Mall Assignment

The mall is the go to spot for all shopping needs and of all the cities I have lived in, a mall is a place where different people of all styles, sizes, and needs can go to find what they need. Here in Corpus though, I see things a bit different at the mall here. I see almost a bit of separation between needs and style. There seems like a divide throughout this mall to where people know exactly where to go to get what they want and stay on their side and section.
I went there today to go get makeup and paid attention walking in and the places that I went to. My intention was to go to the mall to get some makeup and I get my makeup from two places. First I went to the Mac section where there is nothing but the younger crowd there. From high school to middle twenties, these girls wear a lot more makeup and the sales girls there wear louder colors and makeup. I then had to get some eye shadow over at Chanel. Chanel is located on the other side and its like you step into an older, classier feel and look. The makeup is very expensive so the feel is more sophisticated with the sales girls wearing less makeup and a more professional look. When walking through to leave, I saw the store wet seal. It targets the younger and up ages, more open to fashion trends, and less expensive clothes. Right across is Forever 21 which reaches the same young to college girl with less expensive clothes. You actually see those girls just staying in that area. As you walk further down you pass Victoria Secrets, New York & Co., and Abercrombie & Fitch. Just walking in that area, you see the young tennage girls to the older career girls. These stores are higher priced and girls that I see at Wet seal, I do not see at New York & Co. I myself do not go into Abercrombie because that store is for thin, tall and blonde. I actually don’t feel that I belong there and that’s ok because I just don’t like their clothes.
I definitely see the point in John Fiske’s article about people’s conspicuous consumption and putting people in a group. I do feel like areas are grouped off at the mall. The area for more of the career woman and the preppy girls is in one section. The area for the trendy, young, and girl looking to not spend so much is in another area. And its for that reason, I think people in their group membership stick to their areas. The only store that I felt tried to really stick to exclusivity was Abercrombie and New York & Co. At Abercrombie, I was not so much accepted when I went in there and was actually told once that I don’t fit their styles. I see a great divide at La Palmera which I don’t believe is meant to alienate people but just make shopping easier and more accessible.