Sometimes, you mutineers will see a story which you practically demand we post. After New York Magazine’s “The Look Book†slyly dissed and dismissed a brownie who works in Private Equity who emphasized,
“I love to consume. Consuming is my specialty.”
…some of you started screeching louder than the Howler monkeys in the bunker—and that’s saying a LOT.
Natasha Mitra (r) was interviewed by Amy Larocca and though I was also left smirking at the catty aftermath, I immediately heard the diminutive angel on my shoulder remind me that we don’t know how many questions were asked and then not included, whether Mitra’s words were edited to paint her a certain way, etc.
Having typed that, if my little sister sounded like this, I’d beat her with my red Ferragamo loafer. Not that there’s anything wrong with…sounding…like…this. 😉
Such big accessories!
My bag was a really special purchase. I work with this woman at Louis Vuitton—she picks things out for me, sends pictures, and tells me to pick what I like. She called one day and was like, “I picked a bag for you, and I’m sending it to your house because I know you’re going to love it.†I think it’s called the Stratus.
How old are you?
I’m 26.
Was the bag expensive?
Yes—about $3,500. I guess a lot of craftsmanship goes into it. Accessories for me are the key. I have about twenty bags, and I don’t know how many shoes. But they’re Vuitton, they’re Versace, they’re Gucci, and they’re Dior.
And your sunglasses?
They’re D&G. I was really excited to find them. They’re wild and crazy and different.
What do you do for a living?
I work in private equity. I love the sector that I work in, which is the consumer and retail group. It’s an area that I’m passionate about. I love to consume. Consuming is my specialty.
You picked the right career.
I’m going to Harvard Business School in September. Moving is definitely going to be the most difficult part of the experience.
Thoughts? After reading some of your emails, I’m tempted to respond with a “Tell us what you REALLY think”, but I’m certain you will already do that. I also look forward to the inevitable, “I know her, and, and–” which will appear below at some point. TWO DEGREES of separation, people. The fact that we couldn’t prove it with two random desi models doesn’t mean the theory is invalid, aight?
::
Because one of you who should know better shamelessly suggested it AND because I already received one vague piece of hate mail which mindlessly accused me of hypocritically not putting myself out there for dissection the way I heartlessly did to Miss Mitra above, feel free to ponder my homage to Natasha, below.
Vintage Gucci sunglasses: $45
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote: $32
Mongram: $5
Not being a slave to fashion: priceless. 😉
There are some things money can’t buy (like good taste and shame– I would know, I can’t find any of the latter to purchase). For everything else at Tyson’s Galleria/Corner, there’s MasterCard.
Depends on what you mean by expensive, I suppose. 🙂
True. I can’t quantify it, but $3,500 is too much for something will hold same items as a purse from Walmart minus fashion statement.
“We have JUST AS MUCH fug here too”
Bring it Anna? Here in La La Land, we can fug the heck out fashionistas anywhere.
And thanks for pointing out the “jealously” statement. Had this been a mimbo (male bimbo) everyone would have kudos-ed him for his LV sack as the anti-statement to fashion.
I’m fairly sure I will, actually.
You see, once my future ex-husband finds out that I spent $10,000 on a Kelly, I’m certain he’ll send my spendthrift ass packing and if he’s in a kind mood, he’ll give me that much before he tells me to go fug myself for blowing baby’s college fund on pebbled leather and a padlock. Can’t say that I blame him. Whoever he is. Not that he necessarily exists…I mean, who knows, I may remain single…and if I do, I will feel a hell of a lot less guilty while spending Natasha Mitra-like sums on extravagant accessories. Who’s hatin’?? Not meeee! 😀
@98
Just to be clear, high overhead is not a horrible thing if it gets the job done.
Anna- I’m thrilled about the cufflink resurgence for men. Hope it catches on with women too.
thank goodness for this thread.
evil friend makes 200k. spends money on only high end stuff… her kids even dress in CK and RL. but the stuff she gets looks so bizarre.
i’m 33. i make less than most people my age and feel embrassed about shopping at forever 21. but damn, at least, their cheap stuff looks good on me.
ooo girl, you need some H&M up in there!
