This girl has NO style. True style is about experiencing finest quality and craftmanship in its most artisanal form. Logo mania is disgusting to style aficionados. She simply is screaming, "Look at my bank account, so I can feel better knowing you know how much I spent." I mean what is so exclusive about wearing Gucci or Dior when everyone else is wearing it? I love the fact no one recognizes my jeans or bags, and even am more proud no one knows how much they cost.

PREACH IT, Saira!

Consumption = Capitalism.

i agree, saira. brands do not equal exclusivity. they scream notoriety. also, i hate how people equate brands with style and class. like when vuitton came out with that murakami line - i could not believe how much people were paying for that horrid design. and if they bought it, it was either just for the trend. or because they liked how it looked - neither of which makes them a tasteful consumer. when my mom bought me a kate spade bag, it took me a whole year to use it (bad reminders of my long island high school days) and even then, with the label against the inside of my arm. but at least it was a cute bag. this thing is...i don't know. but she is way too petite for that bag...

my future ex-wife

Some Rope: $25

Some Chain: $10

Potato Sack: $1

Sunglasses Big Enough for Four Eyeballs: Hilarious

Pursuit of Happyness == Capitalism

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."

she needs to get rid of her personal shopper.

I do not know why she pays so much for things that look like crap.

I guess when she graduates she will earn close to $300 Grand a year.
Not bad-- for looking like a bug (specifically a fly).

I can only imagine what kind of family she comes from.
Maybe her mother only dresses in Ritu Kumar saris.

I would be so embarrassed if I was carrying that purse. I don't think I would ever like to be caught alive carrying that thing around...even if someone paid me.

I would have health problems too if I used that purse...my shoulders would crack for sure! I am sure it feels nice to be carrying the whole house around, but my shoulders would complain for the next decade.

I think she should make her own choices and instead of "working with this woman in Louis Vuitton". Just because someone is eager to throw an ugly $3,500 purse your way doesn't mean you can't use your head and shop around for yourself.

Maybe it is a compensation-for-something-else thing.

I don't know about ya'll...but i just splurged on this in Black before my morning blog fix, hope she likes it. :)

Maybe it is a compensation-for-something-else thing.

I agree. She obviously has a small shame shame.

I am not completely against using branded accessories. There are some brands I swear by (for quality). I would consider it blasphemy if I used any other brand for that particular product.

However, it doesn't mean I think buying anything non-branded as cheap / not my style. I will buy a Louis Vuitton because I love the purse, not because it's an LV. And I agree that designer labels are ridiculuosly over-priced because of people like Namratha.

I guess she's in the right field?

I don't know, what can you say? I feel like Ms. Mitra is not super unique among Americans, she just happens to be desi.

how can you carry something that big? I mean the bag looks like it is 1/2 her height

gulti girl, you mean Natasha Mitra or Namrahta? :)

I guess a lot of craftsmanship goes into it

I honestly don't like the look of Louis Vuitton products.

When women dress in their finest designer duds, they primarily do so to hopefully look attractive, sexy, confident, stylish, refined, [FILL IN THE BLANK]. Do any gents on this site feel she looks like a woman you'd want to date, give a second look to, or swoon over, or simply mock her for such a potato sack with bumble bee shades?

A quick poll from the boys in the office here say LV and other logos usually scream high maintenance, so they end of making more fun of the girl's accessories then actually consider her for possible qualities as a woman. (Sample size = 4 Indian men, 2 British, 1 African American, and 1 labrador, who barked at the image).

A quick poll from the boys in the office here say LV and other logos usually scream high maintenance, so they end of making more fun of the girl's accessories then actually consider her for possible qualities as a woman. (Sample size = 4 Indian men, 2 British, 1 African American, and 1 labrador, who barked at the image).

LOL.

I can only muster one word. Blech.

FUGLY AS FUG I detest her purse. It's making me ill.

