It's a wonderful feeling for a poor church mouse like me to fly down crowded 5th Avenue with expensive little shopping bags flapping in the wind. The really toney New York stores have sturdy, well-designed bags, and they'll give 'em out, even if you buy a cheap little something (like we poor little church mice are wont to do).Good friend Lynn is in town from Atlanta and took me to lunch at the Japanese department store (yeah, yeah, the Japanese department store in New York City), Takashimaya. We had a lovely, leisurely time ("Here's to the ladies who lunch . . . "), then went our separate ways.
Before I left the store, I treated myself to a little bag of Takashimaya Rose Tea (yu-um!). Now, this little purchase didn't cost much, but they put my little bag of tea in a terrific 3-sided Takashimaya bag. Once the inexpensive purchase is inside, why, your average snooty-hooty has no idea what the bag holds. It's my first Takashimaya bag! (Here's a shot of the bag, Winston, to prove 3-sided bags do exist.)But I couldn't leave the Golden Mile without popping into Henri Bendel for one of their signature lemon candles. I've been buying them for years (back in the days when I was a tourist), and I do love the little chocolate-and-white Bendel bag.
So off I flew down 5th Avenue with my Takashimaya and Bendel bags blowing out behind me. They could've held expensive perfume or jewelry. But they didn't. They held tea and a candle. But who knew?
By the way, the other plus about these bags is that they make great lunch totes - they last forever (or a couple of months, anyway). Throw a tuna sandwich in there and off I go. And won't I look rich?
7 comments:
A 3-sided bag? Would like to see one of those.
When you tire of those bags you can impress folks with your collection of WalMart, Target, and Farmers Co-op bags. You did hang onto those when you moved, right? If not, I could send you some more.
At least you're in New York with your bags. You see people walking round the Poundstore in Swansea with Harrods bags ...
Now you've made me want a new candle. I haven't been able to find any good ones recently. Not ones that have much of a scent anyway. I have to go shopping this afternoon; perhaps I'll call into my favourite shop, drool over just about everything and then buy a candle. And they'll put it in a nice bag for me too1
Yeah, Winston - 3-sided. Has a triangular bottom. Well, it is a Japanese store, after all - innovation and all that. And I will always be a proud Target-bagger. Bullseye, baby! (But they're plastic, you see, and don't hold up as a lunch bag. I save 'em for dog-poo-pickup.)
Liz, I'm guilty of toting a Harrod's bag when I have one around. I only get the plastic ones because I just buy tea there. Do they have fancier, sturdier paper ones (like the Bendel bag) for more up-market purchases, I wonder? And yes - go buy a candle and enjoy both the bag and its contents! (Is this just a girl-thing? Are we becoming bag ladies? And why do we never hear of "bag gentlemen"?)
Isn't it interesting how stores make their average products seem more special just with the right bag or box!
I just stumbled across your blog today by jumping over from Winston's blog. Glad I found you!
Ooooo, Mary. I started out with a thing for the little blue bags. Got my first one when buying some note cards (not even sure they sell them anymore -- am I showing my age?). The problem was that I then became obsessed with the little blue boxes. Their contents were far more pricey. Come to think of it, I haven't seen one of those in a long time. Good thing the birthday's coming!
That is a COOL bag Mary. What is it about getting these great bags from stores? I love them too...and keep them for other neat things. Of course, you should see the pile of Target, WalMart and Jewel bags I've managed to save along with them. I have a hard time throwing any of them out. Glad you had such a nice day Mary...
It must be a girl thing!
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