Three Fashionista's Night Out

[caviargal]

The only time I notice lipstick is when the color is one I like for myself or the case itself is really cool; I cannot imagine looking to see if it is drug store brand or department store:confused:

[babylene]

I think this is SO funny. I use the freebees from Clinique. I wonder what the lipstick fashionistas would think of me!!!!!!!

[Jane110]

Maybe in the Fashion Industry as it is work related and a business that is all about the aesthetic and image but Wall Street? I wouldn't expect a woman who was bright enough to find success in finance to be so shallow about make up.

 

 

Huh? You think that women who are smart enough to make money on Wall Street are less shallow than women in the fashion business? You think Wall Street isn't about image? Wow, your impression is waaay off. The men on Wall Street are just as consumed with image as any women. Who do you think is wearing all those $30,000. watches, Tiffany/Cartier cufflinks and Hermes ties? They wear them for the effect

 

The Wall Street Women are the biggest consumers of high end designer apparel & accessories as well as very expensive make-up. If you take a walk around Wall Street you'll see many Manolo's, Armani's and Chanels (the handbags & the make-up)

 

I agree that women in the fashion industry may not be creating world peace, but neither are the Wall Streeters who are making money from investing in hedge funds and stocks.

[Soxfan05]

Jane, take a deeeeeep breath. I never said women in fashion were shallow. Women in fashion are acutely aware of such things as the tube of lipstick the lady next to them in the restroom is using because that's their business. They might size up a woman's outfit and know her shoes are from 2 season ago where other women wouldn't. It's part of their business.

 

I'll grant you that many people who work in finance are high end spenders. But honestly, I would be very surprised if a Wall Street titan took the time to check out who was using Revlon or Chanel in the ladie's room. The wanna be's, well that's another whole ball of wax.

 

I do have a funny story about "fashion" people for you. I was on a photo shoot with my kids for an Italian fashion magazine called "Grazia". The photog was this wonderful Italian gentleman who my kids had worked for on multiple campaigns for a company in Europe called Next. We were told he wanted to do action" photos on the beaches of South Boston and in alley ways and on the streets. We were asked to bring scooters if the kids had them. We know the streets of Boston and I knew how creative this photog was- he loved spur of the moment changes and would tend to keep shooting if the mood hit him and things were going right. I knew where we were going and I knew we'd be running. Parking is a nightmare. We ended up walking- no running miles that day. The kids were changed into their clothes in vans and behind screens in neighborhoods. Three of us moms had worn "tennies" as the French designer had called them. He and some women laughed and said they "didn't understand American women". They also said this as some women who worked in the financial district walked by with their beautiful suits and sneakers on. Well, by the end of the photo shoot, the women in their gorgeous high heels were sitting on a stoop, resting their worn but stylish feet, lamenting that the heels of their shoes were ruined by the uneven sidewalks. They were also very upset that the silver and gold Dolce and Gabana sneakers the kids wore got scuffed up during the photo shoot. I guess they didn't realize that one shouldn't scooter and run around cobblestone sidewalks and alley ways in $500 sneakers (or expensive high heeled sandals). Sometimes practicality has to win over vanity.

[LandLockedInAZ]

soxfan, I enjoyed your story. Sounds like you and your children have had some really neat experiences!

[Jane110]

Jane, take a deeeeeep breath. I never said women in fashion were shallow. Women in fashion are acutely aware of such things as the tube of lipstick the lady next to them in the restroom is using because that's their business. They might size up a woman's outfit and know her shoes are from 2 season ago where other women wouldn't. It's part of their business.

 

Okay, deep breath taken. :) You're right in the sense that a Wall Street women (a "titan", not a secretary) might not be able to look at someone elses blouse and know the print was from two years ago as a woman in the fashion industry would. (it's one of the reasons we don't wear prints very often!:) )

 

But the truth is, they DO, size each other up.....as much as the women in the fashion industry. DH is an IT person in the financial field and knows alot of Wall Streeters (brokers, traders, hedge fund investors, risk managment specialists) and so I've been in their company alot. I can remember going to a holiday party one year given by a financial institution and looking at the women's handbags.....lots of Chanel, Dior, as well as very nice "no obvious name" brands etc. No one said anything, but everyone kinda glanced at what others wore in the way that most of us do. One woman had a Chanel knock-off.....ohmygawd....no one said anything..... but the stares could have cut through ice. Trademark infringement and "wanna be" behavior on display really set this woman apart in a negative way.

 

 

I'll grant you that many people who work in finance are high end spenders. But honestly, I would be very surprised if a Wall Street titan took the time to check out who was using Revlon or Chanel in the ladie's room. The wanna be's, well that's another whole ball of wax.

