I Feel Smarter Already

First day of graduate classes....I can already see my free time slipping away but I guess that was the point. My professor's first words to the class were "I'm from another planet" so this should be interesting. He also passed out a piece of paper entitled "I like students who..." My favorite thing on the list was "I like students who cover their mouths when they yawn so their spirits can't escape."

I did enjoy the mixed look of confusion and condescension when I said that I had previously been a fashion merchandising major in my undergrad life. This isn't Harvard and I'm not Elle Woods...I never took a class called "The History of Polka Dots" and my concentration in Textile Science doesn't mean that I know how to sew. The girl sitting next to me told me that fashion was her first love because she loved to shop and used to work at Banana Republic. Does that really qualify fashion to be your first love? I don't know....

Fashion is defined as....a prevailing custom or style of dress. It means more than shopping and putting outfits together. Every girl likes to shop...does that mean we should all be working in the fashion industry?

This is why I love fashion.....

1. Everyone has to wear clothes. Whether they're fashionable or not, clothing unites us all in some weird way and because of it, we don't have to see naked people all day long.

2. Fashion has an interesting history to it. From Charles Worth, the world's first couturier, to the invention of blue jeans by the Genoese Navy, there is a reason why you wear every article of clothing that you do.

3. My job is not that important. According to my sales, I do not clothe the masses but I do like that I play some small part in something so big. Clothing has to be chosen for life-altering events such as weddings, job interviews, funerals, etc...it is not something you can ignore and I like that.

Maybe it's not a first love, but it could be in my top five...behind the kitty cats of course.

Things That Bug Me

I read an article today that said wholesale prices are rising faster than ever...this article was mostly about food, energy, etc. but I can't help to think about how this affects my industry. I notice every month when we finalize sourcing that our costs are increasing more and more. Obviously, this trickles down to the consumer thanks to our mandatory 80% markup. This is just one thing that bugs me about the fashion industry. I understand that it's necessary for the corporations to make their margin dollars....honestly at this point in time, it's the only way we're making any money at all...but how is anyone ever going to be able to afford clothes if costs keep rising? I have a few other things that bug me about this industry...get excited for me to share them with you...

1. You have to "know" someone to get anywhere....unfortunately for me, I only know the people I work with and they're not going to help me get anywhere besides where I am right now.

2. People who bitch and complain about child labor, sweatshops, outsourcing, free trade, etc. If your clothes were made in the U.S. by people of age who made at least minimum wage, we'd all be naked.

3. The evil corporation whose name rhymes with Tal-Cart. This corporation could also be named..."We Sell Cheap Crap in a Dirty Store With Bad Lighting and Force Small Manufacturers to Work Exclusively With Us and Then Practically Put Them Out of Business by Forcing Them Off-Shores." My fourth goal as a fashion journalist is to bring this company down.

I do realize that some of these things contradict each other. Unfortunately, I don't care about that because I get annoyed easily.

Helllooo Fabulous

So.... A wise person once told me that I need this blog to prove my writing talent. I'm starting my MA in Journalism on Monday and with that degree, I will pursue a career in fashion writing. Hopefully. There are lots of blogs out there. Lots of fashion blogs especially. I will not be writing about fashion trends, what celebs are wearing, or what to buy at the Gap this year......I think my experience in product development over the past 14 months has warranted some bitching. I deal with issues everyday...issues that I want to talk about, even vent about. Issues that affect every consumer out there....Hence, the blog.

My new life deserves new goals.......

1. To be the next Carrie Bradshaw

2. To be the next Anna Wintour

3. To be the only Haley Powell



Let's see how it goes.