Sleeping it rough was a wierd experience. You were so exposed; open to all kinds of abuse and harrassment from drunk louts and immature tourists, risk of getting a cold/flu/chill/pneumonia from sitting in the freezing November weather, and the sheer boredom of waiting 10 hours for the shop doors to open at 9am. Waiting for that moment when you would be one of the lucky ones to get your hands on some designer shoes, immortalised by the ultimate fashionista Carrie Bradshaw.
When it came to this 'event,' I made sure I was fully prepared. And I mean I prepared for MONTHS- this included looking at every picture of the shoes I could find, finding out what stores were launching it, what stores had what products, the wristband system, what time to start queuing (although that was a good guess) and what I would like for myself before selecting the popular overly-advertised ones to sell!
Saddo/mad woman/crazy/silly some might say, but to others I am a dedicated fashionista! (Thanks Maria!) I agree!
They turned on the lights inside the store at like 7.30am, and we all got really excited...maybe too excited since there was still an hour and a half to go! The Choo Crew packed up their tents, put away their survival kits, folded up their bags that has previously been rammed with food and drink, and tried to summon up what little remaining energy they had left!
Things didn't get interesting till 9.00am on the dot, where the security guard told us (not once, but three times) 'not to run, but walk.' He talked to us like we were toddlers. In fact I think I've heard mums say that same line to their kids in the supermarkets/shopping centres.
We were then given the wrist bands, colour coded for what group you were in. As Rob and I were 7th in the queue, we were in the top 20- the CHOSEN ONES! And were the 9.15 group- THE FIRST ONES! A small group of stragglers had formed in front of the doors to which we met them with such ferocity that wolves would have been impressed by! 'Nobody is cutting in after we queued in the rain' one woman shouted, and this was met by agreeing growls all round- me included! To further shitstir, another man (the ferocious woman's husband- go figure!) pointed out to the secueity guard to 'check each person that walks through the doors has a wristband.'
We were very territorial. Very competitive. Not with ourselves but at how hard we were trying not to let anyone get one over us. A few of us were worried we wouldn't get anything, which I know, is ridiculous, since we were the FIRST GROUP in a 200+ queue going round the corner past Harvey Nichols!
It's funny thinking about it now- three days later- as obviously the novelty of it all has worn off, and after the initial hype of telling my friends and taking the photos, I am bored! As I write about this 'experience' I find myself thinking how crazy it all was, like I, and all those people had been brainwashed into making this a big deal- because of all the advertisements, glossy magazines, and TV shows like Sex & The City. We are made to believe that shoes are amazing, that Jimmy Choo shoes are a must-have item, that we MUST have them- at any cost. So we camped out all night and are hundreds of pounds poorer (and colder) as a result!
Although I love the shoes I got, it's the HYPE that intices you to do these crazy things. Without it, there would be no interest. Which is why advertisers, actors, and PR girls could rule the world.
Hang on a sec, they already do!!!!!!!!
'Was it worth it,' I hear you shout!
YES!
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