A few weeks back, we went to a weekend party with about 60 other people. This was an excellent opportunity to check out clothes/outfits/style. Sometimes, when I'm ruing the emptiness of my wardrobe, I wish I had lots of money to spend (conveniently forgetting how much I hate shopping). While at the party, I spent time with two women who can spend just about anything they want (on anything they like). It was interesting.
Number 1 is a tall, skinny (not slim, skinny), leggy, patrician blonde, born to money. She is always immaculate, with tasteful makeup (always pink gloss, never lipstick), tasteful Botox (oxymoron?) and perfect hair. Her style is too preppy (even a little boring) for me - but it suits her and she wears it well. I didn't like the Prada handbag - too ostentatious for mine (not that I could afford one even if I sold my children).
Number 2 is a smart, attractive dark-haired woman who is very successful in her own right (in fact, she is a minor celebrity here) and also married to a very wealthy man. She has just as much (probably more) to spend as Number 1. But she doesn't seem to care as much. She tends to look rather 'thrown' together, occasionally even slightly sloppy, and she freely fesses up to this. Sometimes she is dressed by a stylist - when this happens, she is a knockout.
Conclusion? I'm not sure - I'm still thinking about it ...
The stark(ers) reality of older bodies
1 day ago
2 comments:
I have a few friends whose husbands are doctors (specialists) or dentists and, while they're not at the level you're talking about, the gap between us is sometimes noticeable -- not in clothes, as they're not so interested in the higher-end, but in vacations and other leisure activities. There have been times throughout our friendships when I've found the gap difficult, especially during the more financially-challenging years when the kids were still home. Then I try to imagine what it's like for single moms or for minimum-wage two-parent families, the working poor, to whom our income must seem enviable.
It used to bother me a lot more than it does now - so they have bigger houses and better cars and trips to Europe every year ... But I'm sure their kids don't give them any more joy than mine give me, and - although it's a cliche - maybe you appreciate things more if you have to strive and save for them. And you are so right - there is always someone better off and always someone MUCH worse off. It's that gratitude thing!
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