HUMP DAY

Buying Urges

Isn’t price a funny thing. We won’t buy a jumper because we consider it too expensive, yet we are ok about splashing out a small fortune for a party dress. Consumers haven't got the vaguest idea on why they pay what they do for that desirable object. They can be easy prey to manipulative devices deployed by those who want to sell them things. So how do we choose what, and what not to buy?
 

My business is selling fashion. I know more than anyone about impulsive buying...I see it every day. I have never been a hard seller because I believe if you love it and you want it, you’re going to buy it. I merely assist you as best I can with any advice or need. A case of “why did I buy that $300 tweed jacket in December?”  can make you feel cheated and burned, likely to never return. I have never understood aggressive selling it’s pointless, why would any business implement it? Ok, so I fall victim to this very same impulsive act like anybody else, so I think this is important knowledge to share.

When you see something you really love, or what you think is a real bargain, we tend to act to fast and go straight to the cashier. This urge doesn’t last long and you only have to wait as little as three minutes for this urge to pass. So there you are Christmas shopping for that perfect party dress, remember, try not to get side tracked (well a little bit cause shopping is very fun). Put some time between spotting something you fancy and don’t really need. Leave the shop, take a deep breath, go have a coffee, than go back. Once returned, you’ve magically turned those urges into self-reasoning and make a much wiser decision. Trust me

Does gossip make you a bad person?

In the fashion industry gossip is like a wild fire! Not only do you find it in the ranks of fashion but any industry, and not just the corporate world, it’s like an infectious disease in the personal domain too. I confess, I have gossiped- I easily get swept up in the moment with no malice intended. Chinese whispers can be the grand architect to social decay but a little tongue and cheek gossip doesn’t hurt does it?  Or does this make you a bad person? When reading my bible this morning (Grazia) I just had to share this great article....please read

I went to therapy to be “cured’ of my gossiping. No joke- there’s a life coach for everything now. Admittedly it was for a journalism assignment and I was, to put it mildly sceptical. I’m no backstabber, I thought...until my therapist made me do a “gossip audit”. Try it sometime: how many times a day do you utter, “Can you believe...?” My hit rate was shameful. For a career girl, who categorised herself as socially competent, I sure relied heavily on third-party anecdotes to boost my dinner-party repertoire. Three hours on the therapists couch later, I learned I gossip because I’m a) insecure b) consumed by jealousy and c) just as needy as I was at school. Not sounding good.....

As an adult, gossip was my got-to strategy to fill awkward silences, whether “harmless” tidbits about friends’ drunken antic or “guess who had an abortion” life-changers.

I swapped secrets for popularity; it made me feel powerful. It had become my social currency...of the muckiest kind.

So I went cold turkey. It was tough at first- especially when out with my girlfriends. Dissecting other people’s (failing) relationships used to be our standard aperitif. But, as per my therapist’s orders, “If you must talk about someone else, say something positive”

Sounds easy- but you try bigging up others when you’ve had a bad day. Still, I’ve stuck to my guns- because anyone who says not all gossip is bad is kidding themselves.

There’s good news, there’s small talk, but that dirt you’re dishing? Venomous...Gossip is de rigueur (meaning it’s socially compulsory) in high school because we don’t know any better. But we’re women now. How about a little bit of respect for the sisterhood?

I won’t stab you in the back if you don’t stab me....

Deputy Editor- Amy Molloy

Summer Lovin

Melbourne Cup Watermark

WHAT A DAY!!! With food, fashion and fillies Petticoat Lane had the best ticket in town for the Melbourne Cup 2011! Our fashion show was a fabulous vividly themed show with black and white traditional Derby Day, fun block colours for Cup Day and pretty feminine hues for Oaks Day.

There was fine wine, gourmet cuisine and the latest cup styles. The Watermarks restaurant and Tavern were full to capacity it was impressive the amount of effort ladies made- really loved all the detail. Below are a few stand outs enjoy

Petticoat Lane Vintage Fashion Show



Below are some Derby Day & Melbourne Cup fav's