The New Idiom

Missoni Madness: a study in extreme shopping behavior

So as many of you already know, Missoni did a special line of products which was released at Target yesterday. Being the excellent consumer that I am, I was roped in by the ridiculous amount of hype that Target created around the launch. I don’t really buy into the notion that you are getting something resembling an actual Missoni piece but I found a few of the items compelling. Really all I wanted was a pair of the flats. I am a shoe addict and destroy flats like nobody’s business.

My original game plan was to save myself the trouble and buy the suckers online. After finding the website down for the count (as it would be all day) I was, for some reason, compelled to go to the actual store. I arrived a whole 30 minutes after the store opened to find utter mayhem and plenty of crazed looking women zooming around the store. After locating the completely empty clothing and shoe racks, I decided to wander the store for a bit- that’s when it got interesting…

I have never participated in the shopping frenzies of Black Friday but I imagine they would be somewhat similar to this. I made my way toward the bike section of Target (the Missoni bike looked cute and I thought I might as well look at it in person even though I have no need for another bike). That’s where I found their hide out. In the corner of the store a hive of ladies was congregated with their precious Missoni finds. Imagine shopping carts stuffed and piled high with anything and everything Missoni. The handle bars of the carts were now converted into clothing racks for easier viewing. These ladies clearly just grabbed arm loads of clothing off the rack with no regard for size or style. They weren’t buying for themselves but any relative they could imagine and if none came to mind, then off to ebay with the rest. Each lady had at least 5 of each clothing item (one in every size, I suppose) in addition to accessories and luggage.

I did manage to score a new laptop case, which I needed anyway. I wasn’t looking for it or anything…I just happen to walk past it sitting on a random clothing rack. Serendipity, I suppose. 

When at the check out I found out that these dedicated super shoppers had waited outside the store in a line more than 200 deep well before the doors even opened. The whole outing was an interesting glimpse into the kind of shopping technique apparently required to take advantage of these limited time offers. 

Me and my shoes never had a chance. 

If you care to see what you missed out on, go here.

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