The Psychology of Fashion Victim

Any guesses where I am right now?

I bet you didn't say Surry Hills. In fact I'm pretty sure some of you would have guessed correctly. I'm in the south of France, Nice airport to be exact. These two photos were taken within 2 minutes of each other.

These two men would look silly in Surry Hills, but to their contemporaries they... actually they probably look silly where ever they went. None the less they represent nicely the bind that drives fashion, the constant struggle to both fit in and stand out. That is we all want to express our sense of self through fashion, yet at the same time confirm to societies standards ('society' being the reference group you hold in high regard).

Anyway, this was more an excuse to publish two funny photos. And yes I am well aware that I, in whatever I was wearing, would look equally silly in their eyes too.

Collaborative Consumption

There is a very smart woman who works with us at Naked Communications, Rachel Botsman. She's written a book called 'Collaborative Consumption: What's mine is yours'. Out soon. In the meantime here is a sexy video talking about the idea. It's the place where socialism meets capitalism and as a result we all prosper.

The Bramotion and Understanding Consumer Behaviour

Here's an article in Adnews about why it's imperitive you understand a) how advertising works, b) how to change behaviour, and c) the power of the Bramotion.

Bands and Brands

Today I read that Melbourne band 'The Triangles' have topped the Spanish charts with their song 'Applejack'. How has this been done? The song was selected as the soundtrack for a commercial for beer brand Estrella'. The same has happened for any band featured on the Apple and iPod advertising.

Sincerely well done to the bands and brands involved.

However, things have changed. When I was growing up this quest for money (from the bands) would be seen as a 'sell out' (does this concept still exist?). The bands would have been seen to have lost their integrity, and looked upon with disdain. However, the concept today seems weird to write, and laughable. Youth today are completely marketing saturated. All entertainment, socialising, and general interactivity with the world is branded - and this is the just the way it is.

Youth today are not marketing savvy, they are marketing saturated.

Living in a branded would is the status-quo today. Therefore, the concept of 'selling out' to commercial culture no longer exists. Nowadays everyone is born and raised in this commercial culture and there is no longer anyone to 'sell out' to.

Good luck to all involved? I'm going to go feel old somewhere.