Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
So with Ramadan underway I decided to hit the shops for some light retail therapy as I needed to buy a birthday gift for a good friend.
Once in the mall, I pass by a big cosmetic store and a bright, beautifully-packaged lip gloss set catches my eye (my husband says I am a marketer’s dream) and as it’s terribly quiet, lots of lovely assistants are eager to assist.
Whilst toying with the idea of purchasing lip gloss or some super age defying cream I am then whisked away by an obviously bored but sweet sales assistant to a chair and told that my make-up isn’t quite right, especially my eye-liner (I rarely go anywhere without my trusted eyeliner and mascara) and why don’t I get a free mini make-over. Instinctively, I want to run but it’s quiet, it’s early, what’s the harm in a mini make-over and, after all, it’s free.
Just 15 minutes later I look in the mirror and I look like I’ve just walked out of a nightclub so I hurriedly thank the cosmetic assistant, decline all offers to buy sample products, grab some baby wipes from nearby Boots and dash to the bathroom.
Once it’s safe to leave the bathroom I continue to shop as I really need to find a birthday gift. I spot a pretty white leather and crystal bead wrap bracelet and I try it on in the store. It feels soft, the magnetic clasp closes well and it’s a good size for my friend.
Happy to purchase the item I attempt to remove it from my arm but opening the simple magnetic clasp proves tricky and after a lot of tugging the thing will still not come off.
The sales assistant appears, witnessing my anxiety and joins in the tugging. That’s when I got really hot. I’d skipped breakfast, I hadn’t had enough water and flash backs of getting stuck in a top in a changing room recently started to haunt me. I had to sit on my knees while an assistant forcefully yanked the top off over my head.
The assistant then paged the manager who also joins in the tugging. Twenty minutes later the evil magnetic clasp finally surrenders and I’m free. Maybe not the best gift option.
Losing hope as my peaceful and serene shopping trip has turned into a fiasco I decide it’s time to admit defeat. But just as I turn the last corner towards my mall exit, in a huge display window is a gorgeous scarf with all the beautiful shades of blue my friend adores.
Walking to the payment counter a fabulous ‘cold’ shoulder black and gold beach dress screams buy me. I am fairly curvaceous so clothes-shopping normally involves a lot of trips to the changing room with an arm-breaking pile of clothes. Never can I pick up my size and assume it will fit. Normally one in 10 items will fit and probably one in 20, I would actually want to be seen in. But this dress is lovely, fairly loose, in slimming black and perfect for my forthcoming beach party.
Lo and behold, I take one, lonely item into the changing room, it fits and it actually looks nice. No zipper issues it comes off as easily as it went on.
Success, Serotonin released!
