Another country

Finally, an end to the big question - who will take over ownership of Myer? Thank heavens for Newbridge, whoever they are. Honestly, now we can all get on to the more important business of shopping there. I regard the ladieswear department as a home away from home. In fact I'd go as far as to say that if it was a country I'd almost certainly take up permanent residency, although it would probably be one of those former Eastern bloc nations, where the amenities are staffed by stolid ladies in thick tan stockings who are never there when you need them but have a habit of appearing out of nowhere. Like my most recent visit. Okay it was almost 9pm on a Friday night and I'd been loitering in the kind of retail-induced trance that might make some staff nervous, but when one of the shop ladies came and planted herself between me and the silk bubble skirt I was fondling, crossed her arms and announced in ringing tones "It really is time to go home now" I was taken aback. I almost mentioned that I was going to reconsider my citizenship options but then realised such subtleties would be wasted on her. Just to show her I wasn't cowed I marched off to the changing rooms with said skirt, only to lose my handbag in the swamp of discarded garments left by the last person. I don't know about you but I've never seen one of those changing room signs that says "532 items only", although I've fervently prayed for one often enough. I mentioned this experience to a fashion retailer friend who said it was a great thing Myer had broken away from Coles Myer Limited as "if you give a department store to a bunch of bloody grocers to run you'll end up with changing rooms that look like [....]" Anyway, if Newbridge can turn Debenhams around they'll find Myer a pushover. I visited Debenhams as a child with my English granny - suffice to say we didn't need to bother with the London Science Museum's black hole exhibit after that. Newbridge has also revamped some very glamorous US department store probably frequented by Sex and the City types so there's hope for us all.

:Fun and Games
Talking of foreign countries we've had an international presence on our shores recently in the form of the Commonwealth Games. If you're wondering what the connection between the games and fashion is, there isn't one - unless you count the little rumpus over union concern that souvenir clothing for the games has been manufactured in breach of international labour standards or something. But what I want to know is who's looking out for the international fashion standards? Can painting your face green and yellow and wearing a matching afro wig really be the next big thing?