I had a frenemy visit with one of my good friends. We went on Rodeo b/c Frenemy insisted. Not that there's anything per se wrong with Rodeo. Frenemy has zero style. She constantly pointed out the the most expensive Chanel/Prada purse and said something along the lines of, "I love this.. I just bought it" or "I need to get this purse now." My friend and frenemy's friend had the ballz to say, "look girl.. that shizz is fugly as fug. You don't have style. If you're going to by an expensive purse buy a beautiful or sexy one. Don't waste money on fug."

Frenemy pouted.

I like the color of the sunglasses glass part itself -- and I think those brown '70's style sunglasses that a lot of people are wearing now are so pimp -- but the specific one she is wearing is weird because the white frame makes it look like some cheap plastic little kid's sunglasses she bought at walmart for $5..

I personally would never wear anything like that out in public because it makes you too noticeable.. Although she didn't mention where she wears those kinds of things -- maybe she does dress normal when she goes to normal places ?

from my limited knowlege of purses..that looks like a desi jhola

I personally would never wear anything like that out in public because it makes you too noticeable.. Although she didn't mention where she wears those kinds of things -- maybe she does dress normal when she goes to normal places ?

I've actually seen people wear stuff like that to work (and I work in a tech company). Who defines which places are considered normal places?

Okay, so who knows her?

Okay, so who knows her?

Seriously. Okay don't be embarrassed now...tell us if know her or know of her.

Ok, I have to say...there's nothing wrong with accessorizing, but there's no need to go crazy with the labels either.

For the record, I do own a pair of those "big enough for 4 eyes" D&G sunglasses. What can I say? I'm a slave to fashion...

I don't know, what can you say? I feel like Ms. Mitra is not super unique among Americans, she just happens to be desi.

Camille. I heart you. I have to disagree. She is super unique. How many Americans whom you know regularly drop $3,500 for a purse like that? It's not even a heritage bag like the Birkin. It's disposably trendy. And she has a dozen just like it. We're not talking about the LV Speedy, we're talking about...that...sack-thing. I'm just saying, I don't know anyone IRL who buys shit like that and I especially don't know anyone desi who does.

vuitton should donate a bunch of those bags to unhcr... enough room in there for an entire family's possessions. refugees around the globe would appreciate it.

When women dress in their finest designer duds, they primarily do so to hopefully look attractive, sexy, confident, stylish, refined, [FILL IN THE BLANK].

She works for one of the largest PE firms (Carlyle). The sector has seen unprecedented number and size of deals in the first five months of 2007. She must easily be making 200K range including her bonus, if she can afford it why not, all this hate is unnecessary. I have seen plenty of people that buy stuff like this IRL and working in PE.

She must easily be making 200K range including her bonus, if she can afford it why not, all this hate is unnecessary.

I'm proud of her for getting paid in full, but that doesn't mean I must support her fugly choices. The "hate" is because no one likes that bag, nothing more than that. And if someone is making that kind of dough, why not drop 10x that amount (i.e. $35,000) on ONE legendary Birkin, which won't go out of style later this afternoon. If I could afford THAT, I would. Potato sack? Not so much.

I'm proud of her for getting paid in full, but that doesn't mean I must support her fugly choices. The hate is because no one likes that bag, nothing more than that. And if someone is making that kind of dough, why not drop 10x that amount ($3,500) on ONE legendary Birkin, which won't go out of style later this afternoon. If I could afford THAT, I would. Potato sack? Not so much.

Amen! Mad props to the girl for being 26 and making tons of dough. There's no hate for her being uber financially successful. But fugly is fugly and it's so much worse when you're wasting money on a potato sack. Buy some good taste!

I really don't see a big difference between Ms. Mitra and the "disposable" (great way of phrasing it) trendiness of SJP/Sex And The City - I could easily envision Carrie Bradshaw carrying this bag and (strangely) women were all about that.

I honestly don't like the look of Louis Vuitton products.

