Branding on all levels has diluted and killed style. Everyone is a "brand" — the stars, the designers, the stylists, the magazines, the limos, the hairdressers and makeup people, the lawyers, the agents. And everyone looks homogenized. Not even a porn-directed ad can gain you favor. Nothing looks all that novel. Then again many of us have "seen it all." Or so it feels. Even the high end hookers or "escorts" get old and tired and end up looking like a regular Long Island (NOT even a Bravo TV version) housewife. As I said ... you have to look to the South American "girls" to get the real cutting edge. Who can keep up.
![]() | ![]() | | Clockwise from top left: a vest from Scoop, a cashmere sweater from J.Crew, a Galo boot. | ![]() | | Jane Birkin with her original "Birkin." | ![]() ![]() |
This all leaves me and many of my "stylish" New York City gal pals in the dust. I did a poll and most of my NYC friends never look at fashion mags anymore (unless at the manicurist or doctor’s office) and they ignore all of the Fashion Week reports. But make no mistake ... they are not bag ladies. They are still in there pitching visually, and they still like to shop (as sport) and "check it all out."
Most all of them told me they are not buying as much as they used to although every one of them just started to shop this week. They buy "modestly and classically" ... $125 (standard price range) "pieces"; a vest from Scoop, a cashmere sweater or skirt from J.Crew, the high/low hoodie or jacket from Zara, maybe a "sensible interesting" Galo boot, and always a decent walking, if not "running," shoe (no one could give a vote to Louboutin since everyone seems to suffer from heel spurs and Plantar fasciitis).
All of them have kept their their "good stuff" from years ago and some will spring at a few quality vintage stores. Jewelry and bags can even be gotten on "the street”! But again leave it to The South American brigade to spring $31,000 for that hot pink Birkin bag. Now all of my "tasty" New Yorkers insist they are not ready to go gently into style's goodnight of "sad sack."
They want to look and feel good in their own way (Iris Apfel excluded here). But they can't stay current or even care to in today's fashion frenzy. As writer Gay Talese said about his own fashion sense: "People dress up for funerals. Why not dress up to celebrate YOU are still alive?"
These women agree. My 70-year-old astrologer friend Elizabeth Karaman explained it this way; "Look, we are all dressing to survive and prevail and look decent. We may not have the legs or cash or grand places to go like we once did but we still want to look attractive and we all like the actual diversion of shopping. To say it doesn't matter is dishonest. In New York City you are seen constantly. We all live on the street for better or worse. It all matters."
"A huge change is coming in The Fall. The economy and the election will have a huge effect on people's clothing. Heels and hemlines will really come down much lower ... wait and see."
Every one of these ladies mourns the passing of any real quality "Stylista" (not today's horrid versions called "fashionistas") who had the guts and the glamour in their very own DNA to show us how it is all done. Although designer Zandra Rhodes recently said, "It's not so much about your clothes. You must own your own personality. That and jewelry will conquer anything." Agreed.
Then we have Karl Lagerfeld weighing in with “There is so much nonsense about fashion. People buy clothes because they want to look good. Not for any deep psychological needs."
Then why do so many women look so awful? Many buy clothes that are so age inappropriate to stay desperately "on trend" and what is "on trend"? Looking like Gaga or porn stars or at best "lesbian chic" (a rising understated "classy" visual all their own)? Maybe we should quickly get some "deep psychological needs.”
When I was in New York last June, I kept seeing women at 8 AM walking down the street wearing sleeveless mini length cocktail dresses (baring fleshy upper arms and a "fresh set" of over-the-hill-boobs) with hems too short, heels too high and looking like they were auditioning for a Fox News Anchor position or a weather girl. Is everyone becoming "Girls Gone Wild"? What would Babe Paley say? What happened here?
So in the end I turn to dear Diana Vreeland (don't miss the new documentary on her, "The Eyes Love to Travel") to say it like it is: "Style is everything. It helps you get up in the morning. It helps you get down the stairs. It's a way of life. Without it — you're nobody."
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