I feel raped by retail
GROSS.
I went out to get my little shoes, and stopped in a number of stores to see if anyone had a blazer thing to cover up my arms since I don’t think wearing turtle necks every day is a great idea.
and I am perplexed and a little grossed out. Did they just pull everything they had in the factory storehouses from 15 years ago and put it out like it was new again or something? I am so so disappointed with what is going on in fashion, or rather, what is not going on. I started to question myself for two reasons. Number one, Forever 21 in Union Square probably has anything you would ever want to own in cuteness. And everyone else was so depressing and so boring. I started to think the whole idea was icky, caring about clothing anyways. And then there were the “should I be getting into this line of business” alarms that were blaring in my head. I mean, I physically feel ill right now, having stopped where I did. Bebe, Arden B, Esprit, Forever 21 (which is just a merchandising nightmare to shop in). Nothing inspired me. I became inspired to make things unlike the drab I saw there, so I should be happy about that. But I have to wonder what positive impact I could make on the world making more clothing. Probably not enough. But then again, perhaps this will cure me of my clothing obsession. I will make stuff that is worthy only. And besides, I always wanted to make my own wedding dress. So these skills I am developing now could do me good when I get married in 20 years right?
haha
Anyhow. I got my little ankle boots from Aerosoles. There is nothing I hate more than shoe shopping. It is the lamest activity. And too stressful to bear more than necessary. Truly, the worst. Maybe I am more sick from that. All I know is I have no interest in reading my sewing books right now.
I would rather watch Law and Order, after all.
I didn’t look cool in 80s clothes in the 80s…so, I will be skipping them this time around as well. Thank goodness I am more concerned about getting a 1000 gallon oil tank dug out of our lawn right now vs shopping. I would never say I “hate” shopping, because that would just be lies…but I have been distracted.
I bet you would make a rockin wedding dress.
Do you have to cover your arms for work? That would seem odd being that they hired you knowing you have tattoos….unless it is just that you don’t want people staring at work….lol.
dude,
shopping sometimes sucks. I don’t hate it forever, but I also know I cannot afford to buy another thing until well after my birthday. I am actually negative in terms of money right now.
I don’t have to cover my arms for work, it’s true. I just want a big fat raise one of these days and it’s easy to get passed over for them I would suspect. Better to not give them ammo to entertain the idea that I don’t deserve one. My new boss has no idea to the extent that I have them. Everyone else knows…at least to a degree I think.
And my friend Anne knows, but she got me the job there.
I never interview showing my tattoos. So they wouldn’t always necessarily know. I wore a tshirt a few times last year but am generally not comfortable doing so…
It’s a shame that you could get passed over for that…I am not a tattoo person myself…but I think yours are very interesting…I would think they would also be a good conversation piece at a place of employment…esp in the “spa” world…which tends to be more liberal than other professions.
But, I understand the notion of wanting to be cautious on your end…It’s like B and I not wanting to let on that we are Jews to the people we were buying our house from…just incase they were anti-semetic and not wanting to sell to Jews….a shame, but still necessary…When you really want something SO bad, you just don’t want to take chances when your fate lays in someone else’s hands.
I forgot your birthday is approaching…October, right? Any big birthday plans?
Rocktober
I was thinking of having a party…like a brand new birthday, the one after your survive two strokes and three major (1) heart related surgeries.
I want apple pie and pumpkin carving. And lots of candy corn, caramel apples and warm torches.Apple pie and punch–you have to have punch. I can give out trick or treat bags since we can’t trick or treat anymore.
It has to be “Rock”tober. I have to go steal leaves from Wayne Street in Jersey City for decoration. Reds oranges and yellows all over the patio and fiesta lights. It could be stupid, or really fun, you never know…I have a few DJ friends…
I just want to celebrate.
Re: Rocktober
Well…I know how to make sorority punch…
-Container of sherbet, preferably raspberry and orange
-7UP
-Hawaiian Punch
It’s really good. I guess one could add liquor to that…I never have, but it looks like you could…
You can order caramel apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolates…they have that in the mall by me…I guess people use them as favors at weddings or showers…and birthday parties, so you can get them in bulk. I thought about getting them for the wedding, but I got cheap and lazy.
Or you can make them. You seem crafty enough.
