O ur Christmas shopping trip for 1998, was just as fun as all of the other years. Sharon and I planned it for some time and like in years past, I really looked forward to it.

For the past few months a new trend was catching my eye and that was the invention of the front kick pleat for skirts. The front kick pleat skirt combined with a tailored business jacket was definitely a look I was interested in. Some of the local stores that cater to a younger generation of woman, stores like Suzi Shier and Dalamy's featured these fashions at the front of their stores. I was hoping that when I got a chance to go shopping they would not be out of style, well I was about to find out, and I was very much in luck.

So with the date of the trip approaching, I knew exactly what I was going to be wearing and that was an outfit I picked up last year, an above the knee length green suede skirt and matching vest. Combined with black 3" suede heels and a white turtleneck, would be perfect. So I informed Sharon, and she planned on a more casual, yet business look for the day.

I got my shopping list together for this annual wonderful trip, some of the items were already decided, however a few came up at the last minute. Sharon has a bra that I have always loved, front closure and all pure white lace, and I wanted a matching one. Also nylons for an upcoming Wedding Sharon are going to be in, with me as the maid of honor and Sharon a Bridesmaid. Well that is about it and here it was:

· Chic Business Suit, skirt and jacket, front Kick Pleat, fell in love with the one from Suzi Shier and was hoping it was still available.
· "Sharon bra"
· gray belt
· Nylons for Wedding
· Skirt with front kick pleat

Well the day of the trip arrived and Sharon and I spent time separately getting ready, she upstairs and me downstairs. I took my time and slipped into my lingerie for the day, first a pair of lace and satin hunter green panties finally, my favorite white lace bra. I then carefully slipped into a pair of sheer nude pantyhose and used satin gloves, to be sure that I would not snag them and slipped them on. I then slipped on a pair of low 2 ½" pumps and my silky pink makeup coat as I continued to get ready.

I then applied my makeup for the day, and as usual, was going for the "business look", so light eyeliner, just enough to define the eyes, then light pink on the upper lids and dark purple on the lower. My blush was done just right, not too dark, but enough to gently highlight my cheeks. Finally I did my lips with my lighter pinkish red lipstick and everything looked perfect, I was ready for my outfit.

I carefully slipped on my turtleneck and then my skirt for the day, the feeling of the suede skirt was really nice on my nylon covered legs. Then the vest, it completed the look nicely and with some gold dangly earrings set the whole look off perfectly. I had no question about what heels I was going to be wearing and pulled out my black suede 3" heels and slipped them on, and the whole look was perfect. I checked my purse and made sure my list was packed and joined Sharon upstairs to get ready to leave.

She met me in the kitchen, she was in a pair of black stirrup pants, and lovely light brown cowl-necked sweater and a pair of low black heels. Her makeup was done business, like mine, and she complimented me on my outfit, "how seasonal" was her comment. We both put on light coats, me in my spring coat and Sharon in hers, and we got into the car and headed for Square One, my favorite shopping mall of all time.

The weather was beautiful and we soon realized that there was no need for coats at all on this trip. We exchanged girl talk on the way to the mall and I was excited when we finally arrived. We both left our coats in the car and walked to the familiar entrance of The Bay and walked through to the place in the mall we agreed to meet at after our Christmas shopping.

We separated and as we did, I decided to go into the Bay and use the ladies room. I had the whole washroom to myself and after doing my business, made my way to the mirror and fixed my hair and applied another coat of lipstick. I left the change area and entered the mall, it was 10:30am.

I left the washroom and started walking around the mall I love so much, it is really a huge circle and has so many stores that cater to women, it was great. My first stop was at a store that only caters to the younger female fashions, Stitches, and I went looking for a short black skirt with a front kick pleat and no more than 30 seconds into the store, I found it. I grabbed a size 13/14 of the skirt and walked towards the back near the change areas, where a salesgirl asked if I wanted to try on the skirt, I of course told her yes and she showed me to a change room. The skirt fit perfectly and was just short enough and the pleat perfect, I modeled the skirt outside the change room and when she complimented me on how good it looked, I told her I wanted it for sure. I paid for the skirt and walked back into the mall and continued on.

My next stop was my favorite jewelry store, but like the year previous, I found nothing that really caught my attention. All of the nice jewelry was for pierced ears, so I looked around and then left the store to continue on. Too bad I thought as in years past, clip-on jewelry was really in style.

I then visited some of the "trendier" young women's stores, but did not really find anything that was really appealing and basically just looked around. My next stop was Braemar, my favorite formal/petite shop and was disappointed to find that they had no formal fashions in the back and that they had re-arranged the store. I then left there and finally made it to the store I was really looking forward to and that was Suzi Shier.

I entered the store and started scanning for the outfit I had seen in the past and found it right away, and was relieved to find that the jacket and the skirt were both in my size, 13/14. As I was looking for the right sizes, and a cute salesgirl approached me, wearing a short skirt with the front kick pleat, and asked if I was interested to try them on. I told her I was and she took the jacket and skirt from me and lead me to the back to the change areas. I was only planning on trying on the skirt and jacket, with my white turtleneck on, but when she mentioned, "would you like to try a blouse with the jacket and skirt?, it is on sale", I thought "what the heck", and said sure. She grabbed a pure white silk blouse and we continued on into the change area, she lead me into a stall and hung everything up and said, "I will be around if you need me".

