Swimsuit purchase made easy
Leslie Pasqualone
Issue date: 4/8/05 Section: Entertainment
Last month, I brought my mother along on the most dreadful shopping mission of all: bathing suit shopping. I am sure there are some of you out there that enjoy the act, but you are probably the type of person who works out constantly or are just blessed with wonderful genes. I, unfortunately, do not fit into either of the categories, so I brought my mother along based solely on the fact that I knew she would tell me the truth.
If it was up to me, I would only buy a new suit every three years. However this year, I was fortunate enough to be invited to Hawaii for spring break. My mother pointed out to me ever so quaintly three days before departure that I needed a new suit.
I am never one to turn down a shopping excursion. I have, however, never had a good experience buying a bathing suit. I have on many occasions bought suits that faded, stretched out, or even worse, did not stay on. I have bought bathing suits with embellishments that have begun to rust from salt water. I have bought bathing suits that have fit me in the store, but once on the beach had minds of their own. If it were up to me, I would be in shorts and a t-shirt all day long based on my past experiences.
In any event the first problem I encountered was where I could get a suit in the first place. I needed a nice one, which will last me a couple years until I am inevitably forced to buy another ... I suggested going to the mall for a quick easy fix, but my mother suggested going to a place that specializes in bathing suits and active wear. The deal was this: if we didn't find anything there we would hit up the mall for back up. Fair enough. I agreed to the plan of attack.
My mother heard from a friend that there was a great place near our house called Shirley & Co. They have two locations on in the Hunting Valley Shopping Center (215-663-8588) and also in Newtown, PA on RT 332 in the Clemens's Shopping Center (215-579-7005).
However my first impression was that of nervousness and anxiety. As soon as I walked into the place, the agony and agitation of this task resurfaced and began to increase. Where do I start? What type of suit am I looking for? What colors work well with my skin? How much do I want to spend? It was a one-room store with racks upon racks of swim wear and two very animated saleswomen. Exactly what I wasn't in the mood for: two really happy people jibber-jabbering about bathing suits. I began to feel faint.
If it was up to me, I would only buy a new suit every three years. However this year, I was fortunate enough to be invited to Hawaii for spring break. My mother pointed out to me ever so quaintly three days before departure that I needed a new suit.
I am never one to turn down a shopping excursion. I have, however, never had a good experience buying a bathing suit. I have on many occasions bought suits that faded, stretched out, or even worse, did not stay on. I have bought bathing suits with embellishments that have begun to rust from salt water. I have bought bathing suits that have fit me in the store, but once on the beach had minds of their own. If it were up to me, I would be in shorts and a t-shirt all day long based on my past experiences.
In any event the first problem I encountered was where I could get a suit in the first place. I needed a nice one, which will last me a couple years until I am inevitably forced to buy another ... I suggested going to the mall for a quick easy fix, but my mother suggested going to a place that specializes in bathing suits and active wear. The deal was this: if we didn't find anything there we would hit up the mall for back up. Fair enough. I agreed to the plan of attack.
My mother heard from a friend that there was a great place near our house called Shirley & Co. They have two locations on in the Hunting Valley Shopping Center (215-663-8588) and also in Newtown, PA on RT 332 in the Clemens's Shopping Center (215-579-7005).
However my first impression was that of nervousness and anxiety. As soon as I walked into the place, the agony and agitation of this task resurfaced and began to increase. Where do I start? What type of suit am I looking for? What colors work well with my skin? How much do I want to spend? It was a one-room store with racks upon racks of swim wear and two very animated saleswomen. Exactly what I wasn't in the mood for: two really happy people jibber-jabbering about bathing suits. I began to feel faint.
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