H O O K E D - Fake it 'til you make it: The Elitist Complex

Fake it 'til you make it: The Elitist Complex

Written by Alicia Tan and Michelle Lim

These days, in NUS, it seems like brands are all the rage – and not just any old brands, mind you (yes, OP isn’t that kind of brand)! We’re talking about the real deal here: from Louis Vuitton (affectionately called “LV”), Chanel, Gucci, Longchamp to the preppy upper-middleclass of Abercrombie and Fitch, Banana Republic, JuicyCouture and the like.

So what exactly fires these brand-babies up so much to the extent that they’ll take on bratty tuition kids, scrimp and save every penny to that S$450 pair of Chanel shades?

HOOKED explores this issue from two differing camps - the atas (read: high-class) snob who is willing to do anything to own anything from Christian Dior to Prada versus the easily-contented slob who is happy wearing even a S$10 shirt from pasar malam, as long as they are comfortable.

Which camp are you on?

Though it takes a whole lot of money, a good number of NUS students who try to look rich and appear to be more atas than they are, fail rather miserably at times.

Granted, there are NUS students who pull off the perfect combination of branded goods without being an eye-jarring distraction, but well – they’re few and far in between. To emanate class does not equate to being decked out in big brands from head to toe, and unfortunately, many students in their blind chase to attain all the material stuff in order to cement their high-societal status have sadly forgotton the mantra that “less is more.”

So, do brands consitute the backbone of on-campus fashion or are they simply an overrated means of self-expression? What is it exactly about trying to look as "high-class" as possible and is it worth all the trouble?

More importantly - are these brand-conscious folks actually fooling all of us - or only themselves?

The Snob:

You ask them why they try so hard to appear high-class and atas - they'll tell you, "Why not?"

To them, trying to look like they're loaded - branded goods being symbols of that - means that they are not only looking good, but feeling good too.

Feel good about what exactly? Themselves, of course!

Trying to be something that they aren't, and hiding themselves behind a multitude of brands might be a way of getting past their insecurities of simply being themselves.

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To these atas wannabes, being themselves entails being everything that they don't find ideal in the perfect person. If Mary-Kate Olsen, frumpled hair and skeletal frame, can still look good with that wallet and that bag, then why won't it work for the normal kid on the block, who at least doesn't look like she's wasting away?

        In this increasingly material world where you are what you wear and carry, it's no wonder that the number of atas wannabes have increased.

        It's also another manifestation of the whole herd instinct at work: a few people start having Prada keyfobs and everyone starts carrying them. Like lemmings, even the men fall into this rather expensive trap when they try to be atas with their obvious imitation Abercrombie striped tees.

        So this brings us to another question about atas wannabes: in this quest to look more than what they're worth, is how much they spend really that important? That dashing, eloquent, atas looking guy over there could be wearing an imitation Fred Perry polo for all you know - does that really reduce or increase his level of class?

Then you have the "gone-case": the one who tries really hard and ends up falling flat on his face. Everyone has probably met one - if you aren't one yourself - in their campus life.

The one who carries a limited edition, worldwide exclusive bag, while wearing authentic JuicyCouture togs and whipping out a Longchamp wallet at the Deck. But said person starts talking really loudly in that annoying accent that everyone hates, worse still, she slouches slightly, and her expensive eyeshadow clashes with her equally expensive lipstick.

Everything on her is atas - but definitely, she doesn't fall into what the truly high-class people would accept.

The Slob:

        The sad truth is, the riches of the world today have turned us all into wannabes of some sort. The fact that as people grew more affluent, the higher the amount of recognition is being given to money. So if you do not look like a million dollars, I'm sorry you are out.

        Unfortunately, on most occasions, the futile attempts many undertake to look like a million dollars, turn most into walking clowns instead. Ever heard of "the higher you climb, the harder you fall?" Well, in this case, the harder you try, the funnier you look.

        We are thankful then, in this instance, that there are sensible people today who are comfortable in their skin, no matter where they are.

The standard "process" most women and men go through today before stepping out of their doors, is to empty a whole lot of gel on their hair or foundation and powders of all sorts on their faces.

