THE FUTURE OF ADVERTISING

Chanel Long Necklace, Fall/Winter 2010/11

This week over at Human Events I'm writing about the future of advertising... 

"We Americans have long been passionate about our purchases, but we now blur the line between owning and being (just try asking your friends whether they're a Mac or a PC). With the new identity shopping, the monologue form of advertising has ended; ads are now a conversation between the company and the acquirer. Gone are the days when we purchased items simply because they were appealing, useful, or well-made..."

A fake copy of the Chanel Long Necklace.

Our "wardrobes these days are fabric billboards. Our jeans have leather name patches, our shoes have logo-imprinted soles, and our buttons have carefully etched designer names so tiny that attempting to read them can provoke a sexual harassment suit. Gone are the days when companies paid big bucks to paint "See Rock City" or "Burma Shave" on farmers' barns. Nowadays, we are the ones who pay bale-sized amounts for the privilege of wearing branded togs."

An inexpensive imitation at Forever 21.

But what happens when everything is branded? When all is logo-ed and labeled? Even non-luxury products are competing to win customer loyalty for their $20 and $30 creations. These days, coming out of a strip mall with any unbranded product is almost a victory. At the same time, brands have become a short-hand for taste. It's as if we no longer need to be able to discern quality, or create a unique style: just buy a famous brand.

You can read the full article here.

Images, Chanel, Forever21, and a forger.

THE UNREAL D.C. HOUSEWIVES

I was raised, like any proper Southern girl, on Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Guide to Etiquette. Back in its earlier editions, Amy was less concerned with subjects like achieving "family harmony" and instead provided useful information on living the grand life (and when and where to employ those white gloves). I especially loved the section on how to visit the White House, including dress, behavior, and how to appropriately respond to that coveted cream and gold invitation. Miss Amy, naturally, assumed there would BE an invitation, and in that respect failed to anticipate the modern style of "crashing," or, indeed, anything else remotely associated with the TV show the Real Housewives of D.C.

The Real Housewives of D.C. in the Square Office.

Today over at Human Events, I'm writing about the phenomenon of the D.C. Housewives, and how far they are from the "real" D.C. I think Amy would approve.
Please click here to read!

Images, invitation via Custodians of History, Housewives via Bravo network.

WHY DON'T WE LABOR ON LABOR DAY?

Happy Labor Day! I hope none of you are actually laboring, because aside from being Labor Day, today is Opposite Day too, so that means you shouldn't work.

Which is how most people celebrate.

Why?

My article this week for Human Events is a history of Labor Day, from President Cleveland to communism - and how one novel changed the way we work. You can read it HERE.

In the meantime, here's my ideal holiday spot: a suspended cabana in Maui. Relax much?

STUFFISM IS IN

(A few of former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos' nearly 3,000 pairs of shoes. She would have had to change shoes three times a day for two and a half years to wear them all - but American celebrities are giving her a run for her money.)

Today I have a column out on American's obsession with stuff. I didn't bother to ask if we ARE obsessed with stuff (this very blog is proof positive), but it remains to be seen if we can buy happiness too. Is it OK to have copious amounts of stuff, as long as you take care of it, use it, or derive happiness from it? How much is too much? 

Below, a few clebrities lead the pack in conspicuous consumption, posing next to their shoe trophies.

Mariah Carey

Christina Aguilera

Miley Cyrus

Nicky Hilton

50 Cent

Images: Marcos: manilagateway.com. Christina Aguilera: home-design-network.ning.com. Mariah Carey: pumpsicle.com. Miley Cyrus: decorpad.com. Nicky Hilton: fashionolic.blogspot.com. 50 Cent: celebrity-shoes.com

WHY DO WE WATCH?

Americans are mad about Mad Men - it's slick, chic, and darn fun to watch. But as I plowed through episode after episode (yep, I finally watched it!), I began to wonder:  why do we all love this show? As beautiful as it is visually, it can be tough to watch - sexism is alive and well in the imaginary 1960s. I try to answer that question in my latest article here, at Human Events.

BONUS:  the Mad Men website has a special fashion section!