Honestly I’ve been dying to share this shopping trip for weeks. Saint Laurent Rive Droite sounded intimidating, all slick black and fancy, you know? But I figured, what the heck, let’s see if I can shop smart there without getting ripped off. Here’s exactly how my trip went down.
First things first – prep work sucked
Right? Totally underestimated this. Woke up Saturday morning thinking “I’ll just pop in.” Big mistake. Website wasn’t cooperating – kept timing out. Couldn’t even browse properly. Had my coffee, grumbling like crazy, just hammering refresh like a weirdo for like 20 minutes.
Finally got in and made two smart moves:
- Checked the “New In” section first: Figured if stuff sells out fast, that’s where it hides. Bam! Saw a cool black tote bag immediately. Noted it.
- Pretended I belonged there: Okay, this sounds silly, but I told myself to act chill and look at everything slowly. No darting around like a lost puppy. Walked in tall.
Getting inside felt like entering a club
Seriously. The Rive Droite store near me? All concrete floors, super quiet except for weird ambient music, and staff just kinda… hovering. Felt awkward as hell at first. One guy offered me “Assistance?” in that quiet voice. My stomach clenched.
Took a breath and remembered my own tip:
- Asked a dumb question: Pointed at the first thing I saw – this weird geometric lamp. Asked “Is this actually a lamp or just… art?” Guess what? Guy loosened up! Laughed a little, explained the concept. Instant connection. He stopped just following me around silently after that. Huge win.
Finding actual stuff I could afford
This is where you gotta be smart. I ain’t dropping $5k on a leather jacket today. Looked past the runway stuff straight away.
- Scoured accessories and home goods: This is the golden spot! Found candles that smelled insane, cool coasters, weirdly awesome playing cards. Also spotted that online tote – way better in person.
- Tried things on even if I thought “No”: Saw this baseball cap with a logo. “Nah,” I thought. Tried it anyway. Looked surprisingly decent? Guy actually nodded. Surprise hit.
The pain point: checkout time
Okay, here’s where it gets real. You pick your stuff, feel good, then you see the total. That tiny candle? Dang expensive. My gut said “Put something back, you idiot.”
Here’s how I handled the wallet panic:
- Admitted budget limits: Felt embarrassing but told the associate politely, “Love the candle, but it’s pushing my limit today.” You know what? He instantly offered alternatives – found a slightly smaller, cheaper one that smelled just as good. Saved me $50 without shaming me.
- Said NO to extras: He asked if I wanted the scent diffuser sticks for the candle. Tempting! But I just said “Not today.” Simple as that. No guilt.
Walking out feeling like a winner
Got my sleek black bag (that tote!), the cap that actually looks cool, the smaller candle that smells like heaven, and weirdly awesome playing cards. Total? Still high, yeah, but felt smart. Didn’t buy something just because it was Rive Droite. Picked things I actually liked and wouldn’t regret tomorrow.
Key things I learned the hard way? Do the crappy online prep. Ask questions to break the ice – even stupid ones. Look beyond the obvious clothes. And when that total pops up, don’t be afraid to speak up. They see it every day. They get it. Went from feeling like an imposter to actually enjoying it. Weirdest shopping victory ever, but it counts!