Last week I walked into Zara on 17th and Fifth and nearly fainted.  I found myself wanting so many things in the store!! There was a gorgeous leopard printed silk scarf and this other pumpkin colored silk scarf with a vaguely autumnal floral print on it that I needed to have.  A pale sand-colored suede multi pocket camera bag caught my eye from high up on the display shelf.  For the girls, there was a romper with a taupe gauze top attached to brown linen shorts, a denim jumpsuit, a floral printed silk one-shoulder romper, white snakeskin wrap sandals, a natural leather peep toe wedge, just to name some faves.  Hypnotized by all this stuff, I almost forgot why I had walked in — the elusive brown leather shorts.  I have been fixated on these shorts since back in February when they first made their appearance in the window of the 54th street location.  I had searched for my size but never found them (they're a women's style).  Stars aligned last Thursday and I finally snatched up the prized shorts. The following day, I strolled into the 54th street store again, eager to see what they had for me there. I found a ridiculously chic ochre/eggplant degrade scarf, a pale blue Mao collar shirt and a red/white/blue plaid cotton hooded windbreaker.  Grand total: $129.70 (And how lovely, no sales tax! since everything was under $100).  I was happy as a pig in shit as I jumped into a cab on my way home. Before paying on Friday, I had tried on these mousey grey slouch boots which unfortunately were too big on me.  So when I got out of work on Saturday night, I rushed to Zara on 42nd street clicking my Johnny boots as fast as I could.  I got there and was disappointed to find they didn't have my size either.  But I was thrilled to find a faded brown collarless knit polo ($39.90) which I wore with baby blue vintage Helmut Lang pinwale cords for Easter dinner at Casa Buccio (see below — hi Pia).  So I picked that up and had the cashier call the nearest store (34th — ahh the nostalgia of my Long Island commute) and they had my Cinderella pair!  Dodging Easter weekend tourists dressed wholly inappropriately (tanks and shorts in 50 degrees?) for the chilly evening, I got to 34th street with time to spare before they closed.  I spotted a gaysian sales guy and he fetched the boots for me.  While I waited I spotted some other desirable pieces but exercised will power and refrained, keeping my eyes on the matter at hand.  With tax, the boots came out to about $140 — roughly the same price I paid for a pair of Lanvin suede and grosgrain sandals marked down 70%!!Lesson of the day: It's cheap and chic to shop at Zara.  Please shop responsibly