This is the story of Patty and her Adventures in the city. Be sure to check out the profile to read the foreword to her story, and a link to image albums of the outfits used during appointments kept.
Chapter Five, Direct Purchase.
Climbing back into the window from her "balcony" Patty got dressed in the same outfit that she had on when she went grocery shopping. Grabbing a couple hundred dollars from the bank bag, she put on her bomber jacket, and out the door she went.
Spotting a United Cab on the corner with the light on, she hailed it with a stadium whistle and it rumbled to a stop in front of her. Jumping in the back, as the driver said, "Hi, I'm Cindy, Where too?"
"St. Vincent's Thrift," Patty said.
As she put the cab in gear, Cindy said, "Sure thing, I found some nice vintage there last weekend! Here we go!"
Riding through the bumpy streets, Patty asked, "What did You find?"
Cindy answered, "Where? Ohhh yea, St Vincent's! Let's see, A pair of black suede knee boots, all kinds of clothing including a stars mini dress, even a rotary princess phone!"
Patty asked, "A star's mini dress? Who did it belong to?"
Cindy replied, "Ohh no no. The dress has a stars pattern!" They both laughed.
More small talk was made until Cindy said, "Here we are, I wish I could come in with You." as the cab stopped at the curb. "I love the thriftys!"
Patty paid the cabbie and said, "We have to go sometime then, make a day of it! Can I get your number?"
Cindy replied, "That would be fun! I don't like going alone," and rattled off the number as Patty dialed. They both added it to contacts and Patty stepped out of the cab.
As Patty was closing the door, Cindy said, "I also found a slip like that one, but in black."
Patty looked down and a couple of inches of her Vanity Fair new classic slip lace was showing. Adjusting it she said, "Thanks, see you soon." and closed the door.
Grabbing a basket, she checked the sidewalk sale. Thumbing through the rack, she held a very long, very sheer Pleated Fan Skirt and held it to herself thinking of a couple of formal length half slips she has that would go well with it. Checking the tag, it said Two Dollars, so in her basket it went. Thumbing some more, she found a little black satin ruched dress. Checking the tag, Three Dollars.
Inside the store, she went right for what she came here for. Thumbing through the lingerie rack, the first one she found a robin's egg blue Vanity Fair vintage full slip that was dripping with lace. By it was another Vanity Fair, a white mini full slip with sheer cups and the cutest lace.
Thumb by a few items and there was a Racy Lipstick Red Vanity Fair French Flirts Half Slip. Thinking that she already had one like this, Patty looked the slip over finding it in excellent condition, then at the tag. Three bucks, sold and in her basket it went.
Thumbing by a couple of plain half slips Patty found a simply gorgeous Pastel Blue Vintage Van Raalte Full Slip with loads of lace. "Ohhh, Noes! Five Bucks! Expensive!" she laughed at herself as she put it in the basket. Thumbing back the plain slips went in the basket also. She would add lace to them and they would not be plain, anymore.
Thumbing Thumbing, Patty was nearing the end of the rack. Spotting some wide lace she pulled a gorgeous little Lorraine mini half slip, and found a nest of mini half slips on the rack. "Jackpot," She said to herself as she pull lacy little mini slip after lacy little mini slip from the rack and put them in her cart. She can check them out later.
Right at the end of the rack was a gorgeous Wonder Maid Half Slip/Camisole set. Patty held them up and smiled as she checked the set out. It was in excellent condition and even had a new item feel, making her think that someone just removed the original store tags and put them away.
Checking the mini slips from the nest, she found, another very lacy white Lorraine and gorgeous beige mini for a total of three, including the first one she found.
There were four no tags, sweet sixteen Vanity Fair, most being lacy classics in various colors. There was also, Three Van Raalte, Four Kayser, Two Hollywood Vassarette, A Victoria's Secret, and A Maidenform Confection. She thought, "These will be fantastic for shuffle dancing!" She found only one with a dead waist.
Happy with her haul, so far, she wandered around the store, just seeing if anything would catch her eye.
She found a old-style electric perkolator coffee pot, and dropped it in the cart. She also found a candlestick lamp and a table fan, along with a set of Snap-On screwdrivers in a roll pack for only five bucks. The closing announcement came, so she went to check out and looked her haul over as she stood in line. Thirty-eight slips total.
When Patty's turn came, she piled the slips, household goods, and tools on the belt. There was an older lady training a guy about Patty's age, on the register. He grabbed the pot, fan, lamp and screwdrivers ringing them up then seemed to freeze not knowing what to do next.
His trainer said, "Well, check her out, Doug." to him. He picked up a silky soft Van Raalte ringing it up, then missed the bag and it fell to the floor. Picking it up, he put it in the bag this time.
Marjorie, his trainer said to Patty, "I used to wear little mini slips like this when I was in college, giving her a discreet wink. These are very pretty." Then said to Doug, "Speed it up, so we can call it a day."
Patty looked down to find a good size bulge in his pants as he rang up her silky soft and lacy mini slips. Some he seemed to have trouble finding the price tag on some, or maybe he just holding her as long as he dared. A guy was behind her, waiting to check-out and it didn't seem he minded the wait at all, his eyes focused on each slip with a shit-eating grin on his face as they were rang up. He too had a bulge. Their eyes met for for a moment and they smiled at each other. Patty reached in her purse and handed him a card.
Marjorie said, "Ohhh, that is gorgeous," when he got to the slip / camisole set.
Doug even managed to say "Very Nice!" as he rang the set up. The guy behind gave a nod of approval.
Patty wondered if some or all of the slips may have belonged to Marjorie, at one time.
Doug stammered through saying "$128.92 is the total, Ma'am."
Patty paid him in twenties. Doug put them in the drawer and closed it, handing her the receipt, stammering through, "Thank You and Come Again."
Marjorie said, "You forgot to give change to her!"
"Uh Oh," Doug said, as Marjorie moved to key-open the drawer.
"It's ok, no worries." Patty said, "You do good work here, consider the extra a donation."
Doug said, "Thank You" with a smile, as Marjorie said, "Bless You."
Patty grabbed her bags and headed for the door.
No cabs to hail, she sat on a chair and called a Indie Cab. The man that was behind her came out, and said, "You have good taste in vintage style" They chatted for a couple of minutes, and he ended the conversation by saying, "I'm happily married, but You never know."
Marjorie came out, and seeing Patty sitting there, stopped to thank her again for letting them keep the $11 bucks in change.