As for her D&G sunglasses, the best stuBner shades (and the best deals) I ever found were in Uganda in a matatu station. She should come to the bay if she wants glasses that make her look like a praying mantis :)

How many Americans whom you know regularly drop $3,500 for a purse like that? It's not even a heritage bag like the Birkin. It's disposably trendy. And she has a dozen just like it. We're not talking about the LV Speedy, we're talking about...that...sack-thing. I'm just saying, I don't know anyone IRL who buys shit like that and I especially don't know anyone desi who does.

I agree that the bag is FUG to the max. I guess what I meant by my comment was that I meet plenty of folks, desis included, who define themselves and their fashion by the labels on their clothes. I saw this a lot in college, too, which I found astounding. I guess it spoke to the income gap at a public school? I mean, here I was, working 15-20 hours/week to pay for tuition & rent and skipping meals, and girls would roll through with ugly ass LV suitcases on their way to the airport! I tell you, nothing riles me like designer suitcases.

**IMPORTANT NEWS UPDATE**

JUST BECAUSE CARRIE DID IT, THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT OKAY.

I know, it's hard to accept. But sadly, it's true. And the more I watch those shows in syndication (twice a night in DC!), the more I cannot stand her wardrobe. I dress more like Charlotte. But whatever. Carrie was a fantasty-- it was impossible to support a Blahnik-addiction AND pay rent pre-her book deal, IMO. Natasha is a real person, spending real money. This bag didn't come from Patricia Field over in wardrobe, na'mean? ;)

IJC for the browns?

Anyone who sets such great store by labels and prices can't have any personal sense of what is really beautiful and stylish. Designers take people like this poor woman for a ride knowing that a fool and his money are easily parted. Instead of saying

I love to consume. Consuming is my specialty.

And if someone is making that kind of dough, why not drop 10x that amount (i.e. $35,000) on ONE legendary Birkin, which won't go out of style later this afternoon.

Carrie was a fantasty-- it was impossible to support a Blahnik-addiction AND pay rent pre-her book deal, IMO.

When women dress in their finest designer duds, they primarily do so to hopefully look attractive, sexy, confident, stylish, refined, [FILL IN THE BLANK]. Do any gents on this site feel she looks like a woman you'd want to date, give a second look to, or swoon over, or simply mock her for such a potato sack with bumble bee shades?

And what makes you think she wants to look attractive, sexy, confident, etc just to pick up gents?

Ah big bags and couture whores. This morning I was subject to a discussion in the elevator about Taryn Rose flats, 3 chicks with the same damn shoe that I personally think is way too ugly to be paying $400+ for. This particular profile of self absorbed couture consumer is so common in NYC no one cares or bats an eyelash.

Personally I hate big bags. Those massive bags that Nicole Richie carries with her; hell she looks like someone can carry her sitting in one of those bags! It's stupid. Big labled things are tacky at best. However I'm older than this chick. At 26 these superficial things impress you, I was a little younger when it stopped impressing me but I also couldn't afford it so the impression factor was higher.

You grow up to be able to afford the stuff and realize you can buy the same superficial fabulous things but you stop obsessing about the labels. Because when you grow up you stop buying it for others to see and you start buying for yourself :-)

**IMPORTANT NEWS UPDATE**

JUST BECAUSE CARRIE DID IT, THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT OKAY.

Aaah... thank you (and thank goodness).

To those of you who know me, you will know I am no fashion princess. but even, I have to say: "Yo, what is with the hair?" It reminds me of the lady at the beauty saloon who did my "hair-shtyle" for my first wedding by asking me if I wanted "puff" center ma, ke side ma?

Sadhu Chhap Basmati Rice

I'm pretty sure I knew her (circa 1998). Though I can't be 100% certain because of the giant sunglesses. This article somehow made it into the NY Times dealbook and will probably make gawker (they tend to poke fun of all NYMag's Look Book profiles).

I mean what is so exclusive about wearing Gucci or Dior when everyone else is wearing it? I love the fact no one recognizes my jeans or bags, and even am more proud no one knows how much they cost.

