Recessionista

As in "Tyra’s Recessionista Fashion Tips." Now I know why I’m not a talk show host. Because if I were, my show would be called, "Here’s a Tip – Your Ass is Broke. Stop Buying Shit."

To me, the whole "Recessionista" trend seems like a bunch of rich girls saying "omg, I can’t believe my dad I bought this purse for $1495.00. I could totally get a knock off brand for only $500.00."

It’s like this chick at work who got designer sunglasses that normally cost $300.00 for only $100.00. What a deal! Until you realize you’re paying $100.00 for sunglasses. I realize everything is relative. And that a socioeconomic class exists that might find some of my purchases frivolous – say $16.00 for a necklace. Did I need it? No, not really. But I like it a lot and it’s versatile, thus I have worn it with several different outfits so far. So I guess according to Tyra, that might make me a "recessionista." But I really don’t like the term, just as I don’t care for the term it originated from, "fashionista."

I realize I know jack shit about "fashion" being as most of my clothes come from the likes of Kohls and JC Penny’s but the whole fashion culture seems to be a spending culture. There’s nothing wrong with spending in and of itself…we could actually use some more of it to jumpstart our economy. But the key is, I think it’s wasteful spending. People in high society buy one outfit…are photographed in it, and then can never wear it again! And it seems like they are spending not because they truly like a particular outfit and want to wear it all the time but rather to impress people around them.

Which brings us back to our "recessionista." A recessionista obviously doesn’t want to be a wasteful spender… right? No, she just wishes she could. She still wants to emulate the fashionista. She will do everything she can to not look like she got her clothes from discount stores (even though she did…shhhh!!!). She will most likely still spend money she can’t afford to spend because hey….she got a deal!

I say thanks, but no thanks. I will continue to make the occasional purchase from Kohl’s, Target, and JC Penny’s but please don’t call me a "recessionista." A recessionista, by definition, will go back to being a "fashionista" once she has the income to do so (though it might not last for long). But for me, even if the economy gets back on track or I suddenly find myself in a higher income bracket, I won’t be rushing off to Neiman Marcus to buy $450.00 jeans. Because I am not a "recessionista." I am a smart consumer.