Maxi-dress mayhem

Here is how Mike aptly describes the H&M stores in D.C.: "not their A-game". I don't know if it's because they're kind of small, or because someone told H&M HQ that D.C.-ers really like their nondescript workwear (because there is so. much. basic. workwear!), or because they really hate us here in the Nation's Capital and have decided to punish us by making cute clothing and dangling it in front of us and not allowing us to have it.

Because basically, I have been to both H&Ms, several times each, in the hopes of spotting the $19 super-long maxi dress that everyone's talking about and have come up with zilch. Not even a *hint* of an ikat print to be found. Instead, lots and lots of suit-y separates. Did you know that H&M made so many suit-y separates? No, neither did I.

Oh, and while I'm at it: Rather annoyingly, the D.C. H&Ms rarely stock shoes. And when they do, they never, ever have a size 10/41. {Neither does Zara, for that matter.} I'm beginning to think the European retailers are foot sizeist. Grumble, grumble.

However. It wasn't a total lost cause. I did score this very cool cocktail ring for $5. On its first wearing yesterday, it totally earned compliments from a random woman I was sharing an elevator with. To which I replied, rather excitedly: "Thank you! $5! H&M! I just got it!" To which she kind of looked at me like I was a little crazy. What? I just thought maybe she liked it enough to want one of her own! It's a great deal; far be it from me to keep it to myself. Er, so, here you go.