Shopping for the Perfect Cardigan--Kenwood Towne Center Mall

Again after work on a weeknight, I stop at Kenwood Towne Center on my way home. This super mall offers three major department stores and over 180 specialty shops, and I'm in the mood to do some serious shopping. Even if I don't find the sweater, I'm going to have some fun.

Express

I try on a number of outfits in Express, but they all either make me feel fat or old - not something I look for in wardrobe elements. I'm about to leave the store when I notice the jewelry sale: buy two, get one free.

I find three pairs of earrings, a ring (the finish on which begins to wear off after the first day), and three very cool necklaces, which I scoop up. I have a nice chat with the very friendly sales clerk as she rings up and wraps my purchases.

Casual Corner

Once one of my favorite haunts, this store has yielded less and less for me over the past few years. Their stock is mostly conservative suits, and their sales staff couldn't be less interested in helping a prospective customer. Annoyed, I leave.

The Limited

Here I find a real treasure: a black, tunic-length v-neck sweater in a fine-gauge knit. It's not a cardigan, but it will be a perfect addition to my wardrobe (okay, I admit I have too many black clothes already) and it will show off the cool necklaces I found at Express. It's $40, and I'm annoyed to know it will probably be on sale with a big markdown in a few weeks, but I want it and they may not have my size later. I buy it. (I went back a few weeks later, and sure enough, it's now $29.99. And plenty of black left in my size.)

Benetton

The clothes in this store usually scare me, but today they have some beautiful cardigan sweaters. The one I love is black, long, slim, and cashmere. It's $118.00, much more than I would normally spend on a sweater (or most other pieces of clothing, for that matter), but I love it. Unfortunately, they don't have black in my size. They do have grey, but that's not what I need. The very helpful and friendly sales staff offers up a couple of other choices, but none really fit what I'm looking for. I pass, somewhat reluctantly.

Parisian

After looking around for about 15 minutes (not including a browse of the bargain shoe room), I come across a folded table piled high with cardigans, including a gorgeous pile of ribbed cotton numbers. I pick a black one from the pile and size it up. Long, dressy look, slim cut, v-neck, heavy knit. Size medium. I try it on. It looks good! In fact, I think it looks great. I put it down, try on large, then small. Then medium again. A winner. I look at the price tag - it's $48.00, and not on sale. But since I'll wear it for years, I decide it's worth it. I go home, satisfied and happy, and integrate this new treasure into my wardrobe.

I actually end up liking this sweater so much that I go back a few days later and buy it again in another color - a soft, dark red. I leave Parisian vowing to start here next time - they usually have something I want, and their service lives up to the hype.