I’m kind of tired of reading articles in fashion magazines talking about “fashion on a budget” when really there is no budget involved. Perhaps cutting back to two pairs of Louboutins instead of three or the smaller Chloe clutch as opposed to the Chanel lambskin tote is really cinching the belt to some privileged few, but seriously, do we need to read that? I have been an avid subscriber to fashion magazines for many many years (does anybody remember Sassy and Mademoiselle?) and lately have been tempted to just throw my magazine in the recycle bin rather than torture myself with all the goodies that I don’t have the money to buy. I can’t do it. I can’t throw it away. If you love fashion you know what I mean.
These magazines a perpetuating the idea that any fashion conscience woman will be able to identify and mimic the lifestyles of the wealthy few. I for one am incapable of competing with this logic. I cannot afford one pair of Manolo Blahnik’s (even on clearance) let alone copy the daily shopping habits (budget or not) of those displayed in the magazines. It makes me feel inferior about my own clothes, my job (or lack thereof), my hair and my overall person. That great feeling that I once had when I opened my new magazine is tinged with a sense of mediocrity within my own self. I find that I am depressed when I read that other women can still go out and shop enthusiastically while I have to avoid the mall at all costs.
These women may be living on a budget within their own highly unrealistic world but that is not real life. I think it is irresponsible of these magazines to flaunt the shopping habits of the rich and famous when most of us can barely scrounge up enough money to pay the house payment. Couldn’t magazines be sensitive to the needs of their readers and offer advice on how to dress stylishly on the average person’s budget? It’s frustrating when a magazine is advertising two different coats with one at $2,600 and the other at a steal of a price (you know for us financially challenged consumers) at $795. Can you afford $795 for a new fall coat? I certainly can’t and I’m willing to bet 95% of the popoulation agrees with me on this one. Fashion magazines may be up on all of the trends within the world of fashion, but wouldn’t it be nice for them to pay attention to what is happening to their readers financially and let that dictate how they present that material to their readers? Let’s get real.
Ginger Knows is my personal blog. The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not that of my company, my employees or my kids :)
I would like to see the $795 coat as the model with the $59 coat as the steal. I agree, I would bet the demographics of the magazines do not support the products they are selling. I love my chanel and chloe just as much the next girl, but I am tired of reading magazine that don’t provide real world alternatives. Can’t wait to see your fashion posts
Basically the goal of magazine is to write feature stories on lifestyle weather it is travel, shopping, celebrity gossip and so on. It paints the picture of a lifestyle ‘we’ all wish to aspire to. However, most of us forget that they are marketers!
Fashion lines rely on the magazine to market their clothing. If you want to know what I mean check out the movie The September Issue where Anna Wintour is in a close meeting with the top designers, retailers, publicist and etc. One high end department store asked her to make sure that designers meet their shipping dates. Whoa! We were stunned that she had that type of control! (Sorry I am digressing)
So, the Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour, influences what we buy, when it is shipped and I believe how much we begin to covet those things that we can NEVER afford to buy.
So it is all propaganda. If you believe that you are getting a steal then you will spend $795 on a coat that is remarkable similar to the über costly $2,600 one. You will go without food; you will pay only half of your light, cable and phone bills to subsidize your new purchase.
Think how many women (and men) are currently in debt because they want to look good? They would spend ‘x’ amount of dollars to keep up to the lie they present to the world. I for one am not immune; however, like most I cannot even afford a $295 coat more-or-less a $795 or even a $2,600 (which is significantly more than my rent!) Plus, I do believe that the fashion magazines and the credit card companies are in cahoots.
God, sometimes I wish I could be famous and get paid to show off those lovely clothes. That would be the life. Of course then I would need the personal chef, trainer, stylist…..etc. sigh!
Chloe you need a photo!!!!!!!!!!!