Happy Valentines Day everyone. Currently in the heart of the Shanghai shopping area and enjoying the window shopping that is all the name brands of 5th Avenue. Love the beautiful art sculptures which are just decorating the shopping plaza and hated the Dali Exhibit which there will be a significant post about museum education later on.
Confused by the sheer number of people in the shopping area and the lack of people who are actually purchasing the goods. Got a copy of M&M because I love the coats from Max Mara and even have a really awesome suit from them that I purchased at half the price in Lord and Taylor a few seasons ago. Now you all know that I love nice things but I really do not see the need to spend the typical person’s average monthly wage on an article of clothing that you can at best only wear for a few weeks a year.
I am particularly concerned by the fact that there are a lot of wealthy people in China from all over the nation but the need to express wealth through material things and the lack of empathy for those who cannot afford the same luxuries is rather disheartening.
I also think it is particularly funny that many people cannot comprehend the concept that “even if you could afford those items, why should you purchase those items?” I would rather blow money on the best places to eat, a nice natural vista, a cultural attraction than an item of clothing that is not only outrageously priced in the US but extremely outrageously priced in China because of their version of the VAT.
Now there are some items of clothing that I totally understand spending a ton of money on:
- A wedding dress for someone who never plans on getting married again. (I do not understand weddings because I think they are a waste of money but I know that some people dream of this event their whole life).
- A celebration dress for the day you are officially declared cancer free – you need to wait 5 years for that so a little spent on that is fine.
- The mink coat that the family is passing on for generations.
- A really important event like the White House Ball or something along those lines which you are likely to never get a chance to attend again.
- If you are dying – you might as well spend and wear whatever you want because you are not going to have the chance to do that for much longer.
On the other hand, I really do not see why any child should be wearing Armani from the time they are five through their teenage years, especially when you are representing the Communist Party at a local Communist Party function. Did we happen to forget that the Communist principles are about equality? Most Chinese people I know cannot go and buy an Armani suit for a child…
Armani Communist’ divides China – http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-35496562
Current Mood: Fortunate to be able to afford certain nice things. Fortunate to be raised to see that you do not always need luxury items. Wanting to spread the word that material things come and go but experiences and knowledge stay with you until old age, dementia, or any other number of unforeseen issues but for the most part – free 😀