Dress code and etiquette

[Rare Breed]

That's one of the reasons I love visiting my daughter over Christmas and doing charity events.
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Nicely done @Tanks !!! You look like a chairman of the board!!!

 

[Pole Pole]

There is an old saying “Never judge a book by its cover.” Which is good advise for a young salesman. Also, fashion’s change, sometimes rather quickly. I would think blue jeans, sneaks and a polo would become casual smart asap if the wearer approached a salesmen with: Sir, I would like to be fitted for a Rigby rising bite.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Well, I wouldn't dress like a bum or wear pajamas, but neither would I show up in Mossy Oak or dressed like the Great Gatsby or Baron Blixen. I wouldn't tour any of the other London sights dressed that way. A person can look respectable without dressing up. That's the statement I usually want to make with attire when I'm visiting.

A vendor of expensive luxury items might judge by my appearance that I'm not seriously interested in purchasing anything and decide to give me short shift. That's okay. I'm likely not interested ... but if I was, I would no longer be. A salesman who is genuinely interested in me for who I am may kindle an interest that wasn't there when I walked in the door.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Hi gents,

For those of you who have visited fine London guns shops, and their shooting ranges, how did you dress?
Smart casual, tweed, Beau Brummer style, "no brown in town"?

I will be visiting London in foreseeable future, so asking for your experience.

Thanks!

I just do a striped button down collar dress shirt, dress trousers, braces & either a cardigan or a blazer.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

The funny thing is, @Tanks looks like he's about to watch Mom tee off at The Masters! Great pic!

High end gallery/boutique attendants may sometimes be snobbish, or, like bees and dogs, may sometimes smell fear. Rather than attack an innocent browser, they leave him alone and allow him to summon the courage to approach or engage in conversation, saving him the embarrassing and ubiquitous utterance of, "I'm just looking," and saving them the time of fishing in an empty bucket. One should be bold and brave, taking the initiative, when entering a boutique. State your intentions and you will get more respect. Unlike car salesmen, who will, on foot, chase your idling car around the lot, these attendants don't have to sell you anything.

This reminds me of the time the sales clerk at a high end Beverly Hills guitar boutique totally ignored Carlos Santana when he was shopping for an exclusive guitar. He sauntered in off the street in worn jeans and dirty sneakers and his faded old hat looking more like a homeless guy than a music icon.

When he asked to look at their top end guitar model that was locked in a glass case, they steered him over to a beginner model instead. This went on until Ozzie Osbourne and his wife spotted Carlos from the balcony as they were shopping upstairs for a gift for a friend. They came down and greeted Carlos and then handed the clerk his wife Sharon's Amex Black unlimited card and told him that Mr. Santana was good for any purchase he wanted to make. Looks can be deceiving and the smartest dressed patron is not always the one most likely to plunk down big $$$ for a large purchase. Often the rich and famous would much prefer to look ordinary and un-noticed. Just sayin...

Like others said already - be yourself and don't waste time trying to impress others any more or less than usual.

 

[Tanks]

This reminds me of the time the sales clerk at a high end Beverly Hills guitar boutique totally ignored Carlos Santana when he was shopping for an exclusive guitar. He sauntered in off the street in worn jeans and dirty sneakers and his faded old hat looking more like a homeless guy than a music icon.

When he asked to look at their top end guitar model that was locked in a glass case, they steered him over to a beginner model instead. This went on until Ozzie Osbourne and his wife spotted Carlos from the balcony as they were shopping upstairs for a gift for a friend. They came down and greeted Carlos and then handed the clerk his wife Sharon's Amex Black unlimited card and told him that Mr. Santana was good for any purchase he wanted to make. Looks can be deceiving and the smartest dressed patron is not always the one most likely to plunk down big $$$ for a large purchase. Often the rich and famous would much prefer to look ordinary and un-noticed. Just sayin...

Like others said already - be yourself and don't waste time trying to impress others any more or less than usual.

BTW, that’s an Internet legend with not much fact. Similar to Adam Sadler’s revenge buying $300K worth of purses at Chanel store for his daughter.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

I've gone in jeans and a polo and i've gone in wearing business casual (because it was after a business meeting). I'd say the above covers it.

At all the places I scheduled meetings first and didn't try and be a cold walk-in. I find if you are polite and make it easier for them to schedule their lives, they respect you arriving on time...it sets a tone.

 

[Tanks]

A vendor of expensive luxury items might judge by my appearance that I'm not seriously interested in purchasing anything and decide to give me short shift. That's okay. I'm likely not interested ... but if I was, I would no longer be. A salesman who is genuinely interested in me for who I am may kindle an interest that wasn't there when I walked in the door.

Depends on the store as well. When we were at the Dubai Mall my daughter tried to buy an Hermes bag from the store their. First two days she was told to check later as none were available. The last day she went there, she was wearing her bling and designer clothes/shoes and came back to the hotel triumphant with her new bag. Here in the USA it is much worse, one is pre-qualified by spending a significant amount of money at the store before they will sell you a Birkin.

In either case she was a buyer, but the store wanted to sell their limited goods to someone that would be a walking advertisement in their marketing strategy. In this one case, the cover was just as important as the book.

 

[DaddyFlip]

The last few posts reminded me of the Jay Leno interviews about why he doesn't buy Ferrari. If a certain brand can't or won't meet your expectations, someone else will.

 

[HankBuck]

Depends on the store as well. When we were at the Dubai Mall my daughter tried to buy an Hermes bag from the store their. First two days she was told to check later as none were available. The last day she went there, she was wearing her bling and designer clothes/shoes and came back to the hotel triumphant with her new bag. Here in the USA it is much worse, one is pre-qualified by spending a significant amount of money at the store before they will sell you a Birkin.

In either case she was a buyer, but the store wanted to sell their limited goods to someone that would be a walking advertisement in their marketing strategy. In this one case, the cover was just as important as the book.

@Tanks, I think You are right - high end stores cater to a High End Clientele and “High End” is defined by more then just those that have the $$ to pay for it. Limited release handbags that sell for $3000 - $50,000+ are designed for an Upper Level Client and Not just someone that has the cash to buy it. Designers want their bags seen in photos of celebrities and on the “Red Carpet” events —- Not on the arm of a woman in the checkout line at Walmart. There is certainly a “smug snob factor” involved and while that has no interest to Me - I understand others feel differently.

 

[Muskox]

@Tanks, I think You are right - high end stores cater to a High End Clientele and “High End” is defined by more then just those that have the $$ to pay for it. Limited release handbags that sell for $3000 - $50,000+ are designed for an Upper Level Client and Not just someone that has the cash to buy it. Designers want their bags seen in photos of celebrities and on the “Red Carpet” events —- Not on the arm of a woman in the checkout line at Walmart. There is certainly a “smug snob factor” involved and while that has no interest to Me - I understand others feel differently.

It is super douche. It doesn’t matter who it is.

 

[Tanks]

It is super douche. It doesn’t matter who it is.

Yes, however Bernard Arnault and family (LV Holding) and Dumas family (Hermes) became billionaires by that style of marketing.

 

[Rare Breed]

It is super douche. It doesn’t matter who it is.

I agree it is as snobbish as you can get but to @Tanks point it is part of their marketing strategy especially in an Indulgent Business.

 

[LimbNoMo]

I might not buy a Birkin, but I would have a Hermes saddle.