They say that imitation is the best form of flattery.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
To imitate someone is to pay the person a genuine compliment — often an unintended compliment.
We tell children do as we say, not as we do. Well, most of us do. Most of us get angry when someone “copies” us, as my beautiful daughter says… and she can get all upset as she tells me the cats are copying her… *laughs*
Many moons ago I worked in a retail industry *shock, horror*, called Scotts Clothing, you all must be over 35 at least to know them, or about them. Besides the point 😊
The stores we “labelled” by location. You had North end, Bus-stop, Uitenhage, Dik-spatch, my bad Dispatch, and the list goes on.
I was very fresh and young and even more inquisitive than now, no I am lying, I am still as curious, just not so fresh and young anymore.
Mr. Redfern, I will never forget this mans name ever in my life – and yeah there is a story behind that too, if there is time I will share.
However, Mr. Redfern and I had the privilege of sharing a little time one day from his visit to the stores. The normal, having everything in place, those days you still had “grids” displaying on a wall how you could mix and match clothing.
We stood staring at the one display – he asked where the belt-bow idea and the item was in the store, as he knows every single item that is ordered. There had been none. The creative mind behind the display, decided to use the now known “leggings” or “tights” as a “belt” and tying a beautiful bow on the front of the display.
I was honoured to have shared in the story: The store we were standing in was called Trendsetters, remember I mentioned above, as per location, right.
No one ever questioned the name – I did, in that moment, staring at a deceiving display, and somewhat worried about what was to follow – remember, all young and fresh.
I asked him, where the name trendsetters came from, as all stores where labelled by location. What does “Trendsetters” have to do with the location.
It was the first store opened at Town square in Port Elizabeth.
The store was – setting the trend. The baby, the start, the one that gave way for many more to open after that. Everywhere. In the rural areas of the arse-end of the planet, you found a Scotts Clothing store.
As with all babies, they grow up, you learn from your mistakes, you do things differently change a little here and there, and ta-da, you have a teenager, and then a mature “individual”.
But through all of this, something had to start somewhere. Someone had to take the first step.
Setting the trend.
We can look at the negative aspects of the word as well – a mockery, fake or artificial. Doesn’t feel right that imitation is the best form of flattery, does it? Choose for yourself on this one, which you find most comfortable.
Me; I will stick to Trendsetter, and not feel flattery on imitation.
Wondering about that display? We had to take it down, as the store did not hold the item shown, and yes, a true form of imitation, as a belt like that was seen, and the idea used to show the same. Fake, deceiving, artificial…
Authenticity is key, today before you tell your child do as they told and not as you do, or find yourself flattered by imitation – rather be the trendsetter.