I then carefully slipped out of my skirt, vest and turtleneck and started to slip into the new outfit. I swear some of these salesgirls think that women can change at the speed of light. Before I even had the blouse done up, still in only my hose, panties and bra, the girl was asking if everything was alight, I told her I was still getting dressed and she left me alone. I finally got the skirt on and realized that even thought the tag said 13/14 the skirt was baggy at the waist and I was at my "heavy" time of the month, so I knew something was not right. I came out of the change area and the salesgirl was waiting and asked, "so how does it feel?". I walked over to a large mirrored area, still within the change area and I looked myself over in the mirror and spun around a few times. I must have had a pensive look in my eyes as the salesgirl made the comment about my white silk blouse. She asked if I wanted to wear the collar in or out of my jacket, I said "out" and she came and gave me a hand and helped me take the collar out, I really loved the look, so chic and professional.

I was admiring how lovely the skirt, jacket and blouse looked and was started commenting about how long the skirt was and that it was not form fitting. The salesgirl asked if I wanted to try the 11/12 and I said "sure" and she went to get another skirt. While I was admiring the look of the suit, another salesgirl walked by me and was also in a short black skirt with a front kick pleat and commented as she looked me over, "nice suit", and I smiled back and said "thanks".

The salesgirl looking after me came back and handed me an 11/12 skirt and I went to the change room and slipped it on and it fit perfect, even though I was "heavy", I knew it was perfect. When I came out of the change room, the salesgirl also noticed it was perfect and made commented to that effect. She then asked I wanted the outfit and I told her "yes", skirt jacket and all. After I changed she lead me to the counter to pay for the outfit and let me know that all pieces I was buying were on sale, and I was in luck.

After leaving Suzi Shier, I headed back out into the mall and my next stop was Wal Mart, I wanted to look for the gray belt, the "Sharon" bra and hose for the Wedding. The woman's clothing section was right inside the main area, so I had no problem finding the areas I was looking for. I headed right to the belt area, and found really no gray belts to speak of, and was a little disappointed, and hoped that I would be able to find one in another store. I then moved to the lingerie section and quickly found the bra I was looking for, and as I would find out later, thought I had picked out a 36B, but it was a 38B, which I found out later fit just perfectly. I was walking to the hosiery department and found a really lovely light blue pair of silk and lace panties on sale and decided to add them to my purchases. My final stop was in the hosiery department and after searching and searching found the right colour and denier of hose for Sharon and I to be wearing at the upcoming Wedding, which was nude and 15 denier. I made my way to the counter and paid for my purchases.

I left Wal Mart and headed back out to the door into the mall and started heading toward the meeting point that Sharon and I were planning to meet. I noticed another store that caters to younger women, "Dalmy's", and decided to check it out for possibly a skirt with a kick pleat, maybe as shorter as the one I got earlier for a little more variety in my wardrobe. I entered the store an started looking and found a really short black skirt with a front kick pleat and got excited and then discovered it was actually a skort. About that time, a really cute young salesgirl, dressed in black tights and a short black skirt with a front kick pleat. She asked me what I was looking for and I told her, she immediately started looking around and found a black skirt, one almost the same length as the one that I already had. She kept asking me questions, and I was telling her I was not looking for a skort, but a short skirt. We found a few skirts, but they were all too long, until she found a gray skirt, really short and suggested I try them on, leading me to the change area.

We chatted, girl talk and I told her I was Christmas shopping and she made the comment, "I know what you mean, you end up going shopping for someone else and end up buying more for yourself". Well she was bang on with regards to me, and I told her I just got a new job and was trying to get more variety in my wardrobe. I stayed in the stall and tried on the black skirt, but it was identical to the one I already had, so I moved on to the gray skirt and when I saw myself in it, I loved it. I changed back to my original skirt and left the change area and met her, she took the skirt and commented that I picked the gray skirt, and commented, "I thought you were going for black?". I told her I changed my mind and paid for the skirt and thanked her for all her help and left the store back into the mall and headed back to place Sharon and I agreed to meet.

I met up with Sharon and she asked me if I had a good time and told her I certainly did!. We then walked through the Bay and headed for the car. Once in the car, Sharon and I talked about what were we wanted to go for lunch, and the time was 12:15, and the place we chose was Jack Astors, that was a road house style restaurant near the mall. We left the van and walked to the restaurant and after sitting for a while, I could feel that the long walk around the mall in 3" heels took its toll and was glad the entrance was not that far away!.

Sharon lead the way into the restaurant and we were greeted by a waiter that asked, "smoking or non-smoking ladies". Sharon and I both piped up, "non-smoking", and we were informed that he was sorry, but they only had smoking and that the wait was going to be 20 minutes. Sharon and I looked at each other and said, "let's find someplace else", and we both turned to leave, and as we were leaving, the waiter came running after us. "Ladies, you can sit at the bar and we will come get you when something is available". Sharon and I looked at each other and agreed we would find another place and left.

Sharon and I got back into the van, and as we drove back home, both remembered a Kelsey's not too far from the mall, and decided it would be the perfect location. We arrived at the mall with the Kelsey's and were surprised to find the place almost empty. Again we were asked by a pretty waitress, "smoking or non ladies", to which replied non and she asked us to follow her.

Once seated we order lunch, for me it was a salad and soup with a cooler and Sharon a clubhouse sandwich and a pop. Sharon and I chatted and enjoyed the surprisingly quiet restaurant. Once finished I used the ladies room, and had the large makeup mirror all to myself as I touched up my lipstick and brushed my hair. Sharon took a turn after I got back from the table and after we settled the bill left the restaurant and went next door to a Zellers department store. At lunch Sharon and I talked about what I was shopping for and I told her a gray belt, so we decided to see if we could find one.

We searched the ladies department, which was right inside the main entrance and could not find anything close to what I was looking for and decided to leave. Sharon and I continued to chat about the day as she drove us home, once home, I gave her a big kiss and a hug and thanked her for another wonderful Christmas shopping trip.

I cannot wait for next year.