STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

tara t · Marc Jacobs

how to deal w/ this chick.

Bastet · Kate Spade

I'd say something to the extent of "I don't see shopping as a form of competition." I'm just surprised that someone would actually say "Why do *you* hear about these stores and brands before *I* do?"

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

That does sound obnoxious, and also like she places a lot of her self importance on being "in the know" before others. It sounds to me like the way you're handling this already is the best way -- you're not engaging in one up manship with her, which should (I would hope) diffuse it. You could say something as simple as "I don't know" and just be polite and smile. If she keeps pushing it, or you feel that she is trying to put you down (did it feel that way?), you could make a joke out of it, like "I guess I'm just incredibly smart and stylish!" or even "I guess I'm smarter than you," but said with a smile. But again, it sounds to me like you're already handling this well.

sephorablue · Marc Jacobs

Bastet wrote:

I'm just surprised that someone would actually say "Why do *you* hear about these stores and brands before *I* do?"

yeah, no kidding! wow! maybe we should give her props for being honest about her competitive brand-snobbery?

NCshopper · Hermes

That sounds totally obnoxious. I guess what you do depends on whether or not you'd like to be friends with her. She could be a great person to go shopping with or to talk about fashion and shopping, if you can get her to stop being competitive about it. If you would want to go that route, you could always invite her along to go shopping with you or ask her what she's seen or heard about lately on the fashion front. That way she'd feel like she was in the know and someone you (obviously a stylish person) would turn to for advice, which would probably be a huge compliment to her.

If you don't really want to be friends with her or don't have any intentions of going shopping with her, next time she asks you where you got something, tell her you don't remember and then change the subject. As far as the comments like "how do you know about XYZ" or "how come you heard about that before I did?" I'd just come back with a simple "Well, I like to keep on top of these things" kind of reply. Or you can be a little more aggressive and say "What's that supposed to mean?" or "Well, you're not the only one who likes to shop".

Deuce · Dooney & Bourke

Maybe it is just me but beat her at her own game. If she asks another question like "how do you hear about these things before I do?" Just tell her that not everyone is as up to speed in the fashion world. Go on to tell her that you dont look down on her It is something that is very interesting to you. HaHa. I can be a little caddy at times when It comes to people making rude offhanded comments. Maybe a good laugh at her expense might curb it a bit.

blink · Coach

Deuce wrote:

Maybe it is just me but beat her at her own game. If she asks another question like "how do you hear about these things before I do?" Just tell her that not everyone is as up to speed in the fashion world. Go on to tell her that you dont look down on her It is something that is very interesting to you. HaHa. I can be a little caddy at times when It comes to people making rude offhanded comments. Maybe a good laugh at her expense might curb it a bit.

I agree with this. I think you should meet her comments with some volley of wit, just serve that attitude right back to her, but in a humorous way. Treat her comments like you think she is joking, I bet she will get in line.