Driving up Bardstown Road with a girlfriend recently I caught a glimpse of a dress. Not just any dress mind you, but the cutest little yellow dress you’ve ever seen. On a perfect spring evening, it called out to me from the sidewalk rack at Queen of Rags.
Happily I was with a friend, not my husband, for she promptly turned right and parked. We had only a few minutes as our husbands were waiting to meet us for dinner so I snatched the white-trimmed tulip-yellow dress — even cuter up close — and stepped inside the riotous little shop. Queen of Rags is a Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory for anyone a teensy bit interested in clothes. Or hats. Or shoes. Or jewelry. The store is chock full of colorful vintage and consigned clothes — and lots more. If you can make your way past all the temptations, the little dressing area is wedged near the back on the right. Had you been allowed to have a princess dressing room when you were a little girl, this itty bitty space encircled with a pink curtain would have been it.
I listened to my friend debating about whether another cute dress — also yellow — hanging on the door would fit her. Nobody had been “brave enough” to try it on, said the shopkeeper. But I knew my petite friend would fit perfectly into the dress. And happily, my try-on was going splendidly. The dress was a spot-on fit. I needed only to imagine it without my black socks. This was evidently my lucky day — the dress had been on the rack less than five minutes before I spotted it.
I was a little worried about a couple small spots on the top, but the shopkeeper came to the rescue with some spray-on cleaner. She scrubbed the stains away while I examined knick-knacks like a change purse made of a vintage White House postcard. Meantime, my friend’s dress was a success, so we both purchased our new frocks. I contemplated my purchase out loud for a minute – did I want to spend $38 on a whim like that? “But it’s Laundry by Shelli Segal,” my fashion-aware friend insisted, “you can’t pass that up!” Nor could I resist picturing myself going out in my new dress, so I paid up. Had I had cash I would’ve saved 10%.
We left the shop, late for dinner but delighted with our spring dresses. I can’t wait to go back — that dress is calling out for a new pair of strappy sandals.
Queen of Rags
454-7769
1382 Bardstown Road, across from Impellizzeri's Pizza
Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
