We went to the mall today to pass some time–oh yes, and to pick up presents for Gianni’s teachers. We totally dropped the ball on that. Gaetano and I looked at each other when we realized that it is protocol to bring a little something to the teachers during the class christmas party. Oops, I thought I was finished once the juice was purchased. Gaetano is so smooth–he told the teachers he forgot to bring the gifts, and that we’d bring them by Monday. (Mission accomplished: fuzzy slippers and candles for all 3 teachers).
So, back to my story….we went to the expensive mall today. (We have a nice mall by our house–which is typically the one we frequent, but today we decided to get crazy and visit the mall with a Louis Vuitton, Tiffany’s, and Armani store…you get the point…we were merely window shopping and wasting time.) Well, I did have two stores that I was dying to visit: Sephora and M.A.C. I’ve been so inspired by my beautiful friend Giuliana the makeup artist (see the previous post for her page in Elle) that I decided I could invest in a few mainstays that I’d wear everyday.
Things went great at Sephora–the workers helped me and despite not having the exact eyeliner I wanted, I’d say it was a pleasant experience. However…once I found the M.A.C. store (Gaetano thought I wanted to look at Apple computers), things took a turn for the worse. I finally found the tiny, hidden store. Three girls and one guy (all of whom were wearing WAY more makeup that I would even know what to do with, and who all had purple and red streaks in their hair–a definite prerequisite for getting hired), were “helping” customers. Actually they weren’t. They were helping two teenaged girls whose mother left them her credit card.
As for me, my baby stroller, my overflowing (non-designer) diaper bag, and natural brown hair–they seemed to ignore me. Despite being the ONLY other person in the 10 square foot store. Uggh.
I chased Gianni through the store when he made a bee-line for the eyeshadows, and at least thought I’d get their attention by causing that scene. Nope, no luck. I decided I could play their game too. I pushed the oversized stroller to the middle of the tiny store and left it right in front of the foundation counter. 
Ha! Finally I was able to get red-streaked-hair-girl’s attention when she HAD to ask me to move the stroller so she could get through. Yes! I asked her to get a specific makeup brush for me, and then proceeded to checkout.
I purchased two things. The brush and a small compact of powder. Total: $85.00! Whhhaaaat??? Of course, I had to stay cool, and act like it was no big deal at the counter, since I had just caused such a scene to get their attention. If I would have realized the makeup brush that I so desperately needed would be $55, I’d probably have not even entered the store–oh well.
Lesson learned: Don’t try to act like you always buy expensive makeup when you don’t…and if you do want to show off in the MAC store, at least go by yourself. Don’t give yourself away by rolling in the stroller and diaper bag.
I think we’ll stick to the mall next to our house.
This is funny for me since I’ve spent the last three weeks trying to find the best DIY (do it yourself) make-up for my wedding day. Daniel doesn’t like a lot of make-up, so I found some magazine pics of brides with make-up that just looks ‘wintery fresh,’ ya know? I’m going for clean and light, but still ‘special’ not like I just woke up. Soooo, I’ve browsed make-up counters at cosmetic stores (they don’t have any department stores in our town here in Germany). They have ALL the top brands, too, like M.A.C, and Lancome, and Shisheido, etc. Then really expensive crap like Dior, etc. The bouncers STAIR at me like I’m going to stash an eyeliner in my pockets. I know I’m American, but I’m not Wynona!
They also have some counters at the giant PX at the nearby Air Base. So I went there and showed one of the girls my pictures. Of course, I was not wearing make-up that day. She’s Romanian and sporting a thick layer of base all over her face and seven layers of eye shadow. She condescendingly says, “You’re not used to wearing much make-up, are you?” I was like, ‘Well, no, but I KNOW HOW to put it on…but I’m not really looking for anything dark, just something really light like this…” It was a nightmare. I walked away with two expensive lipsticks that are not what I wanted and NO eye make-up.
I ended up getting some great tips and beautiful colors from the MAC lady at a German store. Two eye shadows, a brush, and eye liner — a whopping 87 euros. But, at least she didn’t convince me to buy the primer, too. I got home and Daniel liked the make up on my face, so that’s a good sign. The not-so-good sign is that when I applied it myself the next day…it just kinda looked lavendar. I’ll keep working at it, though. I bought cheapo Loreal base to wear under my nice normal Estee Lauder powder, since I will likely never wear the base again.
Why is it that a once confident, sassy girl who KNEW how to apply make-up is FREAKING about her wedding day make up like she’s never applied lipgloss before?? And those make-up counter bi-otches do NOT help!
(sorry for any spelling errors)
I am crying laughing. I had the SAME THING happen at a MAC store. We went to a really nice mall back when we were in Louisiana. They would NOT help me. I finally left and gave up. All I wanted was a lip gloss! LOL. I went to the Body Shop to get a lip gloss…feeling totally defeated. I went in and grabbed it an didn’t look at the price. $25 bucks for lip gloss!! I was already at the counter and didn’t want to look like I was cheap, so I smoothly paid the price like it was nothing. Horrible.
Now when I go to one of those stores….I go dressed and ready. I put on my best bitchy attitude and guess what…they help.
Mindy