"I've gained so much weight! Just look at me! I can't let anyone see me naked with all this fat!"
This is not so odd a thing to say as ladies in Japan go to the hot spas and public baths and don't think twice about being naked in front of other women. Mrs. Y, for all her complaining is still a rather petit woman in my eyes.
"I've had a run of funerals to attend and my mourning outfit was getting tight. I decided it was high time to go buy another mourning outfit and my cousin and I went shopping at the local department store. Can you believe that the clerk told me that I should try on a size 11! I've never had to wear a size 11 in my life!"
I know the feeling of having to buy larger clothes in Japan. I too need to buy size 11 or 13 if I am shopping in Japan. In the States I can get by with an 8.
"So I tried on a size 11 and do you know what?! It was too tight across the front! How can a size 11 be too tight? I complained to the clerk that the sizes are too small these days!"
I have had this exact feeling.
"Do you know what the clerk said to me?! She said, 'Madam, the dress isn't really too tight. You have sagging breasts and the cloth bunches there. You need to push your breasts up higher.'"
Oh dear... I wouldn't be happy either with that comment.
"I said to the clerk. 'What did you just say? Did you just say I have sagging breasts? That might be true but that is a terrible thing to say to a customer. How long have you been selling dresses? You should know by now that choosing your words is important.'"
I can just imagine Mrs. Y shooting sparks off the top of her head. She can get very excited sometimes.
"I told that clerk that if I was any other customer I'd say 'stuff it' and go buy my dress somewhere else but that I would forgive her this time. And then I asked her how old she was. She said she was 62. She should know better. When she is my age she will have sagging breasts too but she didn't now. And so I said, 'For that rude comment, let me see how firm YOUR breasts are.' and I touched her breast and do you know she was rock hard! I said, 'What all do you have in there to push your breasts so high?'"
Oh my goodness... Mrs. Y is verging on sexual harassment. Or maybe the clerk started it...
Oh Dear, your opening post heading said it all. I was told recently I needed a different type of camisole, due to my age!!! The sales lady was about 58 or so, I am 78, she should have known better. I walked out without buying anything. So good your friend replied as she did.
ReplyDeleteI've experienced or heard of such a rude sales clerk! In Japan the customer is King, or in this case Queen. A shop assistance should give assistance and help the customer find clothes that makes the most of the body, and it should all be done in a professional, polite and friendly way.
ReplyDeleteHow funny! This seems to be my problem too. Getting older is no picnic.
ReplyDeleteThis is hilarious! Mrs. Y sticks up for herself....I love it. In the back of my mind, I picture the Japanese women being submissive and so very polite. Interesting to see another perspective. Patty Mc
ReplyDeleteHurrah for Mrs Y! I like her attitude. I would have become speechless and left the store.
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me of shopping in the states. I wanted to buy a warm jacket but it only came in white. I asked the clerk if they had it in a different color. She said yes, it came in brown, what size did I want. I told her XL. She said, "You are no XL" so I put on the L on display and showed her the sleeves only came halfway to my wrists. If shoulders and arms fit, there will be no comment about the rest of my body.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, this seems to be a world wide situation when it comes to shop assistants and purchasing of clothes.
ReplyDeleteLOL!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteToo funny! Haha.
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