Carla Gypsygirl's Blurty

I wish that LV stood for Less Vanity

So, I got through my first week of work, and guess what? I love it. That's right: I LOVE my new job! I was so surprised. Having spent four years of my youth working for a rival department store, I was all geared up for serious boredom and irritating customer questions. But instead, I have really enjoyed the challenge of selling. And, perhaps more importantly, I really like having a job. I've lost those feelings of uselessness and inertia.

It's nice to get dressed up to go somewhere. AND, even better, I found out that my company's dress standards aren't as strict as I initially thought. My company is quite preoccupied with skirt rules. For example, I can't wear knee-length boots with a short skirt (I asked; they said no), and I must ALWAYS wear hosiery if I am wearing a skirt. And, I was saddened to hear, you are not allowed to wear skirts that are above knee length. I mean, hello? Jean Shrimpton (the first model to wear a miniskirt in public) was one of the best things to happen in fashion! Where would the sixties have been without her? Well, anyway, my reasoning was this: sure, you can have rules, but surely the management will bend them if you just look sooooooooo adorable and retro? I timed my daring fashion debut for my second day. You see, the first day is for being sensible, making friends and proving yourself. The second day is for revealing glimmers of your true character. So, I turned up wearing a black, baby doll mini dress with black, opaque tights. And what happened? Nothing! I felt groovy, AND I didn't get busted! Wooo! Bring on the pleated mini skirts, the bubble skirts and maybe even polka-dots!

Starting a new retail job is different from starting a new office job. On my first day in an office, I usually find out where the photocopier, stationery cupboard, kitchen and nearest coffee shop are. I make sure that I don't use someone's cup when I'm making tea. In retail, there's different things to look out for. You need to know where to swipe on. You need to know where the staff entrance is. You need to find a full-length mirror, to make sure that you remembered to wear all-black and not all-rainbow. You have to greet your customers and give them their receipts. And, ever so gloriously, I found a locker in a prime position. Locker real estate is quite serious in retail. When I worked for the rival department store, it wasn't until my third year of working there that I finally got a locker to put my handbag. Before that, I had to sign my belongings in and out of security every single shift. Basically, you had to wait for someone to leave the company, retire or die until you got a locker. Things at my new company are different. Instead, you just bring your padlock and grab the first locker you see. The locker I found on my first day was in a crummy, dark corner. But on my second day, I found a beauty...it was at shoulder-level (well, YOU try bending over while wearing a mini baby doll dress!), under a light bulb AND with a chair next to it! I ain't EVER taking that padlock off!

Okay, so of course, there have been a few little problems. One of the biggest problems that I have encountered so far is trying to overcome my shock at how much money customers can spend on a single item. Oh, and do my customers SPEND! I work in a department that sells designer stuff. And I'm not just talking about Marcs, dear readers...I'm talking Marc Jacobs, screwy Louis (ie. Louis Vuitton), Prada, Chanel, Gucci...serious labels. Which means serious spenders. Although, the attitude of my clientele is not that serious...in fact, when they are spending, it is more frivolous. Like, these customers will buy a new $1500 bag as though they are buying a packet of chips. Today, I served a girl who didn't think twice about buying a $300 hat. And yesterday, I served a famous Antipodean fashion designer (who will go unnamed, of course!) who bought a $2000 handbag quicker than I'd buy a bus ticket, and then proceeded to throw her old handbag into the rubbish bin. I have always thought that I had a bit of a spending problem, but now, I don't think that at all. Like, for me, a $10 skirt is a bargain; for my customers, a $200 skirt is a bargain. At first, I was very upset at how these people were using their money. I kept thinking of people in poorer countries, who can live off $50 for a whole month. It really got me down. But I think I need to put aside my personal feelings about this issue, and concentrate on my job. I mean, I still disagree with how the customers use their money, but I do need to learn not to judge them so harshly. And anyway, my company didn't hire me to judge people. They hired me to sell. I just hope that all of my customers are like Bill and Melinda Gates...filthy rich, but also marvellously benevolent. And I also hope that if I ever become rich, I give lots of money away to charities and poor people, instead of to ol' Coco and Miuccia.

On another note, I speak completely differently when I'm at work. As you may know, when I speak or write, my sentences are peppered with the words "like", "totally", "dude" and "hello?". But when I work, I'm all, "Good afternoon, madam. May I offer my assistance to you? Ah, that is a de-laight-ful bag. So soft. So smart."

And so, farewell to you, dear readers! I am sure that more stories from the poshy retail realm are ahead!

Yours,
Carla Gypsygirl