Runa, I’m all about the fake designer. I have a couple of fake designer pieces that get compliments all the time and I freely admit (with a little cheeky pride) that they are fake. There was an article in Bazaar a couple of months ago about why you shouldn’t buy fake designer duds, trying to make an ethical argument against them, which I thought was rather self-serving of the fashion industry. A lot of fake designer pieces are quite well made, too.
I would never buy that hideous bag, but on the other hand, I would never hire a personal shopper. What’s the point of having good style if someone else had it on your behalf? You can’t even take credit for it. But, it’s her money and she can spend it as she likes. That versus a Birkin bag–it’s only a matter of taste, and taste really is subjective.
You know, unfortunately in New York, she is NOT that unique. Even though that is a super-expensive bag, the brown girls who live and work in NYC are making that kind of dough to spend on these bags, and chances are they came from backgrounds where they were receiving gifts like this for their sweet 16 or for making the honor roll. Sad, but true!
I think the difference between Carrie Bradshaw and a lot of other girls who think they are trying to be her or emulate her with bold accessories and fashion, is that Carrie didnt’ wear something necessarily b/c it was a brand name or label. She really was in love with fashion and style. Case in point, her ‘ghetto gold’ name necklace that she said costs practically nothing but means something special to her. It must have been like $15 bucks. I dont’ think some of these girls are mixing high and low end pieces OR would wear these bold accessories if they were NOT brand name.
If you asked Ms. Mitra to sport that same knock-off version bag and $15 version of these sunglasses from Urban, she would not, I bet. She’s in that majority that thinks, “Well, it’s LV, so it must be fashionable!”
More power to her if I am wrong and she is wearing these things to reflect her taste and not her wallet. But if not, then there is merit in the notion that a consumer is a slave to a certain label, regardless of whether they create something aesthetically pleasing or not, but rather this consumer is just buying something to illicit envy or validation from others.
Obviously this young woman has little to no taste, exemplified not only by
a) the fugly bag, but b) expounding on her crass consumerism in this article – tacky, and c) spending whatever brains she has moving money around, making some for herself, and displaying all the leming-like tendencies of the unintellectual Indian rabble (whether in America, India or elsewhere) in terms of being fixated on making as much money as possible and begging for validation (men and women, cars, bags, shoes, clothes, you name it…)
Not terribly shocking, she seems to be a product of her environment. I love beautiful things and have beautiful things, but value more than anything my good taste in all respects — which can’t be bought.
I should clarify that my fake designer stuff doesn’t have the real designer name plastered all over them, or even an obvious label, which would be more tacky. They are just reminescent of classic pieces from designer collections.
Obviously this young woman has little to no taste, exemplified not only by
a) the fugly bag, but b) expounding on her crass consumerism in this article – tacky, and c) spending whatever brains she has moving money around, making some for herself, and displaying all the lemming-like tendencies of the unintellectual Indian rabble (whether in America, India or elsewhere) in terms of being fixated on making as much money as possible and begging for validation (men and women, cars, bags, shoes, clothes, you name it…)
Not terribly shocking, she seems to be a product of her environment. I love beautiful things and have beautiful things, but value more than anything my good taste in all respects — which can’t be bought.
That is as excellent and over-looked a point in this thread as Scorps1027’s reminder that Carrie wore it no matter the label or the price tag. Ghetto gold, indeed.
Wow, SK. That’s the most lucid description of PE firms that I have ever read. Have you ever thought of starting your own fund?
Well said Scorps my point exactly. She’s not unique to NYC at all and her safe bet is her comfort zone. “If it’s expensive it must be in fashion”. If you sent her blind in a store with everything from high end to low end and took all the lables off she wouldn’t know what to do with herself. Her style is dictated by her wallet and there is nothing wrong with that. It’s what keeps some of us in business. More power to her.
True stylish girls mix it up and have no problem rocking cheap and expensive stuff and pulling it off because in the end the outfit and the accessories and shoes don’t make you, you make them. Well made stuff doesn’t have to say LV or Gucci on it. The same factories that are making the Prada shoes in Italy are also making super cheap stuff that sells for 1/5th the price on the streets of Milan. No difference. The only difference is the label. No lie.
