Boutiques Gifts

"That's right Madam. Apparently, there was a mix up at the factory and all size 10 clothing was incorrectly labelled size 16."

Two women wearing identical dresses head toward exchange window at department store.

Not to be a motion picture. Will remain just a book.

Pashminas are sooo noughties!

Rare Books

"Oh to be young and in love and wear things cut on the bias."

"Ikea for hippies" 1. Flimsig used pallets, old foam 2. Stinkum goat wool 3. Beetup recycled lumber 4. Riskig kerosene lamp 5. Stupor hand blown by Nils 6. Smokum found on beach in Mendocino 7. Woblig 100% driftwood

Sign in book shop window: 'Critics agree the book is much better than the movie.'

"It's black, but it's not New York black."

'They've certainly got designs on your purse!'

When Tia Carmen says... "I got it for a very good price!" it means...she stopped at a garage sale on the way home.

"Some fitting room. Nothing fits!"

"It's the only way I can justify buying so many shoes."

"Midtown Vinyl. Vintage albums + EPs. Midtown Ink. Vintage books + newspapers."

"I feel there's a whole culture around mules."

'We always like to give more bling for the buck.'

"I want that dressing-room mirror fired."

Customer Convention

Crap others threw out

Noah's Ark Book Shop has two doggie doors.

"I'm looking for something that says country-but-only-an-hour-and-a-half-drive-from-the-city."

Mysteries.

Buy Back the Junk We Bought at Your Garage Sale

'...And it comes with valuable coupons toward your next purchase.'

"This family-owned boutique wine is produced from a single grape."

Garage Sale (sign originally read 'Garbage' sale).

"I wonder what this was for."

As models become skinnier, so do the mannequins.

"It's all locally-sourced, made from scratch."

"I'm looking for a nice basic piece of clothing that can fulfill every need I have."

"I shop to forget what I bought last year."

I'm not buying a $25 set of boring hooded towels off a big box store baby shower registry. Mom fights the man! The local baby boutique will have a hipper selection. So true! Catch those adorable all-organic, artist-designed towels! Cute! And only $55 each! My pretentions are never cheap!

"I can't believe I spent seven million dollars on tights."

I brake for anything discarded that I can bring to the antiques roadshow.

"Hmm interesting Hallmark..."