YOu should have a party though….you earned one.
at least yours are on your arms and can be covered
I have a tattoo on the side of my neck……..GLARINGLY OBVIOUS
however, I just landed a new job as a Machining Supervisor for a new company this week
tattooed neck and all……..the mechanical engineer for this firm has sleeves, long hair, and piercings……the company appears to be a bit more progressive
and it seems to be the case more and more………look at the IT Support/Programming clique…..lots of uber-intelligent hippies with no regard for traditional office attire and/or appearance standards
and being in NYC, I would hope, the general employing population would be a bit more up to date regarding tattoos than, say, Idaho Falls
living in Bowling Green (apparently home of “Simple Country Life”) Kentucky, I am constantly asked “Yer not from `round here, are ya?”……..this line of comment usually being directed (along with line of eyesight of the person asking) at my tattoos
I am still given the old “wary eye” and am frequently passed over by store clerks and higher-end retailers in favor of more “respectable-looking and EARNING” customers……..and have even been followed around the store……not for assistance, but rather to make sure I didn`t steal something….and my engineer freind has been left standing at a Car dealership while others were helped by the salespersons as well……….because apparently tattoo-sleeved guys can`t possibly pull down 75K a year and/or possess an Engineering degree……..the local Harley Davidson dealership (imagine that) treated him the same way when he walked in to buy a bike …..so he went elsewhere……..imagine that…….a Harley dealership ignoring a tattoed biker
the very best feeling in the world is when you realize you are being stereotyped by your appearance…….until I open my mouth……..and in a calm, streaming voice……..in a most intelligent, concise, and eloquent manner…… make them feel not worthy of MY attention……and make them feel both surprised and ashamed for assuming I was of uneducated,classless, inbred stock
My ink doesn`t bother me……..because I know that in less than a twenty minute conversation with anyone, I can accurately portray who I really am and disarm anyone of any preconceived notions thay may have formed upon initially meeting me
It`s true that my quest for individuality has screwed me sometimes in my career paths, and it has served to alienate, intimidate, and garner nothing but disrespect from the Fake People…..but I would never trade it for anything……….there is a comfort in feeling good about who you are and who you want to be………I wasn`t always that way…but I had an epiphany at the age of twenty or so……..and I decided that being trendy and socially acceptable was entirely too much effort for nothing……….you cannot please everyone……and no matter how trendy I was, I still had that protruding fucked-up looking chest….hard to pull off fashionably intelligent when yer bent like a coathanger
the most difficult thing a person can ever achieve is individuality in the truest sense of the word
stereotyping
The problem I have with stereotyping is not that it exists, but that it is so hard sometimes to shake opinion when it has been formed without your knowledge, or influence even. If I were one of those IT people who worked outside of the public eye and sat on my ass all day in front of the internet, then it really would not matter what I looked like.
There are people at work who do have them, but they lie in the minority. Although I do see your point about not being ashamed of them…I can tell you that I am not ashamed of who I am, I still believe that first impressions are made regardless of your intellect, regardless of what you posess in terms of mental capacity. I wish it weren’t the case, but I do know that I have also judged someone on first appearances, or first impressions. Not because I am looking for the bad in someone, or because that is all that I see, but because that is sometimes all that you have. And sometimes it is the only opportunity you have to form any opinion whatsoever.
It reminds me of all of those people who do devil horn implants and various other body modifications which I don’t necessarily see as intelligent. They do that stuff, effectively and sometimes purposefully removing themselves from being a recognizable human, and then they freak out because people judge them without getting to know them. I get angry when people look at me with loathing and disgust, because I can see the wheels turning and me landing in their delinquent pile, but I did get tattoos and yes, they were my choice. I do realize I was not born with them, and in some places, will be looked down upon for them. I don’t see anything basic and wrong with people making these judgments, I just wish they could keep them to themselves.
Funny you say that about retailers. I have been followed around many many times because I had the big fat thief marker on my forehead. And one time I was crossing the border into Canada and they stopped us because we looked like we might be smuggling something. Granted, my hair was flourescent orange and in pigtails. I even said to them, don’t you think it would be entiely too obvious for us to be dealing drugs cross border? Wouldn’t we try to appear more normal if we had them. The agents disregarded what I said saying, no, it is usually people like you. Four days later I found myself in the company of a canadian who was so straightlaced and normal, driving a red sports car, and he effectively crossed borders often to do his drug trading. I got to stick my hand into a huge bag of his mushrooms, he had “smuggled” across the border. I think it’s awesome they stopped us, though. It just goes to show you people are fucking idiots.
Congratulations on the new job, though!!!!! You must be very very excited!
“should I be getting into this line of business”
Hmmmmm
you have said:
1)current retail offerings in Fashion SUCK
2)You want to be a Designer
3)You apparently have the talent
I can`t think of three BETTER reasons for you to be getting into the biz……right now!
keep your focus on your dream,dear
“But I have to wonder what positive impact I could make on the world making more clothing”
to be honest………..none
one thing at a time, Formerly Blondie
First, become a Fashion Icon…….THEN use your newly gained influence and economic resources to change the world
you let your mind get ahead of itself at times…….don`t be in such a rush for greatness and achievements…….or you will miss savoring all the other beautiful stuff
Smart advice. It is something I have thought of–garnering that respect first, and then using the influence to benefit my interests, just like models do with acting and fashion lines. It just seems that most people think I am crazy to think things will work like that.
Fuck them, though.
I am in a big rush. To wait pisses me off most of the time.
Thanks for repeating what I had been thinking. I never got any positive encouragement thinking like that before.
And where have you been?