Saira jealous much? Different strokes for different folks. That handbag is limited edition and is an investment that would double in value in a couple of years. As Carrie Bradshaw would say "I like my money right where I can see it... hanging in my closet."

>>That handbag is limited edition and is an investment that would double in value in a couple of years.

The correct statement is: That handbag is limited edition and is an investment that would probably double in price in a couple of years.

It's value is not too different from a $30/- handbag, and won't change much during its lifetime.

M. Nam

I am not sure if the question is anyone supporting her choices. The question is of choice if she likes it and can afford it let her be.

"JUST BECAUSE CARRIE DID IT, THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT OKAY."

Now just put this on about 12,000 billboards and maybe the message will sink in..:} Better yet implant it directly Matrix steez..

Saira #18: (Sample size = 4 Indian men, 2 British, 1 African American, and 1 labrador, who barked at the image).

You have a dog in your office? Lucky you! I want a Labrador in my office (pout), screw LV potato sacks.

As for Natasha Mitra's plan to attend HBS starting this fall, I hope my fave cousin doesn't have to deal with the Potato Sack of Doom.

I am not really sure why it is OK to diss the girl just because some of you don’t like her bag. Maitri#50

As for Natasha Mitra's plan to attend HBS starting this fall, I hope my fave cousin doesn't have to deal with the Potato Sack of Doom.

Have I mentioned how much I love the Mutiny? On the other hand... the actual job I'm supposed to be working at (and making far less than Natasha's 200K even though I'm much older)...

I feel bummed out now. I'm working my butt off and at 27, I only make $45K. I feel like an under-achieving Desi right about now. H&M and TJMaxx are still the only places I can afford...

I feel bummed out now. I'm working my butt off and at 27, I only make $45K.

At 27, I was working my kundi off and making all of $30k at a non-profit. Does that make you feel better? ;)

It's not the size of your paycheck which matters, it's what you do with it. :D

Don't mean to diss the girl. The bag is another story. It does raise the old question of money and taste.
Why must one sneer at a relative's gold-plated (not making this up) ceiling? Jealous? Delusions of taste?

louis #51 says, "I am not really sure why it is OK to diss the girl just because some of you don’t like her bag. Maitri#50"

Who's dissing the girl? Did I say she shouldn't attend Harvard? No, I specifically addressed the bag when stating, "I hope my fave cousin doesn't have to deal with the Potato Sack of Doom."

That thing has its own defined planetary orbit.

Aw come on, Louis. Admit you know her. ;)

I feel bummed out now. I'm working my butt off and at 27, I only make $45K. I feel like an under-achieving Desi right about now. H&M and TJMaxx are still the only places I can afford...

You are not under-achieving. Unfortunately pay depends on the marketability of the industry you work for. Private equity happens to pay well b/c it brings in big money. Most of us at 27 are not making 6 digit salaries. Keep you chin up!

OMG!!!

This evil woman Natasha Mitra works for the CARYLE GROUP!!!

http://www.thecarlylegroup.com/eng/team/l5-team3137.html

Look for yourself!!!

Scoop, don't stress. Your paycheck does not define your "achievement" -- if it did, the world would be really depressing!

I also don't think pay is proportionate to marketability (rankle, rankle), but I feel you on being underpaid. Although, if you are a "public interest"-head like me, then it comes with the territory. :(

This has to be the fugliest bag I have ever seen in my life. It reminds me of the sacks that were carried around in medievel times by door to door salesmen. Or perhaps its one of Mary Poppins' carpet bag cast-offs. What is with the chain link that looks like it's just been yanked off the Bay Bridge cantilever section?

Yes, we encourage pets in the office for good feng shui for all around, as long as they are trained Maitri.

