Shopping for the Perfect Cardigan--Hyde Park Plaza

On a rainy weeknight when my husband has to work late, I stop at Hyde Park Plaza shopping center on my way home from work. First stop, Paul Harris.

Paul Harris

This is a very short stop, since they don't seem to have any cardigans in stock, and the sales staff is busy chatting with one another. I check out a few late season markdowns, but don't have the patience for much more.

Hit or Miss

I first discovered Hit or Miss shopping with my grandmother in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Their name is pretty apt, since sometimes I've found great things and other times I'm left cold. They have some cute clothes and a great end of summer sale, but there's not really much of a cardigan selection - the only ones they have are short, with gold buttons. Since most of my jewelry is silver, this won't work. Besides, I'm still short-waisted.

I do find a couple of cool sterling silver rings, on sale. I get a couple for myself and a couple for my aunt for her upcoming birthday. One of the ones I buy for myself ends up on my thumb, since it was bigger than I realized. Still, it looks cool there and I like the idea. I also buy a heavy silver choker. Great jewelry sale, anyway!

Martin's

My last stop tonight is another clothing store in this same shopping center - Martin's. I'm definitely not this store's target customer; most of the clothing I see is a little too bright for me, with leopard print accessories and big gold earrings. Still, the sales staff is friendly, and the woman who offers assistance takes me to a number of cardigans, even though she admits they probably don't have the style I've described.

She's right, and even if they did have the perfect sweater, I wouldn't buy it here. On our way to the sweater section, I spy a rack of fur coats. An inquiry confirms my suspicion - the coats are real. I politely explain I make it a practice not to shop stores that sell fur, and make my exit.