Bailey de Iongh, Vashon, Wash.

“I’m fifth-generation working/middle class San Franciscan, now living near Seattle. To go shopping in “the city” from wherever we lived (Alameda, San Rafael) as a child I had to wear white gloves and dress up. One memory I have was meeting the sales lady at I. Magnin who had helped my mom when she was a young working woman at Macy’s predecessor, O’Connor Moffit. My mom only bought on sale and counted on her to let her know about deals. Meeting her made it seem like the luxury of I. Magnin belonged to everyone, even those with modest means. I mourn the loss of the grand department stores — don’t get me started on memories of the City of Paris at Christmas where my sibs and I were let loose — but of course they killed many of the small retailers who preceded them.”