Open house attire/conspicuous consumption

[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.

Stereotype much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

No one is “signaling” anything. This is the crowd you have chosen.

This. If you're seeing current parents, at least, no one is signaling, they are literally just getting dressed. Wealthy people own nice things. Whether they are flashy or not will depend on personal style. Some of the most un-flashy outfits are still really nice. Like that simple sweater might just look "nice," but it's 100% baby cashmere by Loro Piana or something. Or it's athleisure b/c they're on the way to play tennis or something. Again, if it's current parents at a wealthy school, that's just...what they wear.

[Anonymous]

It's a private school where people have lots of money OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

literally, Chanel flats are back in and trending.

+100 Funny that the PP thinks they are so up on trends (yes, chunky loafers are on trend) yet misses that Chanel flats are 100% absolutely “in.” The knock offs are everywhere all of a sudden too.

[Anonymous]

As long as nobody shows up in a chopper, not worth thinking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I swear this is a real question and I’m not trying to stir the pot! This week, I saw multiple moms wearing $10k+ worth of accessories I. Think Chanel shoes + Gucci bag + identifiable designer jewelry, all on the same person.

For what it’s worth, DH and I went to private school (not in DC). I went to an Ivy. Our HHI is seven figures. We have some friends who are extremely high net worth. It’s not like I’ve never met a wealthy person. But I’ve never seen people dress like this.

My kid attends a big 3 and I don’t know a thing about jewelry, let alone “identifiable designer jewelry.” Not all of us are high maintenance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1
Kids in private schools for over a decade, almost 2. I always show up in my uniform - Brooksbrother work wear and Cole Hann comfort pumps. Seriously, I couldn't care less about what others wear. Actually, I don't really notice.

[Anonymous]

When I went to open houses, I wore what I typically wear to work. I work in tech, so it was usually a nice paid off jeans, nice sneakers or maybe boots, and a nice shirt. Nothing designer or particularly expensive. And maybe it was just me, but I also wasn't checking for what others were wearing. I couldn't recall one thing about someone else's outfit, and find it a tad creepy that people are sizing other parents up like that. What I do remember is the two parents who fought with each other (loudly) in the waiting area and the ones who had completely out of control kids (like the kid who jumped onto the table and screamed into microphone he shouldn't have touched during the tour).

[Anonymous]

* I meant "a nice pair of jeans"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Extremely wealthy people show up dressed like bums and I like that.

Nah, sometimes we show up as bums, when I've been bumming around. Sometimes I show up in business attire. And sometimes I show up in a smart casual outfit. It really depends on what I was doing before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

literally, Chanel flats are back in and trending.

+100 Funny that the PP thinks they are so up on trends (yes, chunky loafers are on trend) yet misses that Chanel flats are 100% absolutely “in.” The knock offs are everywhere all of a sudden too.

Chunky loafers seem to be moving out of fashion because I’m starting to see the on sale deeply discounted.

[Anonymous]

I wear my Cartier love bracelet with Amazon leggings some days and other days I wear Chanel flats. YOLO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wear my Cartier love bracelet with Amazon leggings some days and other days I wear Chanel flats. YOLO.

You hear that everyone? YOLO. So you need to make sure you wear those cheap leggings with a basic-signaling bracelet now! And the next day wear some Chanel flats. I mean -- YOLO!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wear my Cartier love bracelet with Amazon leggings some days and other days I wear Chanel flats. YOLO.

You hear that everyone? YOLO. So you need to make sure you wear those cheap leggings with a basic-signaling bracelet now! And the next day wear some Chanel flats. I mean -- YOLO!!

DP. What's your deal? Why are you so reactive to someone wearing what they want to wear?

[Anonymous]

Ballet flats are super in this fall. Chunky loafers are out. They were last winter.

Even I know this--49 year old mom who follows a dozen or so influencers on Instagram.