Prada's pretty woman

By Jay B Sauceda via here
Shaking the road dust from her matted hair, she stumbled across the threshold into the little beige box that she spied from the highway.  When she saw it, she had clutched at the truck driver's shoulder with such urgency and suddenness that he almost swerved into oncoming traffic.  After executing a quick turn, he had flipped her off, yelling "Goddamn hitchhikers!" into the wind and was gone.

The polished, porcelain clerk behind the counter looked at her through her impossibly long eyelashes.

"May I help you?"

"The entire fall collection," she murmured.

"Excuse me?"

Heaving her weather stained backpack up onto the glass counter, she rummaged around the interior until she found a thin, black card and placed it precisely on the counter.

"I'd like the entire fall collection.  I'm not sure what I'm going to like so I'd like to just buy it all - to save time," she tapped out impatiently.

The clerk examined the card suspiciously and then snapped to attention.  She didn't dare ask any further questions but snapped her fingers.  Immediately, a miniature army of women surrounded the dust caked figure, taking measurements, scurrying to the backroom and returning with boxes upon boxes.  Promptly, a black limousine slid up to the front of the store, further spattering the store windows with Texas dirt.  An impeccably groomed chauffeur stepped out of the car and entered the store.

"Robinson, right on time," she greeted him.

He nodded, "Yes miss," and immediately began loading up the flurry of boxes and bags.  And then like a Texas tornado, they were gone. 

At least that's how I like to imagine it.  What in the world is a Prada store doing outside of a little town like Marfa, Texas?  Well, a real Prada store it is not.  This is actually an installation by Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset (love his name), and the store is a sculpture.  The NYTimes did a piece on it in 2005 that you can check out here.  I still like to pretend that it's a little slice of Italian heaven for all of us big haired Texas women out there, who can't go ten miles without stopping and buying something.

Comments

  1. How neat! But I was about to say... good ol' Texas could use some more luxury brand establishments. No matter how random the location. ;)

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  2. This.is.awesome.

    Love the ENTIRE story and the photo too! How funny.

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  3. Loves it!

    (The taco shell tastes just like the Doritos chip :)

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  4. Brilliant intro! Heehee...I would love to be able to shop like that:P And how freaking awesome is this installation! The randomness of the location is just perfect.

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  5. There is a Prada statue in the middle of Texas?? Oh my!! How interesting.

    P.S. I'd love to purchase the entire fall line please! Size 6-1/2 :)

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  6. Has anyone ever told you that you write very well? He or she was right!!! =)

    If I was the mayor of a small town, I'd want several sculptures like that in my downtown area.

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  7. I really like your writing, you should make a book or something !

    www.coffeecreamandthecaffeine.blogspot.com

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  8. I'd love to be that woman in your imaginary story! I think this installation is so random but kind of cool

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  9. LOVE! Your writing, the sculpture - I'l take the whole line :)

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  10. brilliant post!!

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  11. I love your imagination! :-)

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  12. I loved that story! You're a really great writer, I thought that was an excerpt from a book! I really want a Prada Marfa sign in my house a la Gossip Girl, haha.

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  13. I just saw this in a friend's FB photos - how awesome! Love your backstory :-)

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  14. Wow! I just saw this photo and I had no idea it was a "fake" but it definitely makes sense, as I was also confused why a Prada store would be sitting in the middle of Marfa, TX!!!!

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  15. wow this is a cool pic! and i like the story that u attached to it. great blog by the way, lots of interesting stuff!

    p.s. don't cut your hair!

    www.glasstotherim.blogspot.com

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  16. amazing picture!! and love the story you added :)

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  17. What a fun pic, thanks for the story pairing.

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  18. OMG I loved reading this story!!! It was so much fun & very creative! This installation is totally awesome!!
    I would love for you to visit my blog sometime!!
    :)
    Allison
    afashionfiles.blogspot.com

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  19. Great story :) I love the mud splattered up against the store. I've never heard of this installation, but then I've never been to Marfa!

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  20. What a fun story--loved it!

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  21. Brilliant - you brightened up my day!

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  22. Did you really just write all that story yourself? You are a brilliant writer!

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