I wrote the essay “Tie Rack” to put Stallybrass and Eco in conversation with one another for our class’s (MALS 71200 / IDS 82000) first essay. Click here to read.

I decided to observe a local boutique in my suburban town of Floral Park located in Nassau County on Long Island. My neighborhood is predominantly made up of families of Irish or Italian descent. It is comprised of upper middle class families. K. Hunter Boutique is a quaint and fashionable boutique located on 59 Covert Avenue. They sell many clothing items such as tops, sweaters, jackets, jeans, skirts, dresses. As well as accessories ranging from hats and scarves to jewelry and hand bags.

Many people prefer shopping at local boutiques

rather than department stores because people

ironically long for a sense of

individuality while trying to conform and fit in.

Boutique clothing is not mass produced but it is

“fashionable”, so most people will not have the same

exact shirt as you but it may be a similar style. This

particular store does a good job in advertising and

marketing. Their Instagram page is promoted in store,

and on their website and they post new pictures of different looks

regularly.  One girl who regularly models for this is actually a senior at

my old high school. This is a clever marketing technique because this girl

will tell her friends and family about how she shoots with the store, which

ultimately gains more customers for the boutique. Since they are a small

business they don’t market by being in magazines of having commercials,

but by word of mouth.

The store is not very large and includes trendy apartment details like clever wooden sayings and mugs. The demographic is aimed towards females aged from 15-25. However, while observing, I noticed many mothers liked to shop around. Priced slightly high, I would say it was somewhere between Forever 21 and Express. The store is decorated according to seasons and holidays, with a beautiful autumnal scene set in the front window. Along with the visual design of the store they receive new merchandise every week which encourages shoppers to buy now, because “what if I regret buying it and I come back and its gone?!”. This constant rotation of style and merchandise allows them to keep up with the fast-paced fads in todays fashion society.

On their website (http://www.khunterboutique.com/) if you click on their “About Us” section you can read the following…
“Welcome to k. hunter boutique!

Here at k. hunter boutique we specialize in handpicking our merchandise based on not only style, but comfort. Because we are a boutique we carry only a few sizes of each style and are constantly adding new arrivals making each look uniquely yours. We believe that while it is a top priority to look amazing, you should feel amazing as well. Our hand picked merchandise can be dressed up or dressed down based on your occasion. Whether you want to look fabulous for a night out, or feel comfortable for a more relaxed event, k. hunter has the perfect outfit and accessories for you!”

This shows how the store prides its self on making its customers the ultimate “it-girl” with the latest styles, fashions, and accessories. However one could argue that the whole concept and goal of the store is very trivial in the sense that it is fad fashion that is breeding the “popular girl”.  As they say in their “About Us” they carry only a few sizes. While looking through the store I noticed they don’t carry many sizes for larger women. Also their Instagram doesn’t feature any models or staff of color or other racial background other then Caucasian. On the surface it may seems like just another sweet hole-in-the wall boutique but once I analyzed further into the store I discovered that its just another Forever 21 disguised as a store that sparks individuality which it actually doesn’t. Because their merchandise isn’t mass produced it allows them to claim a false sense of individuality, which is probably what the typical Long Island girl is looking for.

Growing up on the island was quite an experience for me. Living in a town where everyone else looked and was brought up the same was a challenge for me. At a young age i hated my heritage and culture because kids at school made fun of it. It wasn’t until I was about 17 that I learned to love my cultural differences and heritage rather then be ashamed of it. I became more aware of my surroundings and stopped trying to fit in. The typical Long Island girl wears riding boots, leggings, a flannel shirt and a vest on a cold Autumn day. I didn’t realize how much this massive culture of conformity made me cringe until I was old enough to understand and educate myself on worldwide fashion. Living in a small town on Long Island is like being trapped in a bubble where anything (food, dress, behavior, physical appearance) out of the norm is frowned upon.  But once I started reading and experiencing the rest of the world and their view of fashion and how true individuality was celebrated I wanted to leave Long Island. It is a great place to live but not a great place to grow and discover ones self.

K. Hunter Boutique is a quaint and fashionable boutique located on 59 Covert Avenue. It is the pinnacle of Long Island fashion and feeds into social conformity and while it does sell some nice pieces, its just another store for Long Island teens to buy clothes that will give them little sense of individuality.

Midterm Part 2: Engagement Project

Although I grew up in Rockland County, I moved to Kew Garden Hills in
Queens for college. I thought a lot about what I wanted to do for my engagement project. I decided instead of my usual phone conversations as I walked home, I would put my phone in my bag and observe the change in demographics as I walked further away from school and see where the walk would take me. School is the biggest mix of cultures you’ll find, but I wanted to see what else I would notice. As I walked further away from Queens College, the biggest thing I noticed what the far wider age gap. Young and old, it was apparent that people were on their way home from school or work.

