Snobs for jobs

Balenciaga has jumped on the TOMS inspired bandwagon. For every bag sold Balenciaga will build a schoolhouse in an impoverished country. Bentley, not to be outdone, will buy an impoverished country for every Mulsanne sold. A spokesperson for the luxury icon was quoted as saying " We need a factory and those people need jobs, it's a win win for us , it's the least we can do. Literally."

Observation

White line baby.

The whole dynamic of holiday parking is a basic study of human behavior. Here are the various types of space seekers. There is "the orbiter". The person who circles and circles waiting for any sign someone may be leaving. God forbid they move on to a different lot or settle for an inferior space further away. Then comes" the detective". Watching every move for clue of a possible vacate. They are watching people with keys in their hands or scanning for someone sitting in a car even if there are no signs of movement. We have all derived great pleasure from faking this person out when we go to our car to put packages away then return to shopping. So petty yet so rewarding. Then the scariest of all the space invader. This person will go 40mph backward in a blacked out Suburban to get a space or cut in front of you at the last second. This tends to be more male behavior, usually a small penis is involved. Then the true humanitarian who signals you that they are leaving. The same kindly person lets you pull out if traffic is jammed up. This I call the "high roader". Please don't forget the thank you wave when you are blessed with this behavior. Why can't all drivers be like this and take the high road? I guess then you would have to find an alternative route.

Step into the light.

Lately we are seeing more and more lighter denim. After years of dark and raw denim it's kind of a nice addition to the old denim collection. Forget about old rockers and ill fitting 70's jeans and look at it as a new take on an old look. New shapes on younger customers. In the spring it works well with lighter fabrics tees and flip flops. Nudie and Diesel both have great new light washes . Get down to Hub and see the light.

Happy Holidays

There is a limit.

This year my wife and I decided we would set a limit to the dollar amount we would spend on each other. The big question is will we both stay in the guidelines. Hints have been passed around over the last few months. I hear words like Stella McCartney and Jil Sander. Unless Stella is doing a Target line I am in trouble. There are numerous websites touting 50 to 80% off . Do I get a deal? Is that cheap of me? Can I get something wholesale through our industry connection? Is that discounting my love? Does a slightly freight damaged Balenciaga say I love you 60%. Are my emotions marked down? All I know is she rarely asks for anything extravagant but I feel this is the time for spoiling her. Honey I was saving for a vacation home but I got you this purse instead. What if she out gifts me? or me her? I am not 12 I am happy with anything she gets me. She is also cool with thoughtful not necessarily expensive gifts from me. Why is it then I have the urge to go nuts at Christmas? It's a simple answer really I am a retailer and feel that I should be spending money this time of year. Mostly it's just that she puts up with me all year. How do you put a price on that?

Santa ....pause.

Oh you guys, waiting until the last minute. You know who you are. Putting on your special Christmas leather jacket and high speed shopping gear. December 24th is your day and last minute is your way. There's sort of a ritual to this quick decision club. I'll take that and that! Gift wrap! Blue tooth blazing he leaves a trail of stressed out sales associates in his wake and moves on. This is his day....for others. At the end of the day, hands on his hips he stands over his stack of gifts, scotch tape still warm, ribbons quivering. Done and done. The perfect combination of tradition and efficiency. Just like Santa.