I rarely just rant for ranting's sake, but today, I have three related things on my mind (just three - big news day in my brain, huh?), so I'm going to complain right here for my enormous worldwide readership to enjoy:
1. I have just about had it with magazines, Oprah for one (no I don't subscribe, I read my sister's on occasion) but more appallingly, Parents and Parenting and the like that are supposed to be for the everywoman (it may say "parentS," but let's face it, they're aimed at women) but that tout, as great products every mom should have, things that are WAY outside the average American budget. I mean, before my days as a stay-at-home mom, I earned 6 solid figures a year, and not once did I buy a shirt that cost $125. "Bargain" items, by definition, do not cost upwards of $50, unless we're talking about furniture. Now, I understand that in Oprah's world, a $125 is mere pennies to pay, but for the average American, $19.99 at Target is about right. I am not being a snob here, I SHOP at Target for clothes! Even on only one salary for our entire household of four (plus two dogs), we are well above the "average" line in this country, so I KNOW that the prices of these things are way above what most people can afford to pay. I hate that these magazines, claiming to help regular folk like us, make it seem like that's the kind of stuff we all should have. What a way to unrealistically raise expectations and get people to continue spending money they don't have on things they don't need, further driving this country's people into insurmountable debt, not to mention depression over not being able to live the lifestyle they think everyone else has.
2. And who can really blame the magazines, when the prices of things in the stores is actually pretty ridiculous? I want to know where all these people who shop at Macy's, Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, and Bloomingdale's - nevermind Neiman Marcus and Saks - get all that money to waste. Who can afford to shop in these places on a regular basis? I went to Macy's today - admittedly, not exactly a thrift store but the most convenient place considering my other errands - in an attempt to find something to wear for Easter Sunday. The best I could find - style and color issues aside (see item #3), was a $138 skirt. A SKIRT. For a hundred and thirty-eight dollars. For $138, that skirt had better clean and iron itself, because if I'm going to pay that much money, it better be contributing to the household in some way. $138. For a skirt. I don't even know what else to say.
3. And speaking of trying to find something to wear to church on Easter Sunday: it is March, right? The beginning of Spring? The warmer, sunnier season that comes after winter? When light, bright colors begin appearing everywhere, from the daffodils to the crocuses to the green in the trees? Does the fashion world know something I don't? Because to look in the stores, you'd think it was September. The colors for Spring this year are...well, they're every other year's Fall colors. Black (a LOT of black), gray, navy, brown, red, dark orange... Now, those are pretty colors, don't get me wrong. And I do have to admit that the styles are a substantial improvement over most things I've seen in recent years. But I am not wearing a gray or navy blue dress on EASTER SUNDAY! Where are the pastels, people? I don't have to be dressed like an Easter egg, but I certainly don't want to look like I'm going to a business meeting or a funeral (the funeral is on Good Friday - Easter is the PARTY!). I mean, in the 6 stores I went in, including two department stores, there were three acceptable outfits - the $138 skirt at Macy's (see item #2), an equally appallingly priced pink dress at Brooks Brothers, and a beautifully-colored, nicely sale-priced dress at Coldwater Creek that was just simply too fancy (it said "summer wedding in Paris" not "Easter Sunday church"). That's it. I am going to end up going to Easter Sunday church in pants because I will have nothing else appropriate to wear. At least the bankbook will be happy.
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