There used to be a time when, if you walked into Gucci, Hermes, Chanel, or Prada looking like a pedestrian, you would be treated as such by the snotty sales clerks. But this economy has hit the bottom lines of these fashion houses hard, which means they’re no longer treating commoners like dirt. Except Gucci. They’re still assholes. [NYT]
The Bitches of Madison Avenue Are Noticeably Less Bitchy
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gurlene
My southern upbringing will not allow me to kiss the ass of anyone to take my money.
As ol’ Gretchen Wilson said “I don’t need no designer tags to make my man want me”.
The song you want to google is Redneck Woman. Sit back and enjoy it. Times are tough and a song like that hits the nail on the head.
Austin
In a restraunt, in front of a snooty waiter,
My mother told me
“Never be intimidated by anyone working for tips”
Kree
All the bitchiness has been transferred to the uber-hipsters at The Bathing Ape Store and trendy, over-priced “Vintage Boutiques”(a.k.a. thrift stores.)
Pragmatist
That’s odd. Of all the Fifth Avenue (and Rodeo Drive, and Champs-Elysees, yada yada) shops, I’ve always thought Gucci and Armani were the friendliest. Just like normal stores, even when the economy was booming.
Every Tourneau store, however, is staffed with absolute assholes. And for what reason? I’ll never set foot inside a Tourneau again.
JR
The same is true on Rodeo Drive here in L.A. Them bitches were evil!!!
andy
# 4 you mean St Honore don’t you, the champs is for tourist as is fifth avenue, I believe he was talking about the Madison avenue stores.
mb00
@Pragmatist:
Pragmatist…I totally agree with you, while I’m no longer in L.A., now living in Hawaii; Both Gucci’s out here and the Louis Vuitton that I’ve visited (and by visited I mean dragged there the bf for b-day’s and x-mas’s.) Anyway, they’ve always been very friendly. I think the only one that was a bit odd cause the sales woman followed me around the shop because I’m tattooed on both sleeves, was Burberry, but that was pre-depression, so who knows now…she may follow my around for other reasons.
But anyway, I digress, Gucci, always very friendly.
petted
Great title – Keepers in downtown Austin has that kind of snotty attitude about it.
Val
Austin, your mom rocks!
Sebbe
I love Austin’s mom!!!
I have found and continue to find that Gucci and LV in Boston, NYC and Stockholm (stureplan) among the most friendly to me personally. I’ve never had a problem at Burberry either like someone mentioned they had.
Jack
As Ab Fab’s Edina Monsoon says to the stuck-up art dealer ‘You only work in a shop, you know; you can drop the attitude.’
mb00
@Jack: Haha!!! And that right there says it all!!! Just cause they work at fancy boutiques doesn’t make them any less of a counter girl at Wal-Mart.
Marc
@ Jack
That totally popped in my head !
Right on!
Martha Stewart
Gucci are indeed a bunch of assholes (i’m particularly thinking about one store in Milan…) But Louis Vuitton (except the one on the champs elysee – there’s a lovely and even quite hot guy in there) are the top motherf*ckers out there… (especialy in nice’s shop, but it’s quite constant).
michael
I had the privilege of growing up with a father from a long line of affluence both financial and socialgenerations and a mother from a lower middle class background. So I got to know both sides of the coin. I was never taught by my fathers grandparents that it was appropriate to act like I was better than others just because we had advantages in life. I was taught that it was tacky to act unkind and ungrateful to anyone. My mom and her side of the family helped keep me grounded in that as well. Its very sad that people believe in the illusion that a persons worth is based upon their bank account and zip code. Even higher education does not mean anything (remember Bush had a Masters from Yale). But still folks judge each other based on these things instead of what really matters, our character, our ability and willingness to love, and amount of compassion we hold within ourselves. Oh, and the folks at the Jil Sanders in Chicago are great and most LV’s I have shopped in seem to hire nice folks. Gucci, they are always wannabe pricks.
Pragmatist
@Pragmatist: Oh, I sure as hell wouldn’t know. I only go to those places as a tourist. Except when my lack of judgment gets the better of me. đ
Fumo
I don’t know whats worse, a salesperson treating me rudely or a salesperson just plain ignoring me.