No one is dissing the girl. I personally am just addressing her need to display logos and brag about how she drops her dollar. She's obviously smart enough to get into HBS, and obviously has talent to earn her $200K. But, she is passing herself of as a trend connoissieur with the power of the logo brand, which I disagree. Any luxury enthusiast does not subscribe to such showing off. Pick up a Robb Report or Departures magazine and you'll rarely see an ad for D & G or Prada because these aren't considered "luxury." Her idea of consumption is through her tasteless expression of fashion. And we all know fashion passes, style remains.

Since everybody has opinions on what carrying designer duds says about a person :
What does carrying fake designer duds say about me?that I'm a wannabe, an arriviste or worse ?

I loved the look of a certain Louis Vuitton bag.No way could I fork over mucho $$$ for it - my cheap heart just would'nt let me. I am very ashamed to admit that I bought a fake one in Bangkok. I carry it every day , love the bag but feel so guilty that I will never buy fake designer duds again:-(

My problem with this kind of consumptive capitalism is that it creates massive amounts of waste. I doubt that bag will get more than a few hours worth of use, and will sit in her closet for three years until ms-$300k-mitra will look at it, roll her eyes, and chuck it.

Some of the classiest uber-rich folk I know buy big brands for quality, not garish visible labels.

Consumption = ok
Consumption as statement = bad

I think buying things exclusively for the label is totally stupid, and (here is where I get super snotty and elitist), really "nouveau-riche." Runa, if you liked a designer bag but couldn't afford it, then you couldn't afford it. A knock off is fine. The problem is not the designer bag, it's whether you bought it for the cuteness of the bag (in this case, her bag is FUG), for the quality, or for the label. I think most folks would say that criteria 1 & 2 make sense, but 3 doesn't really.

SkepMod, isn't all capitalism based on consumption? And not only on consumption, but on increasing consumption. I think it's endemic of the system, Ms. Mitra is just in that small % of extreme cases who have both the means and the desire to spend accordingly.

I agree with Camille. By the faux Vuitton if you like the design, but not for its LV label. I am a fan of the embroidered Dior saddlebags, but would never spend $1500 on a tiny bag. But, I will spend it on my Bottega Veneta, which I adore for it's signature weave and stitching.

will sit in her closet for three years until ms-$300k-mitra will look at it, roll her eyes, and chuck it

This is why a friend of mine tells me she loves to shop at the thrift/consignment stores where all the "rich lady" clothes end up in almost-new condition (well, not for fug finds like Mitra's bag, but you know what I mean).

Runa: don't feel guilty; Mr. Vuitton is not ever going to be eating scraps from the dustbin no matter how many knockoff bags you buy in Bangkok.

Ms. Mitra is just in that small % of extreme cases who have both the means and the desire to spend accordingly

Listen.... she probably works 80 hour weeks if she makes any kind of money at Carlyle.

Let her blow off some steam with a fugly bag LOL.

But props to her for getting in with Carlyle.

At 27, I was working my kundi off and making all of $30k at a non-profit. Does that make you feel better? ;)

I've got to love anyone who says "kundi". I think I work my kundi off too but I'm not well paid at all (I teach in a school in Queens).
I can't think of anything I want to do which would make more money. I don't want to get paid more to buy more things. It would be nice to be paid a decent salary so that I can feel that my work is valued, I guess (not talking corporate pay scaled here).
I work in a small special ed school that is funded partly by the state and partly by a charitable organization so they pay way less than the public schools. I think when I reach boiling point I might just look for a public school job.

Comment #59:

You are calling her evil because she actually makes that much money? Well, the comments here only go onto show how we like to hate a person due to our own lack of success.
While I don't anyway support her taste, I am proud to see another brown person making 200k at such a young age.

C'mon, when did SM turn into the Sartorialist ? The article's slight diss was all she deserved not outright revulsion.

#71: Relax and have your humor meter recalibrated! I don't think Cyrus was really making "evil" judgments about Natasha. Now, if she had a bf named Boris, that would be another story...

If that purse is how the girl gets her endorphins flowing, good for her. The only thing in poor taste is all of this cattiness.

I would be so embarrassed if I was carrying that purse.

