planetdan

Tuesday, August 10, 2004 :::

Insincere Retail Bitches

So I guess maybe I am a little more self-deluded than I thought. My friend B*Dub always told me that retail stores like Banana Republic, The Gap, and J. Crew trained their employees to "validate" the customers' purchases by routinely complimenting their choice in clothing at the check-out counter. And even though I regularly got phrases like "Oh, I love this shirt, I can't believe it's on sale," and "These pants are fantastic, I own five pairs myself," I still never really believed it. How could people be so insincere, even if their job demanded it? And secretly, I just wanted to believe I really did have good taste in clothes. Then I went to the Banana Republic and found a pair of pants on the clearance rack, and upon purchase the pleasant fellow at the check-out counter said "These are my favorite pants, I'm wearing them right now." Then he walked away from the counter briefly to get a bag, and I couldn't help but notice that the pants he was wearing didn't even come close to resembling the ones I was purchasing, in either style or color. I was buying twill khaki type pants. He had on dark woolen looking things with a pattern and pocket flaps. So then I thought "Maybe he just meant pants in general, he just likes pants," but I couldn't fool myself with that, so I said "What?" and he just said "Yeah, I wear them to work like every day," and smiled a big toothy grin. He apparently thought I could not see his pants behind the counter, but I did not call him on it, mostly because I was too ashamed that I had fallen for their phony compliments.

Anyway, I'm re-evaluating my whole wardrobe now. So if there is any piece of clothing in particular that you have seen me in that you hated, be it in pictures or in person, let me know.

::: posted by dan at 11:39 AM :: [ link ] :: (13) comments

Comments are Closed On this Post

13 previous comments:

Are you seriously opening yourself up to that?Anonymous will need thearapy.

I have always loved your lalapalooza tee
Being our paths don't often cross I can only comment on multicolored sweaters and concert tees.Just as you would comment on multicolored pants and really big earrings and hair.I would like to think we have evolved.No lie the vacation pants rocked

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Stacy, at 12:05 PM

You mean those people are not sincere?? Doh! Well, I guess that means I need to open myself up to wardrobe evaluation too. And Brent, yeah, I know you don't care for the jean skirt, thanks.

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Kristina, at 12:26 PM

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! I cannot protect you from the deluge of mockery that you have opened yourself up to. I am defeated before the battle begins.

Do you really wear concert T-shirts?

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Anonymous, at 1:10 PM

I fear nothing! Bring on the judgements!

And I admit, I currently have in my possession two concert T-shirts: radiohead and the decemberists. And I love them both. They will not be discarded.

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dan, at 3:14 PM

Sarah McLaclan would have been listed, that one ended up dicinigrating off of his body due to overwearing.

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Kristina, at 4:34 PM

Um, let's all try to remember what we were wearing ten years ago and then the one who has not sinned can throw the first stone.

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dan, at 11:08 PM

You opened Pandora's box, thus inviting these comments. I suggest you put on your big boy panties & deal with the comments.

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hot babe, at 12:34 PM

Well, I was asking for constructive criticism, not comments about concert t-shirts I haven't worn in ten years.

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dan, at 3:06 PM

I am amazed that “hotbabe” was able to hold out from commenting as long as she did. Well done. It’s o.k. Dan, I think Sarah McLaclan is tremendous, I still own a T from one of her concerts myself.

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Anonymous, at 6:59 PM

Step precariously, Anonymous.

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hot babe, at 8:22 AM

The Sarah McLachlan T-shirt was a good one. I may have worn it too often. The Lalapalooza T-shirt was ugly on all levels, so it got very little wear. I also had a Lenny Kravitz T-shirt, a Cure T-shirt, a Violent Femmes T-shirt and a Prince Glam Slam T-shirt. My new Decemberists T-shirt may soon surpass the Sarah McLachlan T-shirt when it comes to wearability. I love it.

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dan, at 9:41 AM

You don't sleep in the Decemberists t-shirt, do you?

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hot babe, at 10:22 AM

No, it's a top priority clothing item. It gets first dibs right out of the wash.

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dan, at 1:27 PM

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