style.

I was walking out of a young women’s activity this last Wednesday and talking to my friend about what we used to wear in high school.  (Insert laugh)  It got me thinking, which by the way always produces interesting (at least to me results).  When I was in high school, living and wearing mostly hand-me downs from my younger sisters (I was the smallest) and whatever I bought with the money I earned babysitting, brand recognition was vitally important to me.  As in, “I wanted everyone to know that I got this shirt from Gap and look how convenient(!), it says GAP right on the front of it.”  And, “I most certainly must where my plaid shirt hanging open and loose so that everyone can see that the shirt I’m wearing under it is from Abercrombie.”  Now I think back on this mind set, and it was/is, well ridiculous.  There are a number of reasons.  First, they were just dumb t-shirts.  Really, does stamping GAP or Abercrombie on the front of it make it any cuter?  No, my dear, it does not.  It’s still just a t-shirt.  What made it cuter was the idea that the person wearing it, shops at those desirable stores, instead of well, Ross.  This is sad because, basically, it’s a promotional tee.  Whoever created this concept is beyond brilliant, and the people (ie: sheep-like teenagers like myself) buy right into it.  See what I didn’t (and apparently none of my friends either) realize was that I was a walking advertisement for Gap, Abercrombie and whatever other popular store had items on the clearance rack.  That would be fabulous, if I were getting a commission, getting store credit, or at least a discount of 30 percent.  But no, I walked right in to that store, picked up their shirt and paid them to have me advertise it.  That’s like asking someone if you can pay to give them a foot massage.  Not really.  But really.