In the beginning….
March 21, 2008 by cybill
Hello, I’m an artist and designer in Perth, Western Australia. I love to think about pretty much well everything, I read a hell of a lot about fashion, styles, architecture and stuff thats going on. I shop a lot - waaaay too much and photograph interesting things. The thing is I am now a mother of three and find myself living a surburbanite life and I can’t quite get used to it.
I’m looking for meaning, I’m looking for style, I’m continually looking for something - so come with me…
Speaking of shopping…
If I may be permitted to give a cautionary tale on the masterful art of marketing to the terminally gullible, I shall tell you about a certain boot shopping expedition.
I was looking for sturdy comfortable walking boots prior to taking a walking holiday in the country and style wasn’t too high on the list of necessary attributes. I went to a store which professed to sell comfortable shoes or your money back. Of course it was expensive.
I found a darling pair of brown lace up boots that reminded me nostalgically of Little House on the Prairie. I tried them on. They were not terribly comfortable, but sales person assured me that the leather would stretch with wear…
She also helpfully suggested that I have insoles made by my podiatrist so that the boots would fit with perfect comfort. Did it occur to me to ask why I should have to buy an insole while paying over the odds for uncomfortable boots? Sadly not, not while I was in the store at least.
Have you ever noticed that? The friendly advice from the sales assistant sounds so reasonable before you make the purchase. There was nothing wrong with the boots, my feet were at fault.
It was only outside the store, walking down the street clutching my branded bag, my mind occupied with fading dreams of running over the prairie grasses, when clarity finally came back to me.
I don’t have a podiatrist.
And I think I have nutted out the problem here - when we look for the perfect product, we cast ourselves in the role of imperfect consumer. The lack is with us, the product would suit, if only we were worthy of it.
If only I was a sturdy twelve year old farm girl in the early 1900s, those boots would have been just the thing!
I hear you Margery, oh the arts and allures of a shop assistant. I myself was once out with a very good friend purchasing board shorts of all things. The sales assistant was an extremely handsome young man to which my friend and I simpered and giggled.
After our purchase and on the way out my friend remarked “you know, I don’t think we were buying shorts”
Oh and Margery, the right shop assistant would have sold you the farm to go with those boots!
Speaking of style, I saw a T-shirt in a boutique today, plain white, short sleeves, with two cameras printed on it, as if hanging around the neck of the wearer. I couldn’t decide if it was cool, arty or simply naff.
I guess it is cool and arty while still on the manequin, naff if I buy it and wear it. Though I am sure my alter ego could pull it off.
Yes, another typical case of “I wouldnt want to join any club that would have me syndrome”
Now because you are a photographer it may have been considered “cute” for you to own this t-shirt, but is “cute” the message you want to give out??