Ethics of Display

Let me start by saying a lot has happened since I wrote that first one. Most importantly for the purposes of this blog, I came to discover over a period of days that I can't get internet. Why? I'll tell you!

First of all, when I arrived on Saturday the director told me that I could sign up for wifi on Sunday at 10:00 AM. I rushed downstairs at that time only to find that this isn't possible. Also, the director openly hates me. Coincidence? On Sunday they told me that I had to go to an office on Monday at a certain time, and I hurried home after school to make the hours. They told me that it's not possible to get internet because there are only 40 spots for wifi. I had to ask a couple more questions before they would even tell me that there's a waiting list. I'm number three on it. Great! I tried to sign up for internet in my room, but you need to have a phone line to do that. I don't have a phone line. I'm thinking I'll use my American capitalist skills and make a poster saying something like "I'll pay you forty euros for your spot on the wifi system." We'll see how that goes.

I went to the Galleries Lafayette today (a department store), and it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I got kind of mad though, because Repetto put their shoes on sale in a bin. For those of you who don't know, Vogue did a story on Repetto recently. Kate Moss may have started the trend, but the VIPs wear them. The sale shoes were between $80-$160. I think this merits a shelf. I started to think about why this bothers me, and I came to two conclusions. 1. They're more likely to get scuffed up in a bin, and 2. you should respect the aesthetic value of what you're selling enough to display it properly. Clothes are about aesthetics and function, and if you're buying $100 shoes, you probably care about the aesthetics at least as much as the function. They should be beautiful from the time you see them on the rack forward. This benefits the customer (who will feel happy about their history with the garment), the business (a good display generates business), and the passerby. "I remember the when I first saw these shoes, in a bin of only right shoes, beneath twenty others. It was magical. It made me want to shell out $160." This doesn't work. I don't know if repetto is trying to give a big fuck you to the man or what, but it upset me.

I have to buy a drink every time I want to use the internet. This session is costing me $6.00 for a gross martini. Savor every word.