 

That's my whole point about where we differed in opinion. If a women in the fashion biz was in the ladies room using a cheapo drugstore lipstick, another women (if she knew she was in fashion) might look at her and think "hey, she's on the inside and uses this. she might know something that I don't know". Whereas the Wall Street $500,000+. a year woman see's another women using a drugstore lipstick and might think "too bad she can't afford the good stuff". The Titans care more about the status symbols than the fashion/beauty "insiders". Us insiders want to know the newest and we tend to be ahead of the pack. The Wall Streeters don't want to be, they want the known names that are easily recognized. They're the ones that need the "security" of wearing a known entity. They want an Armani suit, not one from a "new & upcoming" designer. And they want the Chanel lipstick not the one made by some unknown dermatologist that only insiders would know.

 

Don't get me wrong, fashion insiders want their Hermes scarves too, but not anymore so than the Wall Streeters.

 

I do have a funny story about "fashion" people for you. I was on a photo shoot with my kids for an Italian fashion magazine called "Grazia". The photog was this wonderful Italian gentleman who my kids had worked for on multiple campaigns for a company in Europe called Next. We were told he wanted to do action" photos on the beaches of South Boston and in alley ways and on the streets. We were asked to bring scooters if the kids had them. We know the streets of Boston and I knew how creative this photog was- he loved spur of the moment changes and would tend to keep shooting if the mood hit him and things were going right. I knew where we were going and I knew we'd be running. Parking is a nightmare. We ended up walking- no running miles that day. The kids were changed into their clothes in vans and behind screens in neighborhoods. Three of us moms had worn "tennies" as the French designer had called them. He and some women laughed and said they "didn't understand American women". They also said this as some women who worked in the financial district walked by with their beautiful suits and sneakers on. Well, by the end of the photo shoot, the women in their gorgeous high heels were sitting on a stoop, resting their worn but stylish feet, lamenting that the heels of their shoes were ruined by the uneven sidewalks. They were also very upset that the silver and gold Dolce and Gabana sneakers the kids wore got scuffed up during the photo shoot. I guess they didn't realize that one shouldn't scooter and run around cobblestone sidewalks and alley ways in $500 sneakers (or expensive high heeled sandals). Sometimes practicality has to win over vanity.

 

Well, any woman that wears high heels to run around with the kids on scooters wasn't thinking clearly. But, IMHO, tennies aren't the answer either. If I were there, I would have been in a pair of chic, rubber soled ballerina flats or loafers. I go to Europe alot and see the Mommies playing with their kids in the park and they're not in high heels or in tennies/gym shoes They're in comfortable flats - lace-ups, skimmers, loafers, etc - which are also fashionable. I don't think you have to sacrafice practicality for fashion. Just my opinion. :)

 

Kids in $500. sneakers....sheesh! :(

[BlueHerons]

Jane - Just curious. Why is black the official color of NYC? :)

 

It doesn't show dirt (many don't have washers and dryers and send their laundry out), it matches everything so you can have less clothing (tiny Manhattan closets), looks edgier, and makes you look thinner.

 

Tres chic.

[MrsMoose2001]

I would like to make a few general comments. Please remember these are just my personal opinions and observations.

 

I personally think there is a difference in the words look/glance and judge.

 

As to why a wall street tycoon may choose an established label such as Armani they probably are so busy doing their "money thing", following the Nikkei, Hang Seng, FTSE, and the Bourse de Paris which all are in different time zones than NYC, they may not have the time or inclination to look for the newest upcoming designer. Their security comes from buying a known label that is well made of high quality a well established label with a good reputation that will wear well so that say as an example the pant seat seam won't tear when sitting down to an important meeting.

 

The person on wall street may also not have the luxury of dressing in the trendiest fashion.

 

Now on the other hand a person in the fashion business will probably want to look as trendy as possible, it may even be part of their job description to scope out new desingers and dress as trendy as they possibly can. They already know where to look and how to spot it.

 

Doesn't mean that both types don't like nice things, just a matter of how or what they choose and for what reason. Neither is right or wrong.

 

Now Jane, I'm sure your DH will agree with me since as you say, he is a major player on Wall Street, that one of the biggest tycoons, Warren Buffet, is probably not going to make it a point to search out the latest Dolce and Gabanna or Armani suit, he may not even care about fashion as Warren Buffet still lives in the same house he purchased for 35 thousand dollars. But I believe his charity contribution to the Bill Gates Foundation was 35 million or something along those lines.

 

Neither is a judgement it's just why some people choose certain items. Neither is wrong or right in my opinion.

 

Also, NYC has a lot of very visible wealth. By this I mean by the amount of limos that are seen around town and the very high end stores on Madison Avenue upwards of 59th Street.

For the most part, I think that the people who are in that league, don't really care or look or judge what the average Mr./Mrs. Doe may be wearing if they don't know her/him, why would they care, they can have and most probably do have it all or if not all, than more than say the average person. They may look and notice and even judge if it's a close friend, but not a total stranger. They probably don't even give that person a second glance or thought. That is also my personal opinion.

 

Now if going to a private party then I would think for the most part the people at that private party/event are all from similar financial and social backgrounds, so yes, maybe then a judgement might be made if someone "doesn't measure up" because they will obviously be wondering why. But I also don't feel that is something unique to NYC, that can happen anywhere.

 

Of course we are not mind readers and we don't know what is going through someone elses head.

