JCPenney, anyone?

I’m rediscovering an old friend and feeling good about it

Haven’t been to JCPenney lately? Me neither, till recently. Now, after a few visits to this Danbury Fair Mall flagship, I might be falling in love, but I’m taking it slow. I don’t want it to burn out fast.

The mall, a go-to for those of us near Danbury, Connecticut, is not what used to be. Without Lord & Taylor, and for those who might remember, Filene’s, it’s not a big destination for me. These were beautiful stores that had quality merchandise, decent prices and sales help! Window shopping was actually a thing, and you could get ideas and suggestions. You could even ask for help in the dressing room when you needed a different size!

That’s when shopping and browsing were fun. I loved shopping there.

Now, we have Target and Primark, and they just don’t fill the gap. There are lots of shops, but none that call to me. I like some, but don’t love any.

Macy’s is still standing, but seems to have lost its direction. For instance, if you’re looking for something like a basic white shirt? Good luck. You’ll have to hunt for it. Probably alone, because salespeople are in short supply (unless you’re in cosmetics where they outnumber the customers). And if you do find a shirt you like, it most likely won’t be cheap. But the line to get it will be long.

Back to JCPenney’s. It has always been an old reliable for towels and other household basics, and it still is. Check the store’s website.

But the clothing there wasn’t whispering my name. Now it seems different. Maybe it’s because I’m older? I can’t deny I’m older, but I don’t want my style shouting it, either. (Please let me know if I’m trending that way style wise! ) Anyway, my friend Donna has been saying she heads to JCP when she wants cotton shirts, so I was open to it.

On a recent stop, I wandered into the kids clothing department and was blown away! I had never checked it before, but now that I have grandkids, I’m becoming well-acquainted with this area of the retail market.

The kids section (downstairs) is large, well-stocked and organized, much better than the Children’s Place (also at mall), which is so packed and messy, I can hardly walk through it. Not enjoyable shopping at all. Macy’s kids department is hit or miss, and if I want that kind of experience, I can go to Marshall’s and spend less. Janie and Jack is lovely, but pricey unless you get lucky and find the right size on sale. I can’t see spending $100 or so on a dress that will be worn a few times (maybe) and quickly outgrown.

At JCP, I found brands that include Disney, Carter’s, Okie Dokie, Bluey and Blueberi Boulevard, at good prices, and many on sale. On my last stop, I bought seven items that - in total - came to $75 before tax: a fancy dress for spring, a sherpa lightweight jacket, a few T-shirts, and a couple other outfits.

On another stop, I found myself in the lingerie department, and I’ll leave that visit to your imagination, but I was super satisfied with the selection and prices, found a new brand and left with a few things that did not cost a fortune.

Of course, there are all the other departments, too, beyond housewares. I’m giving myself time to get to know them. Read this blog from the store for further convincing.

Then there’s the hair salon. Who knew? This was the biggest surprise.

I am sort of particular about my haircuts and color, and have been on a search for the right stylist for a while. So I took another chance. On the suggestion of someone whose hair looked good (yes, I asked a stranger where she got her hair done), I went to JCP to get my color fixed. I had previously gone to a different salon for highlights and the results made me quite unhappy. The stylist had over-lightened my hair, even though I thought I made it plain what I wanted. It can be frustrating. I did not want to go back and go though it again. So I decided to give JCP a try.

The salon has its own entrance, right near the new driving circle by Target, toward the back of the mall, and, of course, you can go through the store. It’s next to the photo studio. Yes, that’s still there!

I made an appointment with the suggested master stylist, and when I went in, she and I had a long conversation, like 20 minutes, so she knew exactly what I wanted. I felt she heard me. She did NOT say, as I have heard other stylists say, “what I do is blah, blah, blah…” and ignoring what I asked for and doing her own thing.

This woman at JCP perfectly corrected my hair by adding just the right touch of lowlights (darkening some of the previously bleached hair). Results were a thumbs up. The color was much better, with nice contrast, and the blow dry was perfect.

I made another appointment with her for a glossing and an express keratin (this is not the old formaldehyde stuff), and guess what? It looked really good! I won’t belabor this salon thing, but I was so happy with the outcome, I felt like dancing! Shiny, sleek healthy-looking hair at last.

The salon is large and clean, and later this month I’m going for a haircut, which is the true test. I’m not worried, but I’ll wait to share the stylist’s name till then, with a photo.

Just FYI, the salon prices are surprisingly reasonable, at least in my opinion, and nothing like what I was paying in Ridgefield. (You can guess how much that was.) You can find pricing on the website noted above.

So next time you go to the mall, peek into the salon and browse the store. I’m not saying it will be a Lord & Taylor or Filene’s, but times change. As I have, I guess.

I still have a few departments to explore, but I’m going slow. No more falling in love at first sight for me.