H & M Poncho Quest

This week I digress to a warm summer day in late August when I was on the hunt for one of my staples of the season. . .

The H & M ad had been playing repeatedly during all of my DVR’d shows for only about 2 weeks before I decided to make a beeline for my local store.  The ad captured two shots, one girl in a preppy business like trench coat and another in a boho style poncho with skinny jeans and boots.  Of course, I obsessed over the latter much to my mother’s dismay.  Dreaming of myself in the cool crisp Fall weather as the thermometer crept toward 100 degrees outside in late August in Atlanta.  I gathered up strength and headed off to visit my local H & M.  As the heat of the day beamed down on the asphalt of the mall parking lot, I again perked up thinking of how cozy I would look in my new poncho, skinny jeans, and new boots, all to yet to be purchased in accordance with the latest trends of the fashion season. 

I entered through the children’s department admiring the super trendy, super cheap one and done wear.  I boarded the escalator to the second floor.  Keeping my eye on the prize, I brushed past skinny jeans and leggings, fur vests that would knock Rachel Zoe’s socks off, and found the area I was sure would contain my trend find of the season.  I perused the racks with casual abandon to not let on to the fear that was gradually escalating.  A cold chill ran down my spine as I picked up a blue sequined skirt to collect my thoughts.  This can’t be happening again.  After cooling down, I decide to approach the closest sales girl and ask her a question that can only have one good outcome.  She answers with the confidence of a telemarketer reading a script at dinner time on a Tuesday night, “Well, we HAD the poncho.  It like sold out in 24 hours.  AND I don’t know when we are getting any more in.  The truck gets here only MWF.”

My crusade is foiled again by the competitive shopping nature of the Atlanta lady bargain hunters.  In a city of nearly 4 million people, it always amazes me how small the inventory is for our retail stores.   I leave dismayed but not defeated.  I will not stop until I find my poncho.  If this means going store to store or worse dialing store to store, I will do it.  Even if I have to call in favors to relatives in other states, the poncho will be mine.

So it brings me back to present day February where I continue to get bombarded by compliments on this wardrobe staple.  Perfect for work or play, doctor's office visits or trips to the farmer's market, everybody wants this poncho including the check out guy at Trader Joe's.  And you guessed it, I did get my poncho after numerous favors were called in across the country including to business travelers, relatives and friends.  I ended up with three but who is complaining??  They do make the perfect gift.

In my dreams, here is my upgrade:

And this is the perfect little girl version!