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Bargain Hunting in Beverly Hills
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How hard is the recession hitting the glamorous stores of Rodeo Drive? Let’s put it this way: José Eber now shops at Kmart, darling.
Remember the classic 1986 comedy, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, which dealt with the foibles and excesses of the supremely well-to-do? It now seems eerily prophetic: The fabled enclave is in a meltdown. Recession has come to one of most exclusive and expensive shopping spots in the world, and even the high net worth crowd is feeling the crunch.
All this came into focus for me when I went to have my hair blown dry at José Eber’s stylish emporium on ritzy Rodeo Drive. José—a flamboyant, gregarious Frenchman with below-the-shoulder hair and variety of made-to-order cowboy hats—caused a sensation when he styled Farrah Fawcett’s sexy, windblown look and created the wash-and-wear hair revolution in the in the mid-’70s. Over the years he has coiffed the who’s who of Tinseltown and still tends to the timeless divas: Cher, Elizabeth Taylor, Raquel Welch, and Ann-Margret. Other salon devotees include Heather Locklear, Catherine Zeta Jones, Julia Ormond, Clint Black, and Tom Selleck. He is regularly defined as “Hollywood Hairdresser” by The New York Times crossword puzzle.
“Darling,” Eber said in his inimitable French accent, “In the ’80s and ’90s everything was possible, over the top. I never for a second thought things would change.”
I had not seen him since I wrote a magazine story on him many years ago, so when we started talking I was truly startled by his frank admission that things were so bleak throughout the 'hood.
“Darling,” he said in his inimitable French accent, “In the ’80s and ’90s everything was possible, over the top. I never for a second thought things would change. Not in Beverly Hills. But oh my god, in September we started to ask where are our clients? We started calling them saying, ‘We miss you. What is going on?’”
He discovered everyone, even the wealthiest, were retrenching, stretching out their cuts and applying their own hair color and makeup. There was what he calls a “domino effect” on the whole of Rodeo Drive. Behind their gilded doors, Valentino, Dior, Dolce and Gabbana all started to ask the same question: What happened to the shopaholics? Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier are way down, according to Jose, the latter offering $1,000 off any purchase over $5,000. “It used to be cool to say, ‘no problem.’ Not anymore. We’re all in this together. We have a crisis,” he confided.
I was especially surprised because over the holidays Rodeo Drive seemed deceptively festive. It was decorated with massive Baccarat crystal chandeliers suspended from Royal palms encircled with tiny lights; and loud speakers blared Dean Martin crooning, “let it snow, let it snow.”
There were plenty of sightseers, many sporting UGG boots, clowning and taking pictures of each other in front of legendary stores—but that was it. Despite the 50 to 70 percent bargains, retailers reported sales were sluggish and I saw few shopping bags on the streets. Restaurants and hotels were not booked.
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How bout the Beast have a middle / lower income family have a space on this blog instead of this BS?.
We could see how "Real" Americans have to live, not just trust fund babbies and those with Sugar Daddies that are having their expense acounts tightened?.
Fantastic story darlin'...as we say here in Texas. Keep 'em comin' Beast.
I agree with you muddog especially about the Sugar Daddy story....but I also think this story really reveals much about the state of our economy and our values...still maybe the Beast will do a story on Detriot next. Beast?
The Ivy? Jose Eber, for the love of god?! The overall point of the article is true (if not blaringly obvious) --yes, even rich people in BH are feeling the pinch, OMG!-- but please, Beast, try to use writers who are a little more in touch with the Youngs. Jose Eber and the Ivy haven't been relevant in BH for years. At least not to anyone who lives here or isn't trapped in a time machine stuck in 1991.
As much pleasure as I take from reading about the financial woes of the filthy rich, I agree with muddog - let's here something about REAL people's financial woes. Anyone spending $500 for a haircut (by that tired old queen Jose Eber notwithstanding) is arguably out of their mind, and should not be in control of a significant fortune in the first place. Imagine what our society would be like if all the wealth wasted for crap on Rodeo Drive was funneled toward something productive and beneficial to the community (vs. serving the gross vanity of some rich fat cats trophy wife). Here's my response to the poor little Bev Hills millionaires (and their wannabe shopkeepers) HA HA! (With all due respects to Nelson Muntz).
Obviously, this article was written as wry humour and to be slyly ironic!
Quite frankly, my dear: I don't give a dam!
Sadly, Mr. Jose Eber's style has gone out of fashion (along with "Dynasty"). Look at him - he's a middle aged man walking around with a cowboy hat and very long hair. His look screams "yesteryear."
So, if he wants to know the reason he's wanting for business, maybe he should look in the mirror.
Okay, so I like this kind of goobely goop. Much like watching an overwrought musical during the 1930s; my mind is off my own $$ troubles.. I am just delighted Bev Hills is so sad, really.I live here and Neiman is completely packed with Sale goers. Yes, the outlets in Camarillo are in pain these days because nobody really has to go-one can stay right here and get the giant markdowns.Lovely.
Wow, where's my tiny violin when I need it? Until Beverly Hills degrades into a full-on shantytown, I couldn't care less if the well-heeled can't afford splurging on Bugattis, Manolos, and McMansions.
The simple fact that 'who needs $40 underpants' is a RECENT revelation to these walking abortions is enough to make me gag.
Pleaae, Eber is and was totally obnoxious!He is a disgrace to the hairdressing community in which I have been a member for over 40 years.The writer needs to get a grip and find a current hair star.Salon survive all things..in bad times" the clients put us off but not out".The past extravagence in all things have come to an end..Amen!.
Pathetic...Perhaps, it is time to resurrect Madame Guillotine and dispatch these modern day Marie Antoinettes...
Thank you.
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