As I walked past a grocery store, there were people rushing in and out. At a small supermarket like this, I wasn’t shocked to see a whole range of people rushing to and from. One women was dressed formally as she presumably made a stop in the store on her way home from work, another mom I imagine in middle of cooking dinner and needed to buy an ingredient or two.

I continued walking down Main Street, and reached a small yogurt and coffee store on the corner of Jewel Avenue and Main Street and stepped inside. I knew I was looking to find some sort of art‐related store, and realized the personal form of art one expresses when choosing amongst the dozen flavors of ice‐cream and choosing toppings from the variety of options.

Inside the small store there was a row of seats along one side of the store, the other side of the store lined with different soft‐ice cream flavors and toppings. Immediately to the right when you walk in is the counter to pay. Contrasted to the bustling street outside, the small yogurt store was rather quiet. As I ordered coffee, I struck up conversation with the cashier.

He was a friendly young man; I’d guess around mid‐30s. He was a bit messy, and wore store‐apron on top of a well‐worn t‐shirt and pants. I noticed he had a thin gold ring on his right hand. As he began to prepare my coffee, I made a remark of the quietness in the store and the bustle outside. He let smiled in agreement and explained that now was dinner time, and because his store was deserts and side dishes, this was the quietest time of the day. I then asked when was his business times and what kind of customers did he got on a daily basis, and he told to me. He explained that Sundays throughout the year and the summer season specifically was his busiest day. He said that because of his main location, he had a wide variety of demographics as costumers. Parents with their kids, grandparents with their grandchildren, school kids and their friends.

As we continued our conversation, he told me about himself. He said he just starting working in the store after struggling to find steady work. Until now he had done odd jobs but didn’t have a set schedule. His wife just became pregnant with their first child and he felt great responsibility in having a steady income.

I heard a gentle cough behind me as an older man with his grandson waited to pay behind me. I thanked the cashier and left, only after realizing I had failed to catch his name. As I finished my walk home with warm coffee in hand, I reflected on the vast differences of the lives of the people I pass by on a daily basis. Though drawn in to the store curios to see what kind of yogurts people were getting, I walked out with different curiosity; of wanting to know more about the people that I pass by working every day.

Context:

For my Fashion of Cultures engagement project, I had the privilege of spending a wonderful afternoon at a warehouse in downtown Brooklyn, Sunshine Vending Inc. I observed the typical scene of the warehouse, the fashion industry involved, and spoke to some of the hard-working people that strive to keep the company operating at it’s best. I chose this location for my project because I pass it while driving to school and have always wanted to find out more about what takes place in this local hub of business.

Meet the Team:

Meet Alfredo- Alfredo is a fifty year old male who has been with the warehouse for about two years. He spoke to me about the long hours and difficult labor the job entails. He said the work is well worth it at the end of the day when he walks away with his paycheck to provide for his family along with a sense of satisfaction. “We are good people doing honest work,” he explains while tossing his hands up in the air and smiling. Now that minimum wage is higher, he feels more fairly compensating for his labor, as opposed to being exploited. While Alfedo is relatively new on the job, compared to some of the other employees, he says he finds a sense of security in the warehouse. “We trust each other,” he says simply. “We show up, we sort things, we load the trucks. Sometimes we even ride along. We listen to music, we joke around. But at the end of the day, we get the job done.” Alfredo also spoke about his English getting immensely better during his two years on the job.

Alfredo is seen wearing durable blue jeans, a baseball cap, sneakers, and a sweatshirt. His outfit shows that he is dressed practically and ready for intense labor. His sweatshirt serves as his protection against the cold in the air. Also, the logo across the front is promoting Hollister, wether he intended this or not. His jeans remind me of Echo’s article, in which he describes blue jeans as the pants of practicality since they are not like to crease or spot.

Meet Paulette- Paulette is a forty two year old female who has been with the warehouse for about seven years. “I’ve got the seven year itch,” she says with a twinkle in her eye, “this is my last year here at Sunshine.” She spoke to me about the ups and downs of the years on the job. “When the weather is good, the job is good. When it snows, we still work. When it rains, we still work. Rain or shine, we’re out here getting the job done.” I asked Paulette what her plans are after Sunshine, to which she replied “I’m following my dream sweetie pie. I’m going to make it big in show biz.” Paulette then lectured me about being young and following my dreams. She sent me off with a pat on the shoulder, a chocolate bar, and some encouraging words to “Live big.”

