I love the movie Pretty Woman. It’s sweet, romantic, fun, true love wins in the end,etc, etc. Yes, it is also about a “working girl” but we like to gloss over that little part.
But let’s talk about the fun clothes! I got to have a shopping experience similar to that. It really is a rush. My old boss was wealthy. After working for him for a couple years he went through a rough divorce. I handled all of the correspondence between him and his wife, the lawyers, the nannies/kids situations, etc. This was in addition to all actual hedge fun daytime business and job I had. Once it was basically over, he said to me one day BEFORE the market closed (unheard of!) let’s go to the city and I’ll take you shopping. Umm..ok!
He had 2 Ferraris (yes early 90s) and we drove up in the black convertible. I thought by shopping he meant we went to a store, bought me something and leave. We started at Wilkes Bashford. he said pick out whatever I wanted. Anything. The shop girls instantly assumed I was the mistress. Great. But whatever. They were VERY helpful. Moved onto Ralph Lauren, then TSE Cashmere, then Northbeach Leather and then a pair of diamond studs. I saw the AMEX bills come in later. Just south of $50k. In one afternoon. On me! Quite an obscene…and profane amount of money :) I can’t imagine any man will ever spend anywhere near that much on me in my lifetime again. I make my own money so whatever. Not really about the money anyway. But it was fun. Very fun. :)
Word got out at work and one of the analysts who had asked me out previously made a rude comment in a staff meeting. It upset me. I told my boss why I was upset. He (the analyst) was yelled at and almost fired. He (the analyst) assumed the reason I said no to a date was because I was “doing” the boss. No pal – I said no because you were the stereotypical New York Wall Street douchebag and I had less than no interest in you. And I refused to allow it to take away from the fun of the shopping trip!
My husband still says to this day he (my old boss) ruined me for all men forever. That no man could live up to the super nice, rich guy thing my boss showed me existed…even if very rare. The guy who did something very nice for someone to show appreciation and express affinity for their help, loyalty, etc. And it’s not the dollar amount. But more the fact that someone was willing to take me for an entire afternoon, which was completely against character (to leave the office during market hours!) and do something that will make someone smile, laugh and so very crazy and unexpected. That makes them smile. That’s pretty cool. And it’s a shame that my husband is probably right that most people would not do that, even if they could, without expecting something in return.
I think I still have a pair of cool shoes from Wilkes Bashford, and a couple crocodile belts from Ralph Lauren and a leather trench from North Beach Leather. Plus separately, I bought a brown, polka dot halter dress almost identical to the one she wears at the polo match. I love that dress!
I will always remember that shopping trip as a super fun trip with a super nice guy. Proof that the nice guy DOES exist….or maybe he was the only one..
6:47 am on April 26th, 2010
Don’t let your husband read this post then if you think that. ;)
Your boss was saying thank you and showing his appreciation for your hard work and loyalty – that also says a lot about you. Yes, your boss was a nice guy but also a very rich dude. You, on the other hand obviously went above and beyond the call of duty and he was clearly touched by your dedication.
There are elements to Pretty Woman that I like – as a modern fairy tale it hit all the right notes. (Although I prefer While You Were Sleeping with SB ;) My fave JR movie is Erin Brockovich – I think she really shone in that. ;)
10:54 am on April 26th, 2010
My old boss was(still is) a very nice guy. Who definitely liked to make grand gestures for the people he cared about. And I had to deal with a LOT of crap with is ex-wife, kids, nannies and lawyers so I deserved it ;) But his kindness was always appreciated by me. My husband thinks that kind of grand gesture (or any extreme/out of the ordinary niceness shown) is generally a waste of cash, and if done by anyone other than your husband, just an attempt to get a girl in bed. However, he does know my old boss and knows this is not the case with him, so feels he is just a “one of a kind” kind of guy. Probably right.
While You Were Sleeping was very cute. I prefer SB over JR any day! :)
10:06 am on June 1st, 2010
Aww, you met the one – not all of us have that ulterior motive as the goal even if we think about it. I still do the shopping sprees albeit not as often as in the crazy days as employee appreciation or host fancy dinners or luncheons – I find it keeps morale up and is better than some junky clock or watch.
10:47 am on June 1st, 2010
He was (well, still is!) truly a nice, nice guy. But I do think it set me up for some disappointment. But good to know there might more than one out there ;)