I sincerely hope my future kids (daughter(s) especially) don’t spend like that or have crappy taste like that. Then I would spend their college fund on a vacation house in piedmont, italy. You are on own kids!!!!
Can anyone explain that hairstyle of hers?
SK 109 that’s ridiculously harsh. You made all this assumption based on that bag? And you lumped her with unintellectual Indians and god knows what else. She’s may have bad taste in bags but she is educated and has a respectable job one that doesn’t come to you by bending over. Of course you validated yourself by sticking a “Oh but I have good taste unlike her” at the end of the critique. I had to roll my eyes at that.
It’s one thing to fug out the bag and even her taste for ugly expensive things but some of these comments are just plain haterade. It’s pathetic.
dats a HUUUGE bag. won’t be allowed as a carry-on item on an airplane. the shades, maybe
Also, I dont’ think we should necessarily judge her for the amount she spent on the bag. If she is making 200k, spending 3k on a bag is maybe not ridiculous for her. Just as buying a Range Rover or paying 4k in rent a month wouldnt’ be far-fetched in her world either. And that is her choice. If she is making that kinda money, she has the freedom to do what she wants with her money. You cannot judge people on how they spend their money. I dont’ think that’s fair.
I also don’t think anyone should feel inferior to her because she is making 200k roughly and goign to Harvard Business School come Sept. & only 26. While I think it’s great she’s so young and earning that kind of money, that doenst’ necessarily mean shes’ happier or more ‘together’ than anyone else. But, it’s only not a ‘sin’ that she earns that much at 26, either. More power to her again!
I’m just saying, IMO, because I think that bag is fug, I think spending $50 on that bag is ridiculous. But I’m not the one wearing it or having to look at it. It’s her personal choice and if it makes her feel fab, well then I guess it’s a small price to pay in her world for feeling good.
The issue at hand, I thought, was whether people just spend vast amounts of money on things because they are designer and not based on whether it is attractive and functional. Ms. Mitra thinks it’s quality b/c it’s LV. There are indeed people out there that will buy anything LV because it is LV. It’s not subject to their tastes or approval, it becomes their taste once it’s put out there.
From AB FAB: Patsy Stone (with disgust): “Oh God, Eddy what are you wearing?!” Edina Monsoon (in gold lame and orange track suit): “It’s Lacroix, darling.” Patsy: “It’s fabulous!”
are there any other harvard grad school alums on here? i went to the harvard grad school of education, the mellowest (if that can really be said) of the grad schools at that insane ivory tower of an institution. we non-harvard business school types weren’t allowed to use the harvard business library, the business school gym, or any of their other resort-like facilities. their cafeteria/restaurant, however, does make a mean sunday brunch…
her bag is not so pretty– but then again, who cares?? she likes fashion and consuming, some of us like to find ways to end poverty. whatever makes you happy and doesn’t hurt other people is fine by me.
that being said, that bag was probably made by young children in the motherland who suffer from the harsh effects of child slave-labor and horrible business practices. so BOOO to the ugly bag.
Comment #109: For all the pride you have in so called ‘taste’, let me tell you that your comment with its blind assumptions only spells “I hate her for the money she makes”. Sorry, you don’t come off as a ‘more intellectual Indian (or non-Indian for that matter)”.
ANNA
I agree regarding the cufflinks. May I also suggest that a windsor knotted tie on a woman is quite cool. Mr. Masala bought me a really awesome one with tiny baby blue elephants on it and I wear it with a navy pinstriped suit when I am going to a super-important business thing. It’s actually more comfortable for me to wear a tie than Mr. M because my neck is smaller and it doesn’t constrict me at all.
By financing the retail sector, young Natasha is doing more to better the human condition than Mother Theresa, who–by merely feeding the poor as oppossed to hiring them–could’ve never dreamed of making as big a dent in poverty as our fashionable sister undoubtably is.
This is becoming the socialist-do-gooders-who-hate-on-capitalist-pigs-who-hate-on-socialist-authoritarians smackdown.
Just for “statistical purposes”: a $3500 bag is roughly 25% of the monthly income of someone pulling down $200K; that’s the equivalent of a $50K ‘schlub’ spending about $800 for a bag. Make of that what you will.
