Sometimes, the only possible explanation is: only in New York.
I was admiring the Van Cleef and Arpels windows at the boutique at Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue earlier this week, when a chic lady wearing humongous reading glasses in sunglass frames approached me, grabbed my arm and said: “They never put out the good jewelry anymore. They only show the crummy jewelry.”
I was a little shocked that she was: 1) looking at the same pieces as me and arriving at a completely different conclusion; 2) talking about Van Cleef and Arpels diamonds, no less; 3) making me pay attention to her. Hoping that she was talking to someone else, I recomposed and took pictures for discussion sakes. Here is the first one (the crummiest one, perhaps?):
My bespectacled friend continued: “Can you believe these earrings? They look like they came from round-the-corner Sears where they sell the bad stuff.”
“Bad stuff? Like drugs?”, I thought. And there is a Sears around the corner? On Fifth? On Madison? Where?
But here is the second picture, with more commentary from the chic lady:
“It is very bad this year. I’m telling you: they only put out the crummy jewelry now. It is disgusting.” Huh? “I would never wear that – look how thin that necklace is. She looks like she’s got fungus growing on the side of her neck!”, she continued, both hands open wide gesticulating at the window.
At that point, I was getting a little annoyed. Here was Fran Fine’s mother herself, invading my appreciation time and pushing her taste on me.
To the third installment of that window:
“Honey, you look like you’ve got taste. If you ever need jewelry for your wife, or for your mother, come down to the shop. Morty and I will give you a discount.” Hands me card and leaves.
Me, speechless: “She is right. They really don’t put out the good stuff anymore.”
I guess that is what makes a good salesperson. Maybe I will give her and Morty a call.
Red Carpet Jewelry and Glam 