Rodeo-Soho Fashion Spree A Comparison Essay on Two Places

Introduction

It is true for a fact that due to the immense rise of globalization and competition in the world of business today, the contemporary society continuously seeks for fresher, trendy and the rather “Gucci-fancy” commodities which will seemingly amaze anyone who happens to come across one’s way (Peters & Barletta, 2005).  As for me, I admirably belong to that certain group—the “fashionistaz,” as they say. I am a cloth addict.  Not only because I am actually exposed to such line of industry given the fact that my sister works for Marc Jacobs, a renowned fashion commerce, but also because I had the indulgence and delight of seeing myself galloping along shops and stalls filled with all the wondrous stuff any “trendy” lass could ever take to imagine.

Apparently, for a trendsetter like me, undeniably a fickle aided individual in the fashion arena, it is inevitable to easily “get enough” of what I already have.  Consequently, it boggles in my head that I cannot exactly reach all the glittering stars in shops—I need to wait for my time in life where I would be able to build my own Salvatore Ferragamo, Hermes and Ralph Lauren Black Label shops fit enough for my enthusiasm, and adequate for all the hungry “fashionistaz” living in this planet.  I know for a fact that trendsetters are fickle-minded beings—experience based.  I remember two shops which conceivably mean much to me, and my hobby—the gigantic Ta Ta Style in Rodeo Street, Seoul; and the Ralph Lauren Black Label shop at Soho Street, Manhattan.  The name of both stores will terribly ring a bell to my co-trendsetters.

Seoul’s Ta ta Style

In Rodeo Street, there are bunches of small but fancy boutique shops decorated with brand new fashion items, although one may not directly love the view in the exterior cascade—scary, spooky and definitely not that presentable. Many have, in point of fact, rated such store as “shabby” and completely disgusting.  But then there’s this line which says “don’t judge a book by its cover”—I guess it applies to this certain store. The Ta ta Style is the best place in the world for me—a place where one can find all the limited edition accessories and clothes with low prices, meet famous celebrities every day, hang out with a store owner who suggests brilliant items—and is admirably situated in the heart of the city.  The shop was cozy.

A small orange sofa, a shiny silver coffee maker, a high tech TV and computer and other modern decorations were facing toward the guests. On the other side, hundred photographs of famous celebrities with the shop owner are posted on the mirror. Colorful shirts, vintage jackets, dandy jeans and funky ties, caps and chains—everything can be found in there.  Not only that, the owner also offers a beverage for its customers and talk to them in the most casual sense—trying to get a glitch of what his customers want, like, or imagine of wearing.  In my own conviction, it is a “sales technique” which gradually draws mutual benefit.

Manhattan’s Ralph Lauren Black Label

Classics are forever and trends are unpredictable—both terms jive to one another, in a vicinity rated as a tourist spot and migration realm for international schemes, it is always a blockbuster hit to venture into a business which does not just settle for what is conventional, but rather on what is flexible.  Masterpiece, in line with trend, worth the price—three factors which best defines Ralph Lauren Black Label shop at Soho Street.  It was one of the biggest and fanciest shops I ever seen in my life. The store looked magnificently gorgeous, and its size was bigger than my high school assembly hall. Managers were dressed up with sharp suites, and they looked well educated for servicing their customers. However, somehow I couldn’t feel close to this store since everything was too much professional and organized. A gray cashmere muffler had a price tag on it which says two hundred and forty dollars—something my pockets could not tend to reach for the immediate moment.

Conclusions with further remarks

Perceivably, both stores have things in common and entities which differ from the other.  Both offer the “trendiest” inclination in human colony.  On the other hand, both disagree on the following: price, the “sense of formality, and the place. Geographical basis, both are on different continents, the culture is the different and the places where the stores are situated, are terribly contrasting.  Manhattan’s glowing paradise is “too formal” and decent, to be specific, while Seoul’s alley is “fancy” and casual.  Only that, in their specific regions and area of jurisdiction, they are ‘rulers’ of the industry which they are most renowned into.

For the reason that there are distinctive characteristics in every place, it is vague to extend a conviction based on biased opinions.  How a store may actually look like depends on the rationality of a person.  A lot of factors must be taken into consideration—lifestyle, culture, laws, tribal entities and the pyramid of social structure—all of which are the fundamentals which make up a certain structure.  For some, the “fancy-shabby” shop may be the “worst” shop, but for those who live in there and for the people who loves their products, it is like a kingdom filled with jewels and happiness.  Everything falls on the lines of “enthusiasm” and “need” for something, and that is one to be respected.  Everyone is entitled for their own perceptions.  But then as for me, I settle for what I can afford—achieve, for that instance.  I love “Ta ta” and “Ralph Lauren”—that is my own conviction, my own life, my own fulfillment in life, my joy, my happiness, and so how I see both structures shows my standpoint as well.

Reference:

Peters, T., & Barletta, M. (2005). Trends (Tom Peters Essentials). New York NY: DK ADULT.