why my mother made me

All The Girls Walk By, Dressed Up For Each Other

For my 29th birthday, I decided it would be a good time to grow the hell up and start wearing a watch.  Mike, who in case you didn't know works in the beauty/fashion industry now, informed me that I should get with the program and get a big hunk of a watch. Already appreciating the revival of gold tone for some time, I let it be known that a big gold boyfriend watch would suit. Anything to replace the Scoop watch that was one link away from death in my purse. By the way, how the hell does that brand get away with being pricey?

So birthday dinner came with a cute little tin and the watch that was exactly what I had imagined. I was happy to get a gift and happy to know that I wouldn't puke upon seeing the price on our bank statement.  One thing that threw me off was the worry on Mike's face as he gave it to me. After the usual, "Do you like it?" came an onslaught of other possible watches I could exchange this one for. "I was looking at this Marc Jacobs one and I thought you may like the Michael Kors or Coach one too but then I remembered we have to pay the floor guy so I hope you're not upset that this wasn't too expensive."  Hello? My favorite pair of shoes just came from Salvation Army for $2.50.  Did you forget who you married?

I worked with a guy who once asked me what brand of jeans I was wearing (I think they were Mossimo). I can't remember much more than his reaction - puzzled - followed by him pointing to his ass, "These are True Religion." I didn't know what white stitching meant then and that made him even more confused. I later saw him on a double date - his girl, and her left and right Valentino heels.  It made sense then.  He was just trying to make conversation based on what he thought most women liked. Was my oblivion paired with my penny pinching unattractive to him?

Mike - who asks for Fred Perry polos every Christmas because he is too cheap to buy them for himself -really threw me off with this temporary interest in expense. I was puzzled by his worry before I realized that he just wanted my gift to be special. I started thinking about how life would be for us if the brand Fossil really did piss me off. Not to toot my own horn too much, but by surrounding myself with supportive, like-minded women-friends, I really feel like the world is my fashion cornucopia and Mike, my handsome pilgrim - reminding me to simultaneously make my own way while embracing the occasional current fashion kernel. I'm not knocking nice things, or the people who spend money on them, I just appreciate the challenge of finding your wife the perfect b-day gift for under 100 bucks. Way to go, Honey.