$48 Lipstick & My Brush with Celebrity (A K8 Flashback)

One of my friends suggested that I start publishing some of my past stories and anecdotes, so allow me to introduce "K8 Flashbacks."  I have many of these in my email archives that I'll hopefully compile into a book someday, but for now, I'll just post them now and then for your reading pleasure (especially if I'm feeling lazy). By aforementioned friend's request, here's the recap of my semi-recent trip to NYC (of which many actual New Yorkers later told me, "Kate - even NEW YORKERS don't take the bus to NJ!").  With that, I give you...

$48 Lipstick & My Brush with Celebrity (originally published 11/28/10)

I was fortunate enough to be in NYC a couple weeks ago because we opened a new store in lovely Paramus, NJ, (it was kinda nice to see actual leaves changing colors) so I insisted that I take the bus into the city for at least a few hours on Friday to visit Bergdorf-Goodman.  I was pretty proud of myself bussing from Woodbury Commons outlet mall into Manhattan (an hour ride), and then cabbing from Port Authority to BG.  No problem!  I wandered around BG for a few hours in my very chic "NY all-black" outfit, complete w/designer, cross-body bag and motorcycle boots.

After a turn through the shoe floor where women were snapping up what I can only refer to as "works of art" (and priced as such) like it was candy, I stuck to the Contemporary floor where I felt slightly more welcome.  I ended up meeting two jewelry designers who were doing personal appearances that day (nope, don't remember their names but both very nice).  I also scored a gorgeous Nanette Lepore deep maroon leather jacket that started at $848 but ended up just under $200 - major find!  As it got later and I kept reminding myself that I would somehow have to find my way BACK to the bus depot and board a bus back to Paramus, I decided I'd do a final pass through the Cosmetics floor and head out.  After buying my sister an exclusive BG "giftie" in cosmetics, I wanted to treat myself to a Tom Ford lipstick.

I wandered over to the Tom Ford counter (where an extremely handsome foreigner was debating the $1200 gift set).  The sales people were very nice in helping me select a "warm sable" color that I would have never ordinarily chosen for myself, but she made it look fantastic w/the addition of some purple-hued gloss (who knew?!).  As I was waiting to pay, I saw the CUTEST little puppy coming my way in someone's arms.  Of course, I HAD to pet the puppy since I recognized some doxie in him.  Here's how the encounter went:

Me (getting all mushy and cutesy as I reached out to pet the dog): "Oh my gosh, you are sooooo adorable!"
Owner (speaking to the pup): "What do you say...??"
Me: "What breed is he?!"
***  At this point, I finally look up to realize it's none other than Kelsey Grammar holding said puppy! ***
Frasier: "He's a beagle/dachshund mix."
Me (trying to remain completely unphased, as if I chat w/celebs ALL the time): "Oh, that's great!  I have two mini dachshunds myself."
Frasier: simply smiles, nods, and starts back on his path w/pup and young blonde in tow
Me: standing there slack-jawed looking around to see if anyone else noticed, soon realizing that BG sales people encounter this all the time; that, and the fact that Frasier has aged quite a bit, is very tall, but was very nice too.

It was really pretty cool, and I so wish I'd asked him the dog's name - I like to think it was Scoot, but I'm guessing it was something more fussy like Winston or Frederick.  I then proceeded to pay for my aforementioned lipstick at which time I was really thankful to be an employee since the price of the lipstick w/out my discount would've been $48!  Yes, ladies, that's almost $50 for something you basically put on for other women and lick off in a matter of hours.  But considering my experience, it was oh-so worth it.

After that, I managed to hit the pavement and start charting my course back to NJ.  I won't bore you with all the details, but let's just say it involved a hotel concierge (who I overheard confirm an 8pm reservation at Pastisse - jealous!), a semi-panic/semi-excited phone call to my sister, two wrong subway entrances, witnessing a racial-fused yelling match, sprinting through the bus depot, inhaling a bad soft pretzel, racing to the wrong platform, re-racing to the correct one, stripping off several layers of outerwear (since I was sweating by now), finally boarding the correct bus, praying to God my "20% left" battery life on my phone would hold out til NJ, riding through some lovely NJ neighborhoods including Weehawken and Hackensack, and finally arriving at the Paramus mall where my "warning! battery almost out!" allowed me to call my boss to come pick me up.  I like to think the sheer energy and buzz of Manhattan got me through it all, but it was likely more 10% shopping high mixed with 20% adrenaline and 70% survival mentality.