I’m not sure how I feel about the blanket statement: “It’s their money, they can do what they want with it.” That is factually and undeniably true, but does it mean that others have no right to criticize what any other person does with his/her assets? Friends once called me a Communist because I was fretting and feeling guilty in a general way about the fact that Latina housekeepers work probably 50 times harder at their jobs than I do at my much-higher-paying desk gig (yes, I’ve taken Econ 101, so please don’t start with the marketplace/Ayn Rand stuff).
I know this is getting beyond the “handbag fug” OP, but I think it’s ok to call people on ethical grounds. If we don’t, where does it end? It’s OK to invest in South Africa or Darfur because “it’s your money.” OK to make “your money” in any field you want, even sweatshops? I’m not comparing Mitra’s work for a PE firm to running a sweatshop, but I do think it’s OK to say, “How many $4000 bags do you own and what percentage of your time/money do you give to ‘making the world a better place.'” Our questioning doesn’t mean anyone is going to change his/her spending behavior, but I also don’t have to subscribe to the “I’m OK, You’re OK…no matter what choices we make” school of thought either. If that makes me a judgemental pig, well then… oink.
SK:
Ummm, the above comments weren’t made by me!
Let this girl buy her bags-no judgements, I collect ceramics obsessively and have been known to spend a little too much on ceramic teapots!
It can be her book bag, once she gets to HBS.
come on people,
fashion is fashion … i personally think the bag is fug & the attitude displayed in the interview makes me question her intelligence …
but in a way i’m like … let her rock the fug bag … we’re questioning her addiction to labels and making that more of the issue … if you think the bag is fug, then you should think that regardless of whether it costs $35 or $3500 … people are honing in on it more b/c of the price (which seems exorbitant compared to our own purchases) … but think about some of the impulsive buys you’ve made … i’m sure it seems ludacris to many people who have less money …
maybe birkin is not her taste regardless of whether she can afford it or not … and not everyone thinks birkins are legendary … i mean its fashion … that’s why i love SATC b/c of the 4 different women & styles that the show had … and no carrie wasn’t the only one into fashion … she was just the main character of the show … i personally loved some of the stuff that samantha & miranda wore …
and whoever said that buying expensive designer labels was only for rich women have never met people who are backed up on rent just so as they could buy that must have item …
like i said … its fashion & supposed to be fun … let’s get off our moral high horses about the cost, materialism, consumerism, blah blah blah
conspicuous consumption is about as American as one can get. I don’t think it says anything about her intelligence level or her committment to social justice or finding fair housing for the intersexed, obese, scheduled caste, developmentally disabled Little Lord Fauntleroy impersonators, but it does mean that she probably is missing out on a lot of social interaction with people who think the constant pursuit of coutoure clothing is a bit silly. Probably, she isn’t losing too much sleep over that.
And before someone calls me on it, that’s meant to be monthly NET income.
Newer comments like Rani’s judge us for judging…but they’re judging too…when will it end? Stop this insanity. WON’T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN???
Check it out, her parents got propositioned!
louis vitton bag, $3,500 d&g sungalsses, $200
looking like a brown paris hilton with awful taste: $3,700
if you think the bag is fug, then you should think that regardless of whether it costs $35 or $3500 …
That’s true, but I think the price tag adds to the high fug potential. If you bought a $30 dollar bag from Target, and later found out it was fug, you could put it down as a fashion faux pas, stuff it in a box in the basement and forget about it. But if you spent $3500 on a bag, and later found out it was fug, you’ve just blown a month’s mortgage on something you’ll never use again.
More (no, MOST) importantly: No one has ‘fessed up to knowing Natasha yet, but someone she knows must be reading SM. Come on, people!
You know somebody’s aunty is going to be calling somebody’s mom tonight saying, “Vhy your beti was saying bad things on internets about bhatiji Natasha?”
but if $3500 was your mortgage… would you buy something for that amount that you may not potentially want later? i mean the point is for someone who can really afford that $3500 bag in the same way that we can afford a $35 one from tarzhay, what’s stopping them from storing it in their garage or giving it away?
i’m not trying to be judgemental … i’m just saying … let’s chill … fashion is supposed to be fun …
but if $3500 was your mortgage… would you buy something for that amount that you may not potentially want later?
