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Bargain Hunting in Beverly Hills
(To emphasize the point, The Ivy, probably LA’s trendiest watering hole, was still accepting reservations for New Year’s Eve on December 30. A year ago it would have taken months, plus a major boldface name, to land a table at the restaurant for the 31st. On the same night Tracey Ross, a force in the LA fashion world, closed her boutique, a mecca for movie stars, because so many of her high-profile clients were getting freebies straight from designers. She could no longer compete with department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, which had begun slashing prices by 75 percent as early as last October. More signs of the times: The only places I saw lines were at Crumbs, a popular cupcake shop, and Nate & Al’s, the venerable deli.)
To cope with this sinking economy, José told me he has abandoned his hedonistic lifestyle and forsaken all the luxury brands he once craved. Instead of Hermès, he has discovered Kmart, where his close friend and client, Jaclyn Smith, a former Charlie’s Angel, has a moderately priced line of clothing, and he has unearthed a variety of great deals, including Tshirts—he is wearing one which cost $9, and inexpensive underwear. “Who needs $40 underpants?” he queries.
In the salon, to help attract patrons, he has devised a clever mix of relatively inexpensive “quick fixes.” Hair-color revival, ten minutes, $40. Cocktail makeover, 20 minutes, $50. Hair extensions with sparkling crystals, ten minutes, $25.
As for his own $500 haircuts, he maintains they are worth the price because they last for 10 weeks. “That’s only 200 bucks a month.” A year ago, one of his house calls was worth $5,000 for half a day. Now, like most other personal services around town, it is negotiable, depending on the time involved. “If it’s on a regular basis I give them a deal,” he says.
With unusual candor he told me about a Christmas gift from a celebrity, who usually gave him expensive watches or upscale gift certificates. This time there was no glitz involved. She presented him with a Whole Foods gift card. “A year ago I would have said is she crazy? Do I need this? Now I’m absolutely thrilled!”
Sandra McElwaine is a Washington-based journalist, who specializes in profiles and contemporary culture. She has been a reporter for The Washington Star, The Baltimore Sun, a correspondent for CNN and People and Washington editor of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Currently she writes for The Washington Post, Time and Forbes.
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Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
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Martin Jacques is the cofounder of the UK think tank Demos, writes a regular column for The Guardian, and is a visiting research fellow at the London School of Economics Asia Research Centre. His new book, When China Rules the World, is available now.
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Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
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Sandra McElwaine is a Washington-based journalist. She has been a reporter for The Washington Star, The Baltimore Sun, a correspondent for CNN and People and Washington editor of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Currently she writes for The Washington Post, Time and Forbes.
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Sandra McElwaine is a Washington-based journalist. She has been a reporter for The Washington Star, The Baltimore Sun, a correspondent for CNN and People and Washington editor of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Currently she writes for The Washington Post, Time and Forbes.
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Sandra McElwaine is a Washington-based journalist. She has been a reporter for The Washington Star, The Baltimore Sun, a correspondent for CNN and People and Washington editor of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Currently she writes for The Washington Post, Time and Forbes.
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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