Which fictional customer would you be?

I put my knowledge of Word flowcharts (pretty non-existent, I have to admit) to good use today and made one of those magazine style personality quizzes. Kind of fun to do, actually. Who doesn't love a good stereotype? So there you go: which one of these fictional character's style of dealing with shop personnel resembles yours?

(Disclaimer: this is in no way to be taken seriously.)
(Also, sorry for the crappy design, I'm condemned to paint and word for a while.)

Rebecca Bloomwood: Safe to say you're a tad impulsive, and maybe - if sometheing particularly covetable or discounted is involved - slightly hysteric. You're easily influenced and will buy everything as long as you like it. You don't really depend on shop assistants when it comes to advice and choosing, but you are friendly with them. They are after all the gateway to consumer bliss!

Vivian Ward: You're quite shy, and not very certain of your style. You're a kind customer, albeit a little needy. You tend to ask for help rather than seek things out on your own. You need to be drawn out a bit. Cruelty or indifference really get to you, even when you're obviously way cooler than the people around you. But don't worry, all of this can easily be solved with an affluent boyfriend.

Elle Woods: People's first impression of you can lean towards 'airhead', but you're certainly no fool. You're friendly, but determined. You know exactly what you want, and you're assertive enough to call out anyone trying to bullshit you, often leaving them dazed and confused. Snaps!

Emily Gilmore: Whoa. Emily Gilmore is assertiveness on speed. You know what you want alright, and anyone trying to cross you will be exposed to true biblical wrath. Demanding might not be a synonym for mean to you, but you run a high risk of coming across quite cruel. Maybe tone it down just a little bit, and try not to take lack of professionalism as a personal insult.

I'm totally a Rebecca. How 'bout you?

Gent: No pause button, just Rewind

One of the things I used to love most about living in Gent was that everything was so incredibly nearby. Friends, university auditoria, cafés, 3 cinemas: all in walking distance. I never replaced my bike after it was stolen (the thief was considerate enough to leave my front wheel) in my second year at university - I had time in abundance and was walking everywhere anyway. Shopping for groceries was never just schlepping around with overstuffed bags. It was an excellent opportunity for bumping into friends and window shopping. I must have passed Rewind in the St Pietersnieuwstraat at least one time a day during the years I lived in one of the streets behind it, and went in countless times.

I never bought anything there, partly because I deemed it just a bit too expensive at the time, partly because sizes are a bit too small, but I have quite a few girlfriends who don't mind paying full price here. Do you remember the look on Abu's face seeing that giant ruby in the Cave of Wonders? Eyes all big and sparkly? That's exactly how you should imagine the faces of innocent girls walking into Rewind. In case you need a reminder:

Picture via, uh, here. I bumped into a nauseating hentai version of Aladdin on my search for this picture. Is NOTHING sacred to you, internet?

The window display is sometimes basic, sometimes a little funky. It mirrors the clothes very well: mostly sober, but very smart. Modern minimalism and all that jazz. If you're into Scandinavian style, you don't want to miss Rewind. Since they stock lots of indie brands, it's a great place to discover some new names. For instance, this is where I discovered the beautiful French label Sessùn:

The clothes differ in style (they go from plaid shirtdresses to gold sequined tops; romantic to edgy) but they're all designed with a similar aesthetic vision: slightly different from what you would expect, a lot of natural fibers and all round high quality. As for personnel, it's always the same guy behind the counter (some fashionable girls I've encountered over the years aside). He's really friendly and always ready to provide explanation or advice. Kind of the gay best friend you'd always like to accompany you on shopping trips.

Plus sizes won't easily find something here, but Rewind also sells a selection of books, music and some great accessories. It might not be extensive and fast-moving enough to qualify as a concept store, but it comes pretty close. Maybe you should see it as a nice compromise between a more classic boutique and a concept store: innovative without being too overwhelming.