Me, personally? Probably not. But there are people who would gladly put the fug bag on a credit card and worry about it later. The woman is a self-described consumer, so I’m sure it wouldn’t have sat on her consciense very long, if she did blow the equivalent of a month’s rent on the bag.
That’s coz the stratosphere is how far away you have to get for the bag to assume normal proportions. Or maybe it can hold enough rocket fuel to get into orbit. If that shopper/co-worker had picked out that bag for me I’d fire her or at the very least question her motives. She might be a saboteour: “If Natasha’s fashion decisions are so massively off the mark what does that say about her investment strategy?” is what the personal shopper might want the big wigs at Carlyle to think.
i can’t believe everyone missed the fact that the huge bag serves as an overnighter that one can also take to the pub, or in her case, lounge.
as someone who prefers the home field advantage, i’d like to thank Natasha agian for her noble humanitarianism.
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Why not Sepia??
Women with big “Bags” dont impress me much. Id be so Jerry Sienfield when she asks me to hold her bag to do somethin..Id just be “Have a Nice Life”
It’s a new predatory species. It emerges at night to feed on smaller, weaker handbags…
kusala (124):
Way to get at the heart of the matter. Though I think the whole point of America is that yes, you can choose to do what you like with what you own, whether it be buying every blood diamond you find, or gluing a rug to a Hefty Cinch-Sak and calling it haute couture and paying $3500 for it.
Usually we rely on common sense and our at-least-somewhat-shared common valuation of goods and services to tell us what to buy or not to buy. But some people are tragically born with that part of their brain missing.
This is usually because many other parts of their brain are missing, too. Like…the parts with neurons and synapses and stuff. Instead of that, they have trust funds and daddies who kiss them on the forehead after they wreck $400,000 Bugattis and make sure their little snugglebun gets anything he or she wants, as long as it makes them feel all yummy inside.
I personally wouldn’t mind shoving this crazy chick off a cliff, but that’s more because of my marked aversion to humans who enjoy being poodles, and less about how much I hate her bag. And to anyone who tells me I shouldn’t hate the poor poor dear for some benightedly softheaded reason or another (“fashion is supposed to be FUN! Whee!”), I say to you: take her camping for three days, and THEN tell me if she should live or not. If you both survive without a single violent incident, I will concede that her genetic material should not be hosed off the sides of the gene pool immediately.
Whats that!!! Vittons fall jhola collecion!! I need to get one for my grandpa 🙂
Water, could you live without your beautiful car that long? (insert cute emoticon here to indicate joking)
I still can’t get over the labrador offering a reaction; if that damning indictment of a bark doesn’t say it all, I don’t know what could. Genius.
People, don’t hate. That’s a “Save Darfur” potato sack. It is only so big because it comes with a Sudanese baby in it. Angelina Jolie just ordered four of them.
I cant’ believe that FUGLY bag cost that much. There are so many better uses for that money….stupid Indo-Ho.
Does anyone speak labradorian?
I have a friend who would not buy any item of clothing unless it had a well known high fashion brand. Regardless of the price. Guys do it too.
i don’t know if that’s such a damning indictment. my cousin has a chocolate lab – dumbest dog you will ever meet (thank goodness for her looks). and she might, or might not, bark at the picture. on the other hand, if you showed her the actual bag in person, she would rip it up in seconds. so maybe she’s not so dumb after all.
Crazy New Yorkers…
You know, if you kinda squint and picture Natasha as a midget, it could look like she’s holding a normal sized clutch, and she’s just super tiny. [ducking back to hiding under the covers of thesis]
SkepMod (64):
Waste? I’m not sure that the money is wasted. It’s not like she burnt it. I am sure her Vuitton sales lady is making a nice commission that will go towards feeding her family, sending her children to school, etc. Part of that money goes to pay the people who ship the bag from France, to support the twenty-four factory workers in Ducey, etc. In the end, $3500 is now in the hands of people who hopefully make more productive use of the money.