Men in Anthro

Men really only come into Anthropologie for three reasons:

1. They are looking for their girlfriend/wife
2. They are looking for a gift for their girlfriend/wife
3. They are lost

When he walks in, all confidence drops. He is in unchartered territory. Any worker whose job it is to greet him will smile empathetically, greet him politely and ask if he can be helped in any way. He will then quickly interrupt making it clear that he is not, in fact, here for himself. He is looking for a gift for his girlfriend, or for his girlfriend herself, or doesn't know where he is and quite possibly is looking for the non-existing men's section of Anthropologie, which sadly does not exist.

It's easy to spot him. He enters the store in one of two ways:
1. He stops about two steps in and scans the horizon. From left to right. looking for his girlfriend, her gift, or the men's section.

2. He walks in, quickly feeling disoriented but not wanting to show it by slowing down, he copes by going quickly to the home goods where he finds some comfort in knowing the purpose of a tea cup or a measuring spoon.

He will then proceed to pick up things, a little candle here, a plate, a cup, a sweater, maybe a scarf... his hands are full and because our hand baskets might possibly be mistaken as a purse he will not be accepting our help. He'll take his chances.

Now, the man who finally finds his girlfriend or wife (who will not be near the front of the store where he can find her easily. No, she will be found rummaging through the sale items in the back or better yet, holed up in the fitting room) this man will soon be found again at the front of the store where a couch and a wide variety of books are strategically placed there for his convenience. Here he will make his home. He will come to know the person working in the front zone. He will learn their greeting style and possibly a little something about the individual or the store itself. He may learn that the wood floors used to be a barn, or that the chandelier was actually made of old books. If he's smart, he'll also learn the score to whatever game he's tracking on his smart phone. He could be sitting here for a while.

As funny as it is to see these men, they are heroes. They are wise. They are making history. I see them as legends. They have gained much understanding in the ways of this world. If he wants to make his woman happy, buy her something from Anthropologie. If he really wants to make her happy, buy her lots of things from Anthropologie.