinking about what I’m going to wear tomorrow (though I did recently agree to see the new Star Trek movie– queue up campy version of “What I did for Love” here). 

Anyway, thinking of the apparently-often-misquoted line “Beam Me Up Scotty” I was thinking how nice it would be to be able to be beamed back from vacation for just a couple hours this evening.

That’s because I got an invite to the opening of the new Pinkyotto shop on Newbury Street.  Now, here is the fabulous subject line of the email I got from K. And I quote: ‘Free alcohol and cute clothes.’ AND there will be discounts. Hm. Free alcohol. Cute clothes. Discounts.

Unfortunately, I’m going to be in Maine for a little vacay with Mom. But wouldn’t it be nice if I could be beamed back for just a couple hours so I could have me a drink and get me a cute Pinkyotto dress, before I head back to the absolutely charming and relaxing, but ultimately less fashion-forward Boothbay Harbor? 

Also, the invite reminds me that, I really think retailers need to serve booze more often. I am definitely more inclined to hand over my credit card after a glass of wine or three. I mean, my hair stylist in Phoenix used to give clients a glass of wine. One time I got my hair cut on an empty stomach, settled into the cushy barber’s chair with a glass of merlot, and ended up buying about $100 worth of shampoo. It’s just a good business practice.

Anyway, it’s been a few years since I’ve been to Pinkyotto, but I’m definitely a big fan of any shop that originates in New York, and I’m always impressed when they decide to set up camp in Boston. 

So here’s to the success of Pinkyotto’s new outpost. I’ll raise a frosty glass of Maine-brewed beer to you tonight.