Open house attire/conspicuous consumption

[Anonymous]

We’ve attended a few open houses and tours lately. This is our first experience with DC private schools.

Many of the other moms are wearing conspicuous designer items. I’ve seen more Chanel flats, Gucci bags, Van Cleef bracelets/necklaces, Hermes belts, and Cartier love bracelets in the past few weeks than I’ve ever seen in my life.

Is this typical for these types of parents, or are they just dressing like this for the open houses to signal wealth and status?

[Anonymous]

Probably the latter, they probably rented Chanel flats to wear to the open house to signal wealth. It’s like how birds dance for each other.

JK they just have rich people stuff because they’re rich people. These are private schools, wtf do you want.

[Anonymous]

Do you know how popular those love bracelets are? I'd find it weird if you didn't see a lot of them at a private school open house. Same with regard to the other things you mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Op rich people send their kids to private schools. Rich people can afford expensive things. Many of them will wear them. If you don’t like it, don’t send your kid to a private school.

[Anonymous]

They are rich! I doubt they are « flaunting » anything.

[Anonymous]

Ballet flats aren't really in anymore. Chunky Gucci loafers are where it's at these days.

[Anonymous]

Yes, typical. On many levels.

[Anonymous]

What's more interesting to me is that it's always the same uniform. I find that sad. I've lived in a few capital cities around the world, and there's a type to these upper middle class or wealthy families, with a few local variations, but the most notable is the stifling and uncreative way they dress and behave.

The question is how much you need to look like that to fit in. If you're socially insecure, you're going to want to make your appearance speak for itself. If you have more confidence and personality, you can let that shine and parlay your way into those groups without looking quite like them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ballet flats aren't really in anymore. Chunky Gucci loafers are where it's at these days.

These circles are NOT fashionable, PP. The things OP describes are conservatism at its finest. It has nothing to do with political affiliation, BTW. It's the conservatism exhibited by people who have arrived to a certain social status and whose goals are to preserve those advantages, either for life, or while they look for another circle in which to hoist themselves. It's the opposite of taking risks, so naturally it's never going to be trendy.

[Anonymous]

Went to one Open House years ago and scratched the school off our list because Infelt like we had nothing in common with anyone due to this situation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ballet flats aren't really in anymore. Chunky Gucci loafers are where it's at these days.

These circles are NOT fashionable, PP. The things OP describes are conservatism at its finest. It has nothing to do with political affiliation, BTW. It's the conservatism exhibited by people who have arrived to a certain social status and whose goals are to preserve those advantages, either for life, or while they look for another circle in which to hoist themselves. It's the opposite of taking risks, so naturally it's never going to be trendy.

I think I’d rather them than you though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve attended a few open houses and tours lately. This is our first experience with DC private schools.

Many of the other moms are wearing conspicuous designer items. I’ve seen more Chanel flats, Gucci bags, Van Cleef bracelets/necklaces, Hermes belts, and Cartier love bracelets in the past few weeks than I’ve ever seen in my life.

Is this typical for these types of parents, or are they just dressing like this for the open houses to signal wealth and status?

“If you’re seeing it, it’s for you.”

Honestly OP, I wouldn’t recognize a single item you listed.

[Anonymous]

I don't wear these things. I wear things I love, or things that are clean when the laundry piles up, or things that fit... I have more money than they probably think I have. I probably don't have as much money as them though. Or maybe I do? Whatever. who cares?

[Anonymous]

It’s sort of funny. DCUM spends so much time telling you “real” rich people don’t wear expensive brands or drive expensive cars. It must be jarring to have that narrative so throughly rebuked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ballet flats aren't really in anymore. Chunky Gucci loafers are where it's at these days.

These circles are NOT fashionable, PP. The things OP describes are conservatism at its finest. It has nothing to do with political affiliation, BTW. It's the conservatism exhibited by people who have arrived to a certain social status and whose goals are to preserve those advantages, either for life, or while they look for another circle in which to hoist themselves. It's the opposite of taking risks, so naturally it's never going to be trendy.

I think I’d rather them than you though.

I wonder why you feel threatened.