Yet, for those who do not subscribe to such routines and rightly so, are equally comfortable in stepping out of their doors in shorts and flip-flops. So if we haven't heard it a hundred times, we haven't heard it once, all about having, what's that they call, inner beauty? It is a cliché but unfortunately, cliché still clinches the real deal.

        There exists the perception or is it more apt to say, the misconception that you ain't hip if you aren't walking around carrying a Coach, fake or not. If you have it, flaunt it, but if you don't, nothing's lost.

        Vintage is all the rage these days, so by carrying that Deuter, hey, maybe there isn't even a need to try so hard to be the next fashionista after all!

        Now, don't get me wrong. It is absolutely right that we want to look our best. But there's a right occasion for everything, isn't it?

        Do you really want to climb up the endless flight of stairs, wiping streaks of mascara and sweat from your brows, tittering dangerously on those prada heels? Trust me, it definitely feels way more comfortable conquering those stairs in flats.

So why try so hard to put yourselves and bodies through endless suffering? Besides, most people at the deck will either be too hungry or too busy mugging to notice that Longchamp wallet. All that effort would have then gone to nought.

        At the end of the day, we are after all, still students with loans of all sorts to pay. Well, at least for the majority of us anyway.

        By spending frivolously on branded goods to look good is a good indicator that some self-reflection is needed. Why are we wasting money when we are already saddled with unpaid debts? The thirst for branded products is insatiable.

        Moreover, carrying all that branded stuff is just going to put your potential dates off, because it simply scares anyone to even consider the possibility of robbing a bank just to finance your overwhelming materialistic hunger!

        We at Hooked cannot tell you what to wear or buy, and we definitely cannot tell you how you should be spending your money. But it will never hurt to look at things from both sides of the coin, before coming to a decision you deem wise.

        After all, we are at the age where we can make mature and rational decisions for ourselves, right? HOOKED

Images courtesy of Google Images

Comments
Written by Guest on 2008-03-31 11:38:42
Again, 'endless sufferings'. No SSSSSSS!!!!!!!
Written by Guest on 2008-03-31 23:51:50
Some photos of actual examples in NUS?
Written by Guest on 2008-04-01 12:22:37
so are you implying that most of the people who don themselves in prada or gucci are either snobs or slobs who are just acting atas?
Written by Guest on 2008-04-01 12:28:46
and do you mean to say that those who carry branded bags/wallets are really not rich and have to scrimp and save just to buy something branded? cant our parents actually pay for us? sorry i just feel very strongly about this issue.
Written by Guest on 2008-04-01 14:25:31
i guess this article is really stereotyping in an attempt to to sound snide, witty and intelligent. well, if we as readers are supposed to ''look at things from both sides of the coin'', shouldn't the authors aim for a little more subtlety and sophistication in both their analysis and writing, and be a little less judgmental?
Written by Guest on 2008-04-02 15:19:37
Well the article -did- call it "the elitist complex" so there's no point arguing over whether it was stereotypical or not is there?

Btw...wad's a Longchamp wallet? Lol
Written by Guest on 2008-04-05 03:41:38
:roll did someone just say 'cant our parents actually pay for us?' omg.. that's like sooo insensible for a uni student to actually say something like that! so.. ur parents may be rich and able to afford branded stuff for u but think abt how that same amount of money can go the extra mile for another person such as the needy and sick? $2400 for that LV bag that will go passe by next season? or wld u rather share that money knowing that someone will be grateful to u forever?

i just we just have different mindsets. call me the slob if u like.
Written by Guest on 2008-05-17 14:14:49
This article was quite badly written. It's basically stereotyping and I crinch everytime the word 'high class' is used. What constitutes 'atas' and who defined it?

If an article isn't written properly the writer may just appear to be, well, sourgrapes.

And I think both Michelle and Alicia just proved themselves to be that way. Elitist complex? Where's the balance? This is not your typical GP essay where you argue your point and round it all up with a short paragraph to show that you're on both sides of the fence afterall.

Yawns.
Written by Guest on 2008-05-21 00:31:38
I will not call it a case of sourgrapes for it really does not make sense to spend so much money when we have not even start to earn our own money. Yes you may have rich parents who give you a lot of money to spend but where is that independence?! Isn't it sad that while we always cry out for independence and space from our parents but all these cries fly out the window the minute we need money from them?
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Written by Guest on 2008-07-01 19:10:53
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