Well, the Shop Tart couldn’t resist. The Bits of Lace warehouse sale was calling her name. She had to go, even though one hapless eight-year old boy was forced to accompany her. Does it help her case if you know she took him somewhere fun for lunch first? And that he is a mellow child in general and probably didn’t mind? Leaving Isle of Palms for Columbia, her husband took the toddler, who is not fit for public consumption unless there are chicken fingers involved, and the older boy, who is excellent but old enough to be more than a little perturbed by hundreds of bras in one room. The Shop Tart and her middle son started their afternoon in Charleston with lunch at Fleet Landing on the water.

A while back, one of the Shop Tart’s friend’s fathers died. Sometimes sad occasions bring people together and several friends from far away converged in Charleston to attend the funeral. They needed drinks and lunch, always a fun combination. MK, whose father had died, suggested Fleet Market, apologizing for the tourist factor. The Shop Tart is a tourist, so this didn’t bother her one little bit. It was lovely. Even though the occasion was sad, it was great to connect with old friends and have drinks at lunch, just like the old days. The Shop Tart can’t remember which came first, a shared bottle of bubbly at the bar or lunch, but she does remember the bar, right on the marsh, and how great the breeze felt and how pretty her friends looked in the late afternoon light.

Eating at Fleet Landing with a child was a different experience, but just as much of a pleasure. He wanted to sit outside, right on the water, so they could watch the boats. It was a little warm, but the Shop Tart figured she owed him.

Already attempting to erase the two-week vacation extravaganza of pimento cheese, potato chips, ice cream and bubbly, she ordered salad with grilled salmon. The salmon was cooked just right and she felt healthier already.

Her son agonized. he wanted the crab cake sandwich, but he wanted a Caesar Salad. The salad promised shaved Asiago cheese, which he adores. He was thrilled to learn he could have the salad with a crab cake on top. In fact, it made his day,

The Shop Tart had, believe it or not, never had Caesar Salad before. She tried it. Why, oh why, has she never tried this before? So freaking good. And with a crab cake? Divine! Her son enjoyed doing his impression of Gordon Ramsay, which he prefaced (as he always does) by explaining that he really did like the food, but was going to pretend to be the famous chef, just for fun. Just so you know, the Shop Tart and her older two children have been enjoying every single episode of Kitchen Nightmares on Hulu. After all, they bleep out the cussing, so it’s harmless. Anyhow, Chef Ramsay almost always orders crab cakes or risotto, if they are available. The Shop Tart agrees that these two dishes test the mettle of any kitchen nicely, but that is neither here nor there.

After lunch, the duo headed straight to the semi-annual Bits of Lace sale, held in a previously empty storefront right off of King on Society Street.

Oh. My. Goodness. It was worth any amount of hassle. The bras were plentiful and they were divided on racks by size. The salespeople, as professional in the sale as they are in the shop, replaced things neatly as customers were finished trying them. Heaven! And the prices? They sent shivers of joy down the Shop Tart’s back, all the way around to her uplifted bosom. It takes a mighty fancy bra to uplift the girls and fancy bras are très chère, ma chèrie. Prices ranged form 60 to 75% off and the Shop Tart settled on two bras: A Cosabella that came in actual sizes, rather than “small, medium, large” as they often do, and…wait for it…drum roll…SQUEEE…an Eres…with the matching pants! Y’all. Eres bras are normally two to three hundred bucks. She got hers, a lovely charcoal gray, for only $60. The Cosabella was a mere $20. This, ladies, is worth a day trip. In addition to Cosabella and Eres, they have loads of other top brands: Marie-Jo, La Perla, Chantelle, Simone Perele and more.  They also had quite a bit of lingerie, sleepwear and bathing suits. The sale continues through the end of the month. If you want to share a ride, the Shop Tart could probably be convinced to go back, especially if you drove, so she could have a glass of wine at lunch.

After that, the Shop Tart and son headed a block over to Estella Vitae, which she full intended to tell you all about today. Alas, it will have to wait until tomorrow as the Internet Gods were not smiling on her house today and she got a late start. The Bits of Lace sale is exciting enough for one day, n’est-ce pas?

Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!

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  The Shop Tart. In a swimsuit. Demonstrating how to clean a blue crab.
  
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