If that purse is how the girl gets her endorphins flowing, good for her. The only thing in poor taste is all of this cattiness.

It's certainly not poor taste to have an opinion about fashion. She put herself out there in a fashion-sense.

Friends, desis, folks, it is not about the person. The only thing that's reached a semi-consensus is that her bag is ugly and that most of us would not have paid -- especially not $3500 -- to own an ugly bag, no matter who made it.

Taste is as taste does. I think her bag is ugly. Maybe she loves it. Whatever makes her happy.

Camille,

Absolutely, the name calling is unecessary and unclassy.

Is the moral of this story that People With Bad Taste Need Love Too?

Maybe its just a question of perspective. I mean has anyone considered that the photo itself may be misleading? Perhaps the bag is really just a cute clutch with faux rope/chain detail and she's just unnaturally teeny weeny. Same for the compound eyes shades.

Comment #59: You are calling her evil because she actually makes that much money?

I agree with both Louis and the one who agrees with him; I don’t understand why “evil” needs to be applied here unless you know her IRL and can confirm that she eats puppies for dessert, while dressed in kitten fur. If the “evil” was a joke, well...I didn’t get it and I possibly need to have that humor meter of mine checked.

C'mon, when did SM turn into the Sartorialist ?

That’s like asking when did SM turn in to Dooce or Kos or...ad infinitum. We do everything here at this all-you-can-eat, online content buffet. :)

If that purse is how the girl gets her endorphins flowing, good for her. The only thing in poor taste is all of this cattiness.

There’s no accounting for taste and it is not in poor taste to discuss a $3,500 bag which was featured in something called “THE LOOK BOOK”. If anything is in poor taste, it’s blowing that kind of scrill on something which won’t be used forever. Birkin, people. If you’re going to consume, either do it well or make Camille happy and give away a fatty donation.

And I am SICK and fucking TIRED of being accused of "jealousy" when I write any sentence about another female. I don't care about her salary or anything else with regards to her-- if I met her on the street I'd be all, "Go on, girl with your bad I-Banking self" but I would also tell her, "I am NOT a fan of that LV 'Stratus' you rocked in NYMag, not that it in any way matters what I think". Manasillayo?

Louis, that reminds me of Anchorman :)

begtodiffer, she seems Nicole Richie-sized (i.e. totally tiny), but I have the feeling that that bag and glasses would be huge on most people.

That's not a purse. That's like... a suitcase or something. I could get in it.

I think it's unclassy to call out name-callers as unclassy (or envious).

Love her cufflinks....

I guess it's the style vs fashion vs style argument...she's fashionable but you just can't picture the Hepburns with that bag.

Anna,

You are one of the reasons why this site remains a class act. Ignore the people with the jealousy accusations as they don’t know what they are talking about, people and circumstances are different and not everyone’s success can be judged by how much money they make.
My only issue was with the insensitive comments about the person not with the analysis of the bag. I have no opinion on the bag and now I respectfully withdraw from this conversation.

If you’re going to consume, do it well, or make Camille happy and give away a fatty donation.

Donate! Donate! Donate!

Seriously though, yaaraa. Studies show that folks in the bottom 20% of income-earners give away a greater % of their wealth in donations than folks in the top 20%. You can buy an ugly bag AND save the world =)

I bet she gets laughed at a lot. She looks like a bag lady who found her "accessories" in some dumpster.

Love her cufflinks....

Agreed, I did love the fact that she was wearing them-- I think more women should. I do as often as I can and I still can't use every pair (50+ of them) in my collection. Good taste on her cuffs, at least.

Probably, Prema: but she probably also laughs herself... all the way to the bank to deposit her $15K+/month paycheck.

I think the point is, moreso than the fact that the bag is fugly, is that she comes across as a superficial Manhattan biotch...or that's how I see her.

Camille:

Not sure about donating because you never know how well the money is used- I would hate for my money to subsidize some inefficient do-gooder. I wish there were US News-type reports of charities that truly make an impact as measured by objective/high-impact metrics (maybe they exist?).

