I was raised Catholic. Maybe you’ve heard the Jesuit saying attributed to Francis Xavier, “Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.” Well, the Catholics had me until twice age 7. I never did turn into a man (perhaps that was the problem?) or remain Catholic past high school.

But the legacy remains in a certain ascetic streak exacerbated by my current life and the holiday season. Sometimes I just can’t stand how much stuff I buy, and yet I don’t want to stop. I know I’m not cut out for the pure subsistence lifestyle, but I can’t see my way out of consumerism either.

It was in this mood that I continued my shopping on Monday after buying a fish pillow at Tomte Modern Craft. First I visited Unity, Unity South Platte exterior Dec 2009whose store on South Pearl I covered last December, and then Common Era (on the right below),Common Era South Platte exterior Dec 2009 which also has a store in Boulder just east of the Pearl Street Mall.

Don’t know what it is about these stores grounding themselves on Pearl and Platte streets, no matter what the city. I do know that both increase my shopping ambivalence, probably because they’re designed for teens and twenty-somethings, not 47-year-old women with a BMI of 25. Having said that, I was seriously tempted by Unity’s DVLP hoodie at $100. The fact that DVLP hails from Denver and is committed to building an international fashion scene in my city doesn’t hurt.

Neither did these storm trooper cufflinks. Unity South Platte storm trooper cufflinks Dec 2009I can think of quite a few people who would like them, but they’re not on my gift list. Too bad for them.

Unity’s tiny shop on Platte Street (right next to Sous le Lit) has been open 3 months and features women’s clothes; the South Pearl store had more of a men’s selection. Brands include Lento (“slow” in Spanish), which makes biodegradable hats (now that’s a niche); Livity Outernational; Tom’s Shoes, which donates one pair to a child for every pair bought; and Threads 4 Thought, which makes delicate patterned T-shirts for slender women.

It was only a few steps across Platte to Common Era, Common Era South Platte exterior detail Dec 2009which is in between Paris on the Platte and Wen Chocolates. Luckily for my BMI, Wen is not open on Mondays, but that didn’t ease my craving for a Milan truffle.

After checking out a few of the “cutest clothes you’ll ever own,” I decided that everything in Common Era was made in China, but then I found (and tried on) 3 pairs of Closet pants made in the USA and priced around $30.Common Era South Platte Closet pants Dec 2009 How is that possible? I don’t know. I’m not sure I would have gone for the wide legs even if they had fit. Still, Common Era does know how to display the goods.Common Era South Platte hats Dec 2009

Which is my problem.

Leave A Comment

  1. MileHighGayGuy December 23, 2009 at 8:06 pm - Reply

    Those Stormtrooper cufflinks will be mine!!!
    .-= MileHighGayGuy´s last blog ..Something to stuff your stocking from Daddyhunt.com =-.

  2. Tracie December 23, 2009 at 8:20 pm - Reply

    I love these reviews and have inspired me to shop in Boulder during my break! Have a Merry Christmas!

  3. Mary December 23, 2009 at 9:50 pm - Reply

    Fun post! Perfect for the day!

    So did you end up buying anything?
    .-= Mary´s last blog ..Setting priorities in Chafee Park =-.

  4. Beth Partin December 23, 2009 at 10:42 pm - Reply

    No, I didn’t, Mary, though I would have bought a pair of black pants if they’d fit. I will probably go back to Unity for the hoodie…if it’s still there.

    MHGG, my husband would be all over those cufflinks, except that he never wears shirts that require cufflinks.
    .-= Beth Partin´s last blog ..Don’t Forget Them =-.

  5. […] my shopping travails, I needed nourishment. I thought of the House of Commons, a tea shop near Common Era, and of Sushi Sasa around the corner on Platte, where I haven’t been for years, but the House […]

  6. […] the way, is there some connection between winter and “tiny little places”? Tomte Modern Craft, Unity … I’ve been finding them, or they’ve been calling me. […]