Thursday, January 29, 2015

New year, new pants (PM)

If there were ever two ladies you'd think would be open to the message "new year, new pants" it'd be the Misses Soft Crab. Such is our love of clothes we'd probably respond to calls of "new day, new pants" with a huzzah and trip to the shops with a spring in our step. But seriously, Country Road, a call to arms (or pants) needs more than a catchy slogan, it needs some depth you can get behind, and a few pairs of black slacks are not gonna get me in your pants.

Country Road are very aggressive email marketers and frankly I think this has led them to not only lose there way in clothes but also in marketing. Barely a day goes by when I'm not being told to "get comfy for autumn in sports luxe" or "add a twist to your summer wardrobe." But none of this matters because they lost me years ago with the email subject line "Must-have jeggings!" At which point I knew the emails I was receiving must be little more than the demented ramblings of a mad man. If the subject line of a County Road email does not include the words "spend" and "save" I am sure it has nothing to offer me. 

They should in fact take a leaf out of Obus's book. Obus brought us those starry denim pants K was contemplating and to be honest I've wondered about them myself. Obus don't market so aggressively. Leave a little mystery, Country Road, don't be so desperate. It's not just that the marketing at Obus leaves you wondering, the clothes do to. Are those pants great or fug, who knows but you probably want them so you can figure it out. New year, new pants. Put stars on them, that's how it's done!

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

New year, new pants (AM)

The Miss Soft Crab summer hiatus is a much loved time of year, but like other seasonal delights (Fig season, Cadbury Creme Egg season etc.), must come to an end at some point. It's hard to know when to end the hiatus, what with the Misses Soft Crab being adults now, and not getting to spend all summer lazing around in my backyard pool until it's time to go back to school. Those days are over, and in their place days where summer holidays neither properly begin nor properly end. It can leave a girl confused. But, when Country Road sends a girl an email with the subject lime "New Year, New Pants", a girl is no longer  confused. A girl knows it's time to return to the crab desk. 

New year, new pants. Honestly. Country Road jumped the shark long ago in my opinion. They used to be the tasteful staple store. They gave good sale, and were liberal with their spend and save vouchers. But the fabrics started to get a little fruity. The styles started to go a little rogue. They seemed to want to be both the stylish staple store and the on trend store. No store is that store. They started to disappoint me more than please me. 

And when you add ridiculous web marketing copy to the mix, well. I'm afraid I have no time for such nonsense. 
You know what the stupidest part of the New year, new pants message was? It was the pants. They were plain black pants. The last thing that could get someone excited about the new year. 

These pants, on the other hand...
I kind of love these pants. Denim, you know. But with stars on them. Mate? What do you think?