Nordstrom

There was a point in time when Kathryn was approximately 6, that FS would no longer take Kathryn shopping for clothes.  After all of these years, I remember the incident well.

Jeanne was a baby and I stayed home to watch her.  Mom and Kathryn went shopping for clothes for Kathryn.  Kathryn was about 6 and was a picky dresser.  Kathryn would not wear the clothes that Mom wanted her to wear – pink dresses, frilly outfits, etc.  So, Mom and Kathryn returned from shopping with nothing.  Mom announced to me that she will NEVER take Kathryn shopping again, which was pretty much true.

There was some crying and tension that day.

The next weekend, Kathryn and I headed to Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza.  I told Kathryn that we would walk through ever single department at Nordstrom and not buy anything.  All Kathryn had to do was look around and tell me what colors, patterns or other things she noticed that she liked.

We spent a couple of hours walking around, just looking.  It became very obvious that Kathryn preferred solid colors, simple geometric patterns, and comfort.  Although in the designer section, Kathryn did really like a beautiful silk suit by Mori.  The skirt and jacket were black with a blood red dot and a black blouse underneath.  It was beautiful.  I told Kathryn that she had mature taste and just needed to get older and she’d find wonderful clothes that fit her style.

After that excursion, Kathryn, Jeanne and I would regularly head to the girls department at Nordstrom.  We knew the department manager, Cheryl, by name and we’d always find something to wear.  We shopped together for years.  I can totally remember heading up the escalator with Jeanne in the stroller and holding Kathryn’s hand.  Daddy and his girls.

I even found the dress that Kathryn would wear to her National Charity League Presentation in May of 2003.  I had looked through bridal magazines at Paula’s (hair cuts) salon for approximately three years.  I also figured out how to get Jeanne an 8th graduation dress.  I selected four patterns at a fabric store and a group of sample fabrics for Jeanne to review.  She made her selection and then we went to a seamstress to get the dress made.

Also, I remember that day when FS said, she’d never take Kathryn shopping again.  I remember thinking that something was amiss and a tad weird.  FS couldn’t adjust to her young child’s need and when FS did not get her way, she’d no longer participate.  Her version of the silent treatment for Kathryn.  I remember at the time thinking that FS was wrong and too full of herself.  Kathryn was not her doll, Kathryn was her child and had a mind of her own.  Kathryn and I figured out an approach and did just fine buying clothes together.  Thankfully, Kathryn wore uniforms to school and that made life easier too.

Jeanne liked all clothes and we shopped together for ever.  Even Jeanne’s wedding dress was reviewed by me and I arranged for her to buy it when BHLDN was running out of her choice.

Ultimately, looking back to that time, it obvious that FS had issues, and those issues would reveal themselves in the coming years.  Also, looking back from that date, you can definitely see the issues developing.

More posts to come on insights and the pain of the silent treatment.

Christopher Matthew