Paulette is seen wearing the same basic work articles as Alfredo and Ferb. While she is also sporting a practical knapsack for her things, she is wearing what seems to be the standard. A baseball cap, durable work pants and a simple shirt, and comfortable sneakers. Within this sem-genderless work outfit both men and women seem to sport, Paulette shows off her femininity by wearing her hair loose and having her nails done a bright blue.

Meet Ferb- Ferb, a sixty year old male, has been in charge of this part of the warehouse for ten years. He constantly looked around to make sure things were getting done as they should. “I run a tight ship, but in this business, it’s the only way,” he explained while showing me the sign out sheet he asks employees to sign when they take a break. “We keep the environment enjoyable, but we also gotta do what we gotta do. We gotta answer to someone. Always someone to answer to.” Ferb seems to really know his way around the business. He walked around constantly helping everyone with their job, showing them the best way to do things. He also spoke about the long hours and harsh weather, but overall seemed to be happy with his job and confident with his position. I asked Ferb if he plans on moving any higher up in the company, to which he responded “That or retirement. Whichever comes first.”

Ferb is seen wearing a outfit similar to Alfredo’s, durable blue jeans, sneakers, and a sweatshirt. This confirms my

analysis of Alfredo’s outfit being the typical outfit of practicality in a labor-based workplace. Ferb’s collared shirt and belt dress up the outfit a bit, perhaps to assert his position of leadership. I also noticed Ferb’s large watch which stands both a fashion statement and a way to keep track of time management in the warehouse, which is an essential part of Ferb’s job. The paper’s in Ferb’s hand and pen in his shirt pocket also contribute as part of his outfit, being that they show his commitment to his job.

Fashion in the Workplace:

People do not dress to impress here; rather, they work hard to find clothes that help them get the job done effectively. The general fashion sense is one of durability and practicality. I thought it would be interesting to ask the employee’s I had the chan

ce of speaking with what their dream outfit would be, in order to see how much that would differ from what they essentially were forced to wear to work. Alfredo did not pause before saying, “A custom tailed suit Or anything purple.” Paulette took some more time to think about her answer, and finally settled on, “Something with floral print. Maybe a dress. I can’t wear dresses to work here, or even a skirt. I wouldn’t mind showing a little leg once in a while.” Ferb seemed a little confused by the question and simply answered, “This.”

I also found it interesting to see how each employee brought their own flair within this larger pattern of clothes meant for labor. Alfredo’s cap had a South Beach logo, Paulette is wearing sunglasses, and Ferb’s shirt is orange. These are not necessarily par of their “uniform” but show us something about their fashion taste and/or personalities I relate to this on a personal level. Following a religious dress code that entails me wearing skirts which cover the knee and shirts which cover the upper arm, I strive to find my own individuality within the larger “uniform” of my religion.

General Observations:

Overall, my experience at the Sunshine Vending warehouse was an eye opening one. The employees all seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs, while simultaneously recognizing the hard labor it entails and have immense respect for one another. Even though the employees at Sunshine’s warehouse wear somewhat of a uniform, the individuality and uniqueness in their answers give us a glimpse into their diverse fashion senses. Even if people have to dress a certain way due to practicality, a dress code, or other reasons, that does not necessarily mean that it is their ideal fashion sense. The warehouse itself is a hard-working environment, yet you can also feel a sense of comfort in the air. The colorful variety of snacks and beverages that line the shelves and floor give the warehouse a playful feel, in contrast to the visible age and wear and tear that can be observed on the warehouse itself from the outside. Spending the afternoon here made me realize there is much more behind every industry, job, and person than first meets the eye. Every person has a story to tell. They may just be waiting for someone to ask.

I have been living in Bushwick, Brooklyn for about 3 years now. When I first moved here, I was nervous. It was quite a distance from FIT and there wasn’t much going on at the time. The realtor told me not to worry and to just wait. Things were about to happen to this neighborhood. I did and I am so, so, so happy I did. I absolutely love living here. So many small businesses have opened up. From beautiful and yummy restaurants t
o amazing vintage stores you can find everything in Bushwick, now!

I decided to do my engagement project on Bushwick because I am always inspired by the way people dress here. The    have an edgy style but with a laid by effortless look. You can always see people that live here at different local vintage stores curating their style.

Also, the décor in many bars and restaurants is amazing. I am always inspired when I enter a few places because of maybe the wallpaper or the paintings. You can tell people have put a lot
of thought into it.

