Three Sheets To The Wind

Imagine The Stylehound's surprise the other day when my friend, Daisy, said she wanted to get new linens for her bedroom and wanted my help. I mean, really. I never thought I'd see the day when my decorating sense would be pressed into service---not me, who once thought polyester sheets were acceptable.

But I guess I have learned a thing or two, because I jumped at the chance to meet her at Macy's. Daisy, it turns out, is one of those people who gets very easily overwhlemed by things like shopping. She's much too cerebral for price comparisons and such, but of course like all of us these days she needs to watch her pennies.

We met at the doorway of the bedding department, and she looked around in despair, pointing at the little price signs: $179 for one queen sheet. $400 for a set. (Granted, they were gorgeous, 700-thread count, made in Italy.) I took her in hand and marched her around the floor. "First, we're going to look at all the prices," I said, and we did, and sure enough, soon the word "SALE" appeared like a beacon before us, and then we found the sheets that were $24 a set and we could quickly reject those. Daisy found a coverlet that was perfect, but the tag said it was $350, so I brought it up to the clerk and asked the price. On sale for $75.

Really. These are real figures.

Daisy was unsure of her color scheme at first, but once we saw the display beds, she decided on white with off-white accents, and I agreed. A white bed is classic, easy to match, and can always be perked up with new pillow cases in a bright color or pattern. But if you're starting afresh, I told her, just get white everything.



She did, and soon we were staggering out of Macy's. The whole thing cost her $400---a really nice sheet set, a gorgeous white matelasse coverlet, a very good white duvet cover, and two fluffy white towels ---well, if you're doing the bedroom you can't have a shabby-looking bath, right?