Stereotypes and shopping

A couple of months ago - on Fair Go - a nine-year-old perfectly expressed how I feel about clothes and jewellery. Check out the video here. 
Everything is pink and purple in girl-land - and hearts and ruffles.
Like young Shannon, I'm not a pink and purple and hearts and ruffles type of gal. I have no problem with those that are.
At least as a grown-up, I have more choice in clothes - black, really. Maybe some red or purple...
But jewellery... hmmmm... And decorations...
I don't do hearts. I don't do crosses. (I'm not a Christian, so why should I? Just like I don't do ankhs or hamsa. These are not my beliefs, but they are others. And I respect them, and show that by not wearing them as an accessory.)
And that is why I have spent four days dropping into a shop, trying to find jewellery I can cope with. 
The xx-genes in human females does not automatically indicate a preference for pink / purple / hearts / frills / lace / ruffles.
The xy-genes in human males does not automatically indicate a preference for navy / grey / cards / sport / fishing / argyle patterned socks.
So, here I am, struggling to express individuality when forced into boxes.
And you wonder why I knit, and make my own jewellery.

The problem with time

Note to self: when manager - or self! - suggests going to a city early, so we can explore - say NO! It may be fun exploring and window shopping. But window often leads to real shopping... Oh, and having a lot of stuff in your suitcase on the way TO somewhere means there's a lot of space going spare in your suitcase FROM somewhere home... so you don't have to worry about it.
Oh, and having 'enablers' or, as they prefer to be called, 'shopping assistants' around giving hints and knowledge of local shops & sales...
Oh well, I don't really need to buy anything in Welly in a couple of weeks - or up north a week after that.