I recently ran into someone on the street that I knew through a friend. This happens a lot in Bushwick! I know many people I went to high school that have moved here over the years.

She was the perfect type of person I was looking for to explain how I see Bushwick. She has lived here for over 3 years and has watched the neighborhood expand. She usually stays in Bushwick on the weekends and just hangs with friends at local bars. She loves rummaging through many of the local vintage stores to create her style. She definitely has the effortless style that I see in many people that live here.

How does your style give you confidence?

Style gives me confidence because it makes me feel like I am in charge of the entire day when I am styles right. If I look good and feel like my outfit speaks to my personal style, I feel like I can conquer anything the day throws at me.

What is your biggest style influence? 

My biggest style influence is definitely Stevie Nicks. She had such an easy, carefree style while still being cool that I like to replicate.

What would you say is a quintessential “Madeline” outfit?

HAT! any kind of wide brimmed hat or beanie, easy tee, leather jacket, funky black booties. And lots of gold or silver jewelry.

Little India situated in the neighborhood Rose Hill, from 25th to 30th street, has become known as Curry Hill of Manhattan. Neighborhood developed rapidly between 2000 and 2010 as Manhattan’s Indian population nearly doubled. Among many restaurants and spice shops, there are two shops with authentic Indian clothing. Both shops abound with colorful clothes and golden jewelry. I chose to examine Lexington Saree Palace on 29^th street. From the outside shop looked very modest but I was encouraged to go inside because I saw many women in Indian ethnical clothing trying jewelry and saris. Once I entered, full range of colors, sweet smell of lightened incense sticks, and oriental music showed the true colors of India.

Owner of the shop is 43 years old Indian women, Kareena, who is managing that shop for the last 23 years. When she opened, initially it was tailoring shop, where women could choose the fabrics and she would sew the top or long skirt. In the last few years, Kareena orders tops for saris from India, because she finds it cheaper and more profitable then sewing it herself. Shop is full of textile; walls are cover in shelves which are full of colorful material. Kareena told me that it is mostly used for saris. Textile that Indian women will choose varies.

Usually wealthier women will choose silk which is the priciest and they will combine it with golden pieces of jewelry that Kareena will sew into their and teach them how to wear it. The most common style, among others, is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder baring the midriff. Other textile that is very popular for sari is velvet and chiffon. Lately, with the increase of the young indian population and their attempt to assimilate with American fashion, Kareena’s store doesn’t sell as much as it was in early 2000s. Nowadays, women mostly buy cotton fabric which is considered as a boring textile used for day outfits.

Sometimes, if she is lucky, she prepares women for Indian wedding, which could count up to 100 women. Kareena showed the whole assortment of tops that are worn under sari. They are all imported from India, handmade out of cotton, with golden ducats or crystals, made to reach woman’s waist. Price of each top is $50, but Kareena told me she bought it for much lower price from India.

Mostly she imports fabrics and tunics from India. She said that it is very cheap comparing to United States. Tunics are the best sold items, because they can be combined with other clothing items easily, but also Indian women wear the whole year long.

Kareena almost never orders from the U.S. market, not just because it is more expensive but also it is not fashionable. Indian women give a lot of attention to their look and especially younger women want to be dressed up to date. Moreover, New York, being such an international  mecca, puts a lot of competition on Kareena’s way. Her first neighbors, The Indian Village store is her biggest threat because owners are young American-Indians who step out of the ethnic frame by introducing more casual clothing line for women. However, Kareena thinks she is still preferred better by customers because of her longevity in the neighborhood. Furthermore, often her store makes outfits for Bollywood movies that are filmed in New York. Probably the best income she gets is from the film industry, because they buy a lot and want the best and most popular clothing and jewelry details.

In the last few years, there is big number of American customers who travel to India or go to Indian celebrations for which they need a “costume” to assimilate. Kareena said that Americans laugh when she puts half a pound of jewelry on them. “Indian women love to look like peacocks. They love colors and jewelry.” Bijouterie is very cheap, under $5 for the pack of bracelets or rings. However, Indian women rather wear gold that they get as a dowry on the wedding day. Imitation jewelry is mostly for unmarried girls, the more they put on themselves will make them more attractive in the eyes of men.

The last but not least detail are shoes. The most popular are shoes called ‘jutis’. The commonly shoe-style worn in India is in leather with beaded work, mirror work, thread work and hand embroidery work

.  