 

I also see a difference. As Jane says a fashion insider might look at a lipstick to see if they "are missing something new", that is not judgement that is curiosity and caring as they may want one as well at least that's how I veiw it. A person who doesn't care about finding the latest lipstick probably won't look - neither is a judgement, and nieither is wrong. Judgement to me is if someone thinks a person is inferior or has less clout or status because they are wearing a drug store lipstick vs say Chanel. Again just my opinion, but maybe the person just likes that color or the way it feels or wears but I doubt anyone on wall street would consier a lipstick as measure of a person's wealth or success at least not in my opinion. I have a friend who dresses in clothing from Wal-Mart and buys Chanel lipstick. Just my opinion again.

 

I think Jane you would also agree with me that NYers are very gracious and would never make anyone feel badly about what they wear or that they don't fit in. They may fight for a taxi, but they will not make tourists or strangers feel badly about themselves.

 

And let's face it NYC is such a crowded busy place with people always rushing to get somewhere, I doubt very much the average person on the street is even noticed.

 

So I think no one should be intimiated by going to NYC and a brodway show and yes, I do think that the NYC look as I call it can be achieved on just about any budget.

 

As for $500 sneakers for kids, nothing surpirses me anymore. Louis Vuitton sells doggie carrying cases. Burberry sells doggie coats, and yes people buy them, so why not $500 sneakers for kiddies. (No offense to doggies I love doggies and I think they deserve to be warm and nice looking too if it's affordable to the person).

[Jane110]

MrsMoose,

 

Well said and I agree. I was really taking issue with the comment that a woman who's smart enough to be successful on Wall Street wouldn't be so shallow as to care about make-up. Sort of says to me that if you work on Wall Street you're doing important work and if you work in the fashion industry, you're not. I just don't happen to agree with that. My point was only to infer that if one feels that caring about fashion and make-up makes one shallow then the Wall Street people are just as "guilty". It honestly doesn't matter to me, nor does it offend me if something thinks thats it's shallow. I just don't see people who are involved with making money by investing money as any smarter or less shallow than those who are involved with making money by creating make-up or clothing.

Josie Natori comes to mind for me. She left a very successful Wall Street career to become a lingerie designer. Both careers have made her millions, but I don't think one was more "important" work than the other. Again, just my opinion.

 

You're absolutely right that often Wall Street people can't wear unknown designers and/or don't have the time or interest in investigating the latest. Also for their office attire, they can't go out on a limb with style the way that people in more creative fields can. And yes, it's alot easier to go out and buy an Armani and a pair of Manolo's than to shop the stores, try on unknown designers and keep up with trends when you're working long workdays. A friend of mine who is a writer about finances dresses much differently when she meets the brokers & bankers she's writing about than when she meets with her publisher.

 

And I definitely agree with you that no one should be intimated to come to NYC. We have the best AND the worst dressed here and everything in-between! :)

[BlueHerons]

Now Jane, I'm sure your DH will agree with me since as you say, he is a major player on Wall Street, that one of the biggest tycoons, Warren Buffet, is probably not going to make it a point to search out the latest Dolce and Gabanna or Armani suit, he may not even care about fashion as Warren Buffet still lives in the same house he purchased for 35 thousand dollars. But I believe his charity contribution to the Bill Gates Foundation was 35 million or something along those lines.

 

It was 30.75 billion as he pledged the majority of his wealth.

 

Also, NYC has a lot of very visible wealth. By this I mean by the amount of limos that are seen around town and the very high end stores on Madison Avenue upwards of 59th Street.

 

Now if going to a private party then I would think for the most part the people at that private party/event are all from similar financial and social backgrounds, so yes, maybe then a judgement might be made

 

 

NYC does have a lot of visible wealth which makes for fabulous people watching! One of my favorite things to do used to be watch everyone coming and going to private black tie affairs at The Rainbow Room while sipping cocktails in the Rainbow Grille.

[MrsMoose2001]

Blue, thank you, I knew my numbers were off but I was too lazy to go look it up. :)

 

I hope you are feeling better and will have a good time in NYC and do fantastic in the marathon. Safe, healthy, happy travles.

 

Jane, I'm glad you understood my meaning, and I agree that it takes smarts and brains to be successful regardless of what that business is about. Just as you say Josie Natori is/was successful in both worlds, fashion and wall street because she is a smart woman.

 

I think there is also a difference in the meaning of the word "shallow" and "to care about fashion". I think that if someone loves fashion, cares about their appearance, that does not mean shallow, The word in itself has a meaning of "no depth" as in "shallow water". Just as I see a difference in the words "look/glance and judge". Just my opinon and thoughts.

 

Just because someone cares about fashion doesn't make them shallow automatically. At least that is my opinion.

 

This is a fashion board, we come to talk about fashion, discuss trends, makeup etc, because we care about it, that doesn't mean I would say that is shallow. Very obviously NOT SHALLOW, with the display of compassion and out pouring of support the ladies have shown for those going through hard times/rough patches.

 

Anyone from any profession can be shallow IMO it's unfortunate that the "fashion biz" gets singled out and generalizations are made.