fh_trips | NYC Shopping thread...

"I'm usually a large or extra-large. But some people say that our sizes are too small." Nadia shrugged, still staring. "I have no idea what size I am in American sizes."

"Let's get you measured." Parker looked around, and refrained from snapping her fingers at a saleswoman. This was too important for alienation. "Ma'am? My friend needs a measuring tape. And we'd like to see your latest Valentino and Armanis, please?"

Nadia's usual mode of shopping was to wander around, sort of hold clothing up to her body, and guess whether or not it fit. Parker's seemed like it would be much more efficient, so Nadia just let herself be guided by her new friend.

Still, Valentino? Armani? She looked around the store with a smirk. "If the gang back home could see me now,"

Parker grinned. "Look, thrift-store chic is great, and you can definitely work the look. But in my opinion? Every woman needs one perfect (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2018130777&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2020619897&N=2020619877&Nao=18&Ns=Popularity%7c0%7c%7cProduct%2bCode%7c1&Nu=Product+ID) little (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2018653997&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2020619897&N=2020619877&Nao=18&Ns=Popularity%7c0%7c%7cProduct%2bCode%7c1&Nu=Product+ID) black (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2012635793&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2020619897&N=2020619877&Nao=18&Ns=Popularity%7c0%7c%7cProduct%2bCode%7c1&Nu=Product+ID) dress (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2016805945&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2020621115&N=2020619877&Nao=18&Ns=Popularity%7c0%7c%7cProduct%2bCode%7c1&Nu=Product+ID)." She pulled several examples of the same off the store racks, then added, "And they're usually not marked down to only half what they're worth. Go nuts."

Nadia's eyes lit up at the dresses, and she immediately grabbed the pleated, ruffle-edged one and held it up. She glanced at the price tag and almost choked. "That's half--" she cut herself off, thinking of the substantial amount of money she'd grabbed off the guy at the hotdog stand. For once, she could afford it, and dammit, Parker was right. Every woman needed a dress. "Is there anywhere I can try this on?"

Parker looked around, spied the dressing rooms, and grabbed some red dresses for herself. "Guys? We'll be over here." She led the way to the curtained area and thanked the saleswoman for the measuring tape. "Have you ever been measured for dress sizes before? We should check it before you try those on."

Nadia offered Paker a small smile. "I grew up in an orphanage. We were lucky to be measured for our height." She glanced down at herself, then back up at Paker. She was a little embarrassed at how little she knew about American shopping. Or rather, she supposed, real shopping. "How does it work?"

Parker shed her jacket, then demonstrated on herself. "Bust, at the widest part, going under your arms. Waist, across your navel. Hips, widest part again. 36-24-38. I'm a size 8 or 10, depending on the manufacturer. You try, and sift through these for your size." She grinned and gestured to the stall next to Nadia's. "I'm trying on the red ones, hopefully enough to make Jack's eyes pop out."

Nadia grinned back and took the measuring tape. She stepped into the stall to strip down; she wanted to make sure the measurements were as precise as possible.

[and the mun is off to bed. more tomorrow!]

Parker tried on a (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2019007307&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1215&N=933&Nao=54&Ne=500000&Nu=Product+ID&Ntk=all&Ntt=dresses&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial) few (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2018129691&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1215&N=933&Nao=198&Ne=500000&Nu=Product+ID&Ntk=all&Ntt=dresses&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial) dresses (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2017708145&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1215&N=933&Nao=198&Ne=500000&Nu=Product+ID&Ntk=all&Ntt=dresses&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial), then decided to get a second opinion. "How are you doing? And tell me what you think of this, (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2019104551&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1213&N=933&Nao=108&Ne=500000&Nu=Product+ID&Ntk=all&Ntt=dresses&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial), would you?"

_{[np, see you tomorrow!]}

Nadia poked her head out of the dressing room and tilted her head. "Very glamorous." She stepped out rather slowly, seemingly shy, wearing a black strapless number. "I especially like the . . ." she gestured towards the waistline of the dress. "Folds and stuff."

Parker smiled slowly. "Turn around, let's see it..." She folded her arms. "It looks great. You've got the legs for it, definitely. It needs shoes, though." She grinned. "How are you in heels?"

Nadia smiled and gave a very slight twirl. Sure enough, the skirt lifted just a little, promising to flair beautifully when she danced. "I don't really wear heels. . . ." since you can't run in them. . . . "But if I could balance on that skateboard thing, I can balance in heels, I think."

"Hmm. It really needs just a small heel...." Parker grabbed two (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2006869049&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1165&N=1165&Ne=500000&Nu=Product+ID&Ntk=all&Ntt=dresses&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial#) pairs (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2006868781&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1169&N=959+4294967268&Ne=10&Ns=New%7c1%7c%7cProduct%2bCode%7c1&Nu=Product+ID&Ntk=all&Ntt=dresses&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial) from a nearby display, checked the sizes, and handed them to Nadia. "Let's see how these look, they may not be the right size."

Nadia took the shoes and slipped one of each on her feet, figuring that way they could get a look at both at once. "I think they're a little bit big." She stared down. "They make my feet look really long."

"Hmm. How about these? (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2020623851&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1169&N=959&Nao=36&Ns=New%7c1%7c%7cProduct%2bCode%7c1&Nu=Product+ID)" Parker said idly. "Or maybe those (http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2021152379&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1167&N=959&Nao=36&Ns=New%7c1%7c%7cProduct%2bCode%7c1&Nu=Product+ID)."

Looking around, Parker tries to size up a few more bargains. "I'm going shopping with Callisto when we get back, so I don't need to shop too much more... do you want to come with us?"

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