It's sometimes awkward, and sometimes my feelings are accidentally hurt, but what happened a couple days ago was just too much!
I'm sitting innocently in my cube when someone who works near me comments on how much she likes my scarf as she passes.
"Can I have it?" she asks.
I laugh, thinking she's kidding, then realize she isn't. In fact, she's headed to a color meeting and my scarf is a mix of oranges and pinks [inspired by my recent post] that she likes. So I unwrap it from my [cold] neck and hand it over.
Hours go by, and she tells me they're actually going to hold onto it for awhile. Then she asks, "Where's it from, anyway? Everyone loves it!"
I'm typically shy about revealing labels (for this very reason), but encouraged by everyone's interest in it, I say, "Loft!"
She laughs. "Ohhh, umm, well let's just keep that between us, then--I won't tell anyone," She winks and laughs again.
I'm shocked. I'm sorry... WHAT? Why is that an unmentionable thing? Why should the place I got the scarf from make it less desirable? Besides... I legitimately like Loft--it wasn't just a one off thing! Why did it matter at all--especially since SHE liked it, too!?
Believe me, like anyone I dream of building my closet out of my favorite runway designers. But even if I had the cash, my generation has been shown to be incredibly disloyal to brands in comparison to older generations. We are interested in a look, more; we aren't inclined to stick to one place or designer to find something that speaks to us.
I'm definitely like that--I shop at the strangest collection of shops: from thrift stores in Nowheresville, Florida, Brooklyn boutiques, and Kohl's, to Intermix, Loehmann's, and NYC vintage stores. I'm driven by fit [being very petite, some places just DON'T work], value, and general curiosity of the retail industry [like, what does LC's new line look like?].
Sometimes, I feel stifled. And even like I'm not meant to be in an industry where I don't fit in unless I can afford to. I mean, I AM fresh-out-of-college and supporting myself entirely while living in Manhattan. Naturally my closet should differ from someone halfway through her career with a well-off husband. And dare I say I'm proud of myself for how I budget?
I got my scarf back today, and that was that--no mention about how much she liked it again.
Maybe I'm overreacting.. but this is the kind of thing that makes my blood boil--and makes me think of those ladies on Advanced Style. They probably would've just told her to f*&$ off!
What would you have done in that situation?