From my conversation with Kareena I concluded that women in India crave for silk and chiffon, while they do not cherish cotton due it its accessibility and very afordible price. When comparing it to the western world in which women want to turn to organic way of living and would like their clothing to be organic but cheap, where clothing producers rise the price of clothes and it started to be hard to find something that is made out of cotton and cheap. Kareena told me that each tunic cost less than $5 in India, and here she feels resonable to sell it for $50 because the lack of cotton made women appreciate quality.

Upon strolling down the Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side, I came across Fivestory. Located on 18 East 69th Street, this boutique offers multi-brand women’s wear from international ready-to-wear designers. Opened five years ago by Claire Distenfeld, this store is hidden between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue with an interesting entrance as if walking into a townhouse.

In a neighborhood known for its residents of the upper class and luxury stores, Fivestory is not far from the intention to serve this particular population. The store welcomed me with a doorman opening the doors before me and two sales assistants greeting me. There were no other visitors or buyers in the store, and my first impressions were that the space is beautiful. This is not surprising for the luxury stores that tend to exceptionally decorate their interior, but this was just a boutique and it looked like a small castle filled with apparel. There are two floors in the boutique and the space, although very nice is very tiny, narrow and small.

However, on the hangers and shelves not much clothing and accessories can be found. As I entered the shop, I went down the stairs and was first surrounded by small purses. Then I proceeded through a narrow hall filled with glass shelves, on which sunglasses were placed, into the clothing room, where every piece of garment was on its hanger. The clothing items were spaced close to each other, which in other stores compared to the price of the item would be different, as every item was way over its ‘’real price’’. For example, white T-shirt costs $75. Other clothing items were priced over $1000. I proceeded into the room with shoes, which is at the back of the store, where I found a large mirror and a sink that were a very rich addition to the look of the store. Shoes were beautiful, and flats cost approximately $500.

I went up the stairs onto the second floor. There were jewelry and more bags. There was also a nice painting on the wall as well as nice sofa in the room. I went straight in another room, where the dressing gowns and short mink fur coats were displayed. The clothing items had a very nice print and I liked the short mink coat in a pale rose color.

While I was observing the boutique, the sales assistant was following every step I made, so it was really hard to take pictures. This store is intended for any class or race, but according to the prices and luxury, one can certainly assume that most of the customers are of the white upper class. On December 5, 2012, Harper’s Bazaar conducted an interview with Claire Distenfeld. When asked if she believes that fashion should be ageless, Claire responded, ‘’Yes. Whenever somebody asks me who’s your demographic, who’s your customer, how old are they? I don’t understand what that even means. As I said, I’ve had an aesthetic since I was so young and I think I’m going to have that same mindset until I grow old. It’s really a mindset. There’s almost a symmetry. Like why do people think that other people are beautiful? Because there’s symmetry to their face — there’s a symmetry to an outfit when it works — and when it’s balanced, you feel it. You feel it like the balance of the Earth.’’

While trying to find the store for this project, I called multiple boutiques and had sales assistants hang up phone on me. After visiting Fivestory, I went to Chloé where the saleswomen were, of course, following me around the store, but I could sense they had a prejudice about me, based on whether I will buy a certain item or not. I am really glad that I found Fivestory because among luxury brand stores, it was pleasant to discover a store that offers internationally branded clothing, from people all over the world who try to sell Claire their innovative designs and prints.

Burlington Coat Factory originally sold coats; now they sell products varying from socks to dresses to baby furniture. Attracting a demographic with the same variety found on its shelves. This Burlington is located in Glen Oaks. In this small town, this is one of the only real clothing stores in the shopping plaza. The store is always filled with comfortable shoppers who have extensive experience searching through the racks of this two-leveled department store. It’s filled with parents and grandparents who rely on this store for the best deal for ordinary brands.

This isn’t the pinnacle of fashion but rather the pinnacle of practicality; Burlington sells all the items that make up a personalized home. Taking the place of the more expensive shopping outlets, this department store has the tone of the wanderer. The shopper who browses the racks casually, usually in search for nothing in particular. In fact the shoppers are so swept up in this empty minded wandering that many have bumped into each other, too absorbed in the good deals that populate these opportunity filled shelves. As I walked around, it was evident which departments were more frequently visited, as those were the peaceful isles; every item tucked away into its own random spot on the shelf, rarely ever to be touched. Each item, a deal; each shopper, on a budget, but willing to buy if they believe they’re getting a deal. The manager told one of the customers, “It might be expensive, it might be twenty dollars,” to which the customer replied “okay, I can do that.” This is a store where twenty dollars is able to stretch not necessarily in quality, but in quantity. Through these observations, I ended up learning the importance of Burlington’s affordability and how this appeals to a large portion of the middle class.