For every two that get away...

Before I show you pictures of two of the three items I picked up last Friday - the third set, of my high-waisted gunmetal A-line skirt with deep center-pleat, unfortunately, was too blurry to share - let me first say that even though this new Zara in Penn Quarter has a more pleasing-to-the-eye layout and is a heck of a lot more convenient to scoot to (think 15 minute walk versus 40 minute walk) than the Georgetown location, after one visit with mixed results on both inventory and atmosphere, I'm firmly committed to a Georgetown first, Penn Quarter second shopping strategy.

I never thought I'd miss the flocks of oversized sunglass wearing, leggings-and-flats rocking, Longchamp totes toting campus girls that often stand between that last size-S swing jacket and me, but frankly, I'd rather be around them than a busload of high-schoolers who have time to burn after their tour of the International Spy Museum and before dinner at Fuddruckers.

There's just something about braces and hooded sweatshirts that I don't really want around my shopping experience, you know?

And on that nose-in-the-air note...

Treasure #1:
olive trench with A-line skirt and fold-up/down exaggerated collar ($99)

"I hadn't planned on a trench purchase, but this one...my goodness, how perfectly would it complement all the neutrals in my closet, not to mention that wishlist waspie I keep expecting my anonymous sugar daddy to send me in the mail?"

"That's right, saleslady, I'm taking pictures. Of myself. In the mirror. In front of everyone. It's called vanity. And hey, don't think I didn't see that eyebrow raise when I told you I needed the XS -- see, I did need it."

Treasure #2:

cowl-necked, tiered cap-sleeved holly red satin sheath ($149)

"True, satin is a bitch to keep wrinkle-free and I do already have a red party dress with an of-interest neckline, but I'm pretty sure the extra six inches on this one will afford me the ability to sit, walk without fear of a boyshort-peek and if I get nibbly, bend over to pick up a cheese-cube off the crudite tray. I'll save the other one for drinks with the engaged ex and this one for the work party. Perfect. Just like my LC pose."

"Now I ask you, would a Thai rent-boy be able to pull off red satin this fant-ass-tically? He would? Even better? You've seen it? Sh*t."
"Ze neckline! Ooooh ze neckline! Me love! Me must get!"

As a totally unrelated aside, can I please ask where the smack the new Rilo Kiley album was when I desperately needed it a year six months two Fridays ago? The surprisingly sweet upbeat-edness of the first and fourth tracks - "Silver Lining" and "Breaking Up" - is just the kind of go-ahead-and-be-sad-but-not-too-sad lyrical diversion I should have been using to dress my wounded heart instead of pummeling it with constant replays of "Back to Black," "Reason Why" and the song that closed last night's episode of Tell me you love me.

But enough about that -- please to enjoy Rilo Kiley's "Silver Lining":

(top photo courtesy of PQgirl)