The Casual Tie
September 2011
6 posts
Advertisers Create Content to Lure Elusive Customers - WSJ.com →
online.wsj.com
If you watch Gossip Girl, you deserve hidden Kmart ads.
For Kmart, a unit of Sears Holdings Corp., “First Day,” began as a four-page pitch in 2009 from “Gossip Girl” executive producer Alloy Entertainment. For the current season, the show’s second, Alloy pitched a story about a girl who wants to go to the prom with her crush.
The retailer liked the idea, but wanted to use it to hawk its line of back-to-school clothes. So it suggested changing the focus to a fall dance, rather than a prom.
In rounds of back-and-forth story development, Kmart also asked Alloy to shape each of the four main characters to reflect several clothing brands that Kmart wanted to push.
The protagonist, for instance, was written to embody the Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez brand.
Kmart also pushed Alloy to change the protagonist’s original name, Bree, to which it thought its customers wouldn’t relate. They settled on the name Rosie instead.
You can file this under “things you can trust Put This On not to do.”
August 2011
8 posts
A Fistful of Style: #Menswear is not the sole arbiter of style: or, don't be a dick →
afistfulofstyle.tumblr.com
#beniceblogging
I had a minor revelation at work today. Minor because it’s not going to blow anybody’s fucking mind. A revelation, because it finally helped an idea I’d been having for a while now “click”.
So this guy comes in (calls himself Picasso) in super baggy, slightly sagged gray nylon cargo pants and a…
“And I don’t give a shit how much of “an individual” you are—the watch belongs on your left wrist. Period.”
—
I’ve only ever worn my watch on my right wrist, it’s just more comfortable for me. This is one of those stupid fucking “rules” that may have practical implications, but mostly serves to let people feel superior to those who’ve gotten it “wrong”.
But nice try, bro.
EDIT: Stylepoints brings up one of the practical implications I mentioned but did not elaborate on.
However, as I only own Quartz watches (swiss ones though!) it’s a moot point for me. Also, do you really find yourself needing to wind your watch constantly during the day? Isn’t it one of those “do before work and it lasts through the day things?” I was always under the impression that an automatic movement shouldn’t need to be wound all the time. If I am wrong, then mea culpa, but I still find it more comfortable on my right wrist and I’ve been wearing watches for 12 or so years, so there’s almost no possibility I could change (if I was so inclined).
(via afistfulofstyle)
Alright, guys, don’t feed the troll.
July 2011
6 posts
Rugged Old Salt: Karma →
ethandesu.tumblr.com
Ethan-san says: Don’t be a dick on the internet. But read the whole thing:
Communities are an odd dynamic in every iteration they take, be it as small as a family or as large as a city. The breadth and variety of the members is what makes it exciting, the disparity between how one might see the world to yourself, and the potential for you to grow through this new…
“nicetrybro: howtotalktogirlsatparties: Young Basted God. Oh, you mad cuz I’m stylin’ on you. I’m really digging Nice Try, Bro these days. The blog’s author keeps saying what I’m thinking, only better.”
—
FWIW I can’t stand the “this guy looks bad for the following reasons…” style blog. It’s not just that I think people should wear what they want (though I do think that).
It’s really that half the time it’s just recycled blogosphere common speak (next time I read you always unbutton your bottom vest button I’ma cut someone), it’s that most of the time either
1. the advice is passed off as absolute truth (typically in an extremely negative, dickish manner)
or
2. The author (not just of NTB, several others are guilty too) concocts a completely new outfit then says “they should have changed their outfit in the following ways.” Which reeks of “I know better-ism!” Which, unless you can back it up with better WIWT pics, makes me think you’re full of shit. (Note: Even if you back it up with flawless pics daily, you probably still sound like a dick).
Couple these things with the fact that these are often tied with bloggers who start “I was jetsetting around to XYZ exotic locales and I saw some businessman in the airport wearing the wrong shoes, DON’T YOU GET HOW NONCHALANTLY WEALTHY I AM?!?!” and you have a recipe for douche-blog-itis.
But that’s just my opinion.
(via afistfulofstyle)
BOOM. Fistful lays down the law. Be nice, or be interesting. Nicetrybro fails at both.
