It's a bit difficult to find inspiration in my materialistic instincts when the economy is as depressed as Death Valley. The financial giants keep toppling one by one, and even though my income has not directly taken a hit, it can seem a bit trivial to talk about the latest $2000 Mongolian lamb vest that reminds you of Mary-Kate Olsen or the Alpaca car coat that only makes you look more expensive, but in fact causes you to go broke. Yes, it's a recession, and the media has been shooting overtime as if to compensate for the pin-drop stillness as everyone holds their breath for what might collapse next. I've compiled some ideas that I have been reading in the news to cope with the times and of course, adding my own spin. Take what advice you will, but it's likely a combo of 6 and 7 that is going to be my recession happy meal.
1) Buy packaged foods, like cereals or ramen. You thought you had left your college days behind, but if you live in New York, look on the bright side, you're not slipping so far down the totem pole, your apartment is smaller than your dorm ever was. That means that low-carb diet will have to go out the door. Or even better, turn vegetarian. You can be green and save your deniros at the same time.
2) Just because it's a recession doesn't mean you should skimp on the gloss. Beauty products, such as lip gloss, are like retail therapy lollipops, sweet but you won't hate yourself in the morning. Even if you can't afford a Dior bag, you can deliberately pull out your Dior gloss with its shiny logo and slather on multiple applications, slowly.
3) Don't buy anything. Good god, are we supposed to save? I'm not sure I'm familiar with that word. Next.
4) Buy basics. Now this doesn't mean we all have to turn into American Apparel devotees, I think there are enough of them out there as is, e.g. Williamsburg, LES, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Amsterdam, Milano, Saskatchewan, Malmö, Busan...... Unlike those financial behemoths, you can smartly diversify your portfolio with online sales at Gilt Groupe or even Wal-mart. For those unwilling to change their fashionista ways,
Target is a soothing alternative. If a store can be pronounced with a French accent it must be okay.
5) Take on a second job. You mean sitting outside American Apparel in the LES isn't enough?
6) Buy black. This is the route that I have been taking. You can't go wrong with black and the designers have already cued in for Fall for this trend. Even if it's a peacock feathered 5-inch platform bootie with a cut-out toe, it's a classic.
7) Absinthe. Like bouillabaisse and Target, the French know a thing or two about coping with rough environs. Besides, absinthe is legal and Sasha Petraske of
Milk & Honey fame has a new absinthe bar called
White Star. It's only appropriate to take advantage of the mind-numbing times with a bit of body-numbing fun.
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