In the poem "Exile," Julia Alvarez describes the way in which her family escaped from the Dominican Republic and relocated to the United States. She tells us that her family had originally said they were going to the beach, but instead they went to New York City to live. When they arrived to the city, they look at the window display in a Macy's. Alvarez says that:
<em>We stopped before a summery display window</em>
<em> 50 at Macy’s, The World’s Largest Department Store,</em>
<em>
to admire a family outfitted for the beach:</em>
<em>
the handsome father, slim and sure of himself,</em>
In the Macy's window display, the author sees a family that is dressed to go to the beach. The family reminds the author of her family's own plans to go to the beach. However, the author remarks on the differences between the display family and her own, which is dressed more formally.