Retail Snobbery

I once did a phone survey for Holt Renfrew - I had returned a purchase and about one week later received a call asking me how my shopping experience was. Normally I do not participate in surveys but because the service was so incredibly snob like, I could not help myself, since the reason I returned the item was due to the horrific service I received while in the store.  My anger regarding the way in which the employee treated me ( I was purchasing jeans 20 minutes before the store was to close) motivated me to return them the following day. How dare I try to purchase something while she was attempting to cash out........Hello - there is still twenty minutes of shopping time left honey- needless to say, I was not letting her get the commission off of a $250.00 pair of jeans!

 I have shopped in several high end stores in my life time, Nordtroms, Barneys, Bloomingdales to name a few and all had amazing customer service, but HR is without a doubt the most pretentious retailer I have personally encountered and I am not alone in feeling this way. 

Believe it or not, shopping is not one of my favorite past times - I actually cringe at the thought of having to try things on - if I could order everything online and it come to my door and fit perfectly I would be in retail heaven.  Shoe shopping is easy, kick off one shoe and try on another, all without dropping my venti Starbucks but this having to undress and walk out to the three way mirror is almost more then I can stand - couple that with the "I'm better then you because I work retail" attitude and I'm running for the nearest exit!

How is it, the upper management feel they can get away with this kind of customer service, their answer.......Greeters! Have you seen these women -  I did a double take because I thought I'd made a wrong turn and ended up at the airport.  They look smart enough I suppose and so closely resemble a flight attendant, that I asked one for extra peanuts and a pillow. When I enquired as to why they were there, I was told "to smile and greet the customer"........................because goodness knows the staff can't do that since they are too busy looking down their noses at you.

Holt Renfrew does not have an exclusive on this - there are a few more offenders out there in Calgary that I am going public with - Crabapple Cottage - horrible visual merchandising, crammed racks of clothes coupled with equally poor customer service - (unless you are a repeat customer, then they are all over you), but to the newbie who just arrived at their store post workout  in hopes of finding something quick on the way home- forget about it, I gave up after ten attempts shopping there and yes the owner likes to look down her nose at you there as well! Mirano Shoes in Mount Royal Village Shops - I went in to enquire about a pair of Donald J Pliner boots since I saw they carry his line of fabulous Italian footwear and the woman was so rude to me as she took my information (promising to get back to me regarding if she could source the boot) that my 18 year old son who was with me at the time nearly drop kicked her..........I never did hear back either way from Mirano Shoes if they could bring in the boots. I have one word for you......... ZAPPOS.COM!  

My point is that in this economy retailers should be doing all they can to bring the consumer into their store, and with all the high end shops going into Chinook Center now with the focus on friendly service coupled with the free heated underground parking I wonder how long it will take retailers like Holt Renfrew to realize that  customer service is paramount, for I'd much rather buy a purse at Micheal Kors at Chinook then deal with the business of paying ten dollars to park downtown and be ignored by the staff at Holts.  And that ladies, is where I draw the fine fashion line. 
 

Classic and Classy!

I love everything about this look ladies! O-O-C - out- of- control - where can I get those shoes?

Knock it off with the Knock Offs!

I'll admit it, at one time many years ago I succumbed to the lure of the knock off bag, I was walking with my sister in New York city and there it was laying on the cold cement sidewalk, the Prada Back Pack and I had to have it!  I wore it proudly for a while until I became more educated  about what exactly I had strapped on my back.

Tell me ladies, how many times a day do you see a woman dressed shabbily carring a Louis Vuitton handbag? Usually the owner is wearing flip flops with a velour track suit that has a brand name sprawled across their backside (by the way there is no appropriate age to wear this fashion don't)  with the knock off dangling from the forearm?   I'm pretty sure during the design process at LV, the team did not envision woman around the world paring their handbags with this look!  With so many moderately priced handbags out there now, why woman choose to carry a knock off is beyond me.
 
Yes, yes I know, you want the look without the price, but here are the hard facts- Counterfeit merchandise is believed to be directly responsible for the loss of 750,000 American jobs. Copyright piracy may have cost the U.S. companies $9 billion in trade losses and the fake trade has been linked to drug trafficking, child labor and even terrorism - you are now carrying what I fondly refer to as the Bin Laden bag, so NOT Vogue !

If you have to have designer, now is the time to buy, with the changing of the seasons one can find deals at your department stores and online. I like zappos.com and paperlime.com and remember to keep it classic and your investment will carry you through for years to come.  

Miss Leigh's handbag picks

BCBG bag "Maya" clutch $48.00 paperlime.com
Melie Bianco "Mariah" $88.00 paperlime.com

Facts courtesy of BAZAR magazine - What can you do if you spot fakes being sold in your area- INTERNATIONAL ANTICOUNTERFEITING COALITION (202-223-6667); iacc.org

You are what you wear

I was out for dinner last night celebrating Valentines Day and did some people watching while I was waiting for our first course to arrive and noticed just  how many women throw something on and head out the door. Not only is this an injustice to your self, but your significant other as well. I actually saw a woman with a lulu lemon head band pushed up into her hair line - what in the world possessed her to think that she could go straight from the gym to fine dining with this look? Ladies, I know the Lulu Lemon is comfy but come on - we have to  draw the line when our surroundings demand so much more then spandex.

Something happens to women when they cross the 40 threshold - yes, I know there are some of you who think you can still get away with shopping in the juniors department but I am here to tell you, turn around and walk the other way - if your daughter is wearing it - you probably shouldn't be! If you think this is giving you a youthful appearance, think twice.  Keep it simple and classic, and start looking for some investment pieces that go the distance and by distance I am not referring to first or second base at the end of the night - but rather some longevity pieces and stay away from gimmicky trends as nothing will age you faster.

Miss Leighs favorite beauty finds you can't be without:

Essie nail polish, my fav is sugar daddy (Shoppers Drug Mart)

Laura Mercier - Secret Finsh- dab some on mid day to freshen up your make up (Holt Refrew or Sephora)

Ojan Hair - rub Out Dry Cleanser - instantly cleanses, revives and refreshes hair without water. (Sephora)