As far as wealth goes, you generally don't accumulate wealth by giving it away.

I have always had one question for women who buy expensive purses/bags. Will you ever carry the amount of money you have paid for it in that purse/bag?

I understand accessorizing(if this is even a word), but this is a bit beyond isn't it. Should we mail her some potatos to fill her sack?

moreso than the fact that the bag is fugly, is that she comes across as a superficial Manhattan biotch

HEY. Manhattan does not have a monopoly on superficial bitches, OKAY? D.C. is sick of being the neglected step-sister of the greatest city on earth. We have JUST AS MUCH fug here too, you know. As that racist Martin once said: "Damn, Gina."

Not sure about donating because you never know how well the money is used

I don't know if there's a "worthwhile charity" breakdown list, but I know from personal experience that direct contributions go much further than signing up to run in a charity race, or buying those cute "charity" tchochkes do.

You want to make sure that the largest part of the cash you send is actually going straight to the organization, rather than for underwriting the cost of the race, or the marketing of the cute collectible.

The only thing that disgusts me more than this interview is the knowledge that this fantastic new Indian economy is throwing up people like her on a daily basis. Except here in urban India the stark differences between affluence and destitution aren't [yet] so easily hidden, and can hit you in the face as hard as the heat when you walk out of an air-conditioned building. There are more of those than before, though. Lovely. Also, the Sony store is selling flat screen LCD televisions for Rs. 80,000. Phenomenal.

I can't wait to come back to America, where the whole world is happy.

I have always had one question for women who buy expensive purses/bags. Will you ever carry the amount of money you have paid for it in that purse/bag?

Depends on what you mean by expensive, I suppose. :)

LP, there are. I have to head out, but I'll get back with links to different charity "watchdog" sites. I'm always a bit torn - most of these gauge "efficiency" by low overhead costs, but having worked in the nonprofit world I see this often translate into really despicable labor practices. I guess I find it ironic that even in "social justice" organizations there is often a lack of wage/employment justice, but this is very much driven by the same "bottom line" mentality that exists in the corporate world.

Honestly, I feel like the best way to donate is pick a group whose work you respect and give them money. More and more nonprofits/not-for-profits are introducing metrics to enumerate their successes - I think this helps those of us who give $ pick our own criteria for justifying our donations.

Hema,
Second that about direct contributions.

Its just as easy to find a worthy cause and write a check directly to them.I tend to do that because as # 92 says the last thing I want is to have my money go to a non -worthy cause.

Personally, I support an orphanage and a school in India. I have visited one several times and know that the money is always well spent.Have a relative who is on the governing board of the other and know that is well-run too. I wish I could send more but there never seems to be enough to spare on a regular basis so I make my donations on my trips to India.

Anyway :the point I was trying to make to # 92 and others is - don't let fear of where the money ends up prevent you from giving even a little bit. Find something you believe in and then give .Every bit helps.

I have always had one question for women who buy expensive purses/bags. Will you ever carry the amount of money you have paid for it in that purse/bag.

Why would anyone need to carry that kind of cash ever unless you are talking about your combined cash power in the form of bank/credit cards. In which case that's true for those that carry a $15 bag too :-)

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 have always had one question for women who buy expensive purses/bags. Will you ever carry the amount of money you have paid for it in that purse/bag?

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! :D

@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!

What does carrying fake designer duds say about me?that I'm a wannabe, an arriviste or worse ?

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.

b) expounding on her crass consumerism in this article - tacky, and

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.

"Well, it's LV, so it must be fashionable!"

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)".

Agreed, I did love the fact that she was wearing them-- I think more women should.

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:

..spending whatever brains she has moving money around, making some for herself, and displaying all the leming-like tendencies of the unintellectual Indian rabble

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 ...

And if someone is making that kind of dough, why not drop 10x that amount (i.e. $35,000) on ONE legendary Birkin

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 Lit