Article on worst-dressed cities - YouLookFab Forum

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Article on worst-dressed cities

Sara L.

Veteran

I saw this article http://www.kob.com/article/sto.....ml?cat=504 on the local news today (I live in Albuquerque) and was, of course, interested. I'm a little upset by the methodology they used to pick the cities. It doesn't sound like anyone actually visited the cities, they just based it on whether the cities had high-end clothing and shoe stores. I'm not saying Albuquerque is a mecca of street fashion but I don't think worst or best-dressed should be based on how expensive your clothes are. What do you think?

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16 replies

Latest reply was from Mander

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I agree, Sara - I've seen other lists like this where at least they had examples like "everyone wears sweats everywhere" or some such thing. To rank the way people dress based on how much they spend makes no sense. We've all seen photos of people looking great in Target clothing and people looking awful in head to toe designer labels.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I agree with you 100% Sara.

Mochi

Veteran

It's kind of weird especially when you consider how online shopping has exploded.

Astrid

Veteran

Good point, Mochi. It really doesn't make sense.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Sara, I'm in ABQ right now! Getting ready to fly home this morning. I didn't realize you were here, or I would have sent you a message!

I always have to wonder how they quantify such rankings, and I agree that the number of high-end shops is not much of a predictor.

An aside related to high-end shops in NM -- I tried to go into a nice boutique in Santa Fe 15 minutes before it closed one day. They carried high end designer clothes, Dries Van Noten and the like. I had been walking around taking pictures, so i was dressed in jeans, very casual walking boots, jacket, serious camera on my shoulder, etc. Imagine my surprise when a SA shooed me away saying they were closing for the day, with an up-and-down glance that suggested I wouldn't be a serious customer anyway. Little did she know I had just considered dropping $850 on a pair of boots a few doors away, if only they'd been in my size. I'd never had that happen before, but I'll never go in that store if I return to Santa Fe!

Susie

Veteran

Janet, you are the Pretty Woman of Santa Fe!

Sara L.

Veteran

Oh Janet - I hope that wasn't your reception everywhere! I have to admit to being a little intimidated by some of the shops in Santa Fe, although it's been a long time since I've been there to do any shopping. Please message me if you are ever here again. I would love to meet you in person.

Mochi - that's a good point about the on-line shopping. I didn't think of that but it makes the article make even less sense.

Mochi

Veteran

Ha, Susie, I thought of that movie too!

Sara, there's a snob element but you can find that in many cities--in that type of store. I loved Santa Fe, btw. Dying to get back to northern NM after nearly 20 years.

Janet, IF you don't mind sharing, which brand of boots were they? I am always coveting your shoes, doncha know?

(Safe flight back!)

Anonymous

No sense at all! As Mochi said, what about online shopping? People who don't do good research shouldn't write articles like this.

@Janet: ouch, that hurts. You are the Pretty Woman indeed. Their loss.

K. Period.

Veteran

The article does show an amazing lack of understanding of the subtlety and art of fashion, doesn't it? It would be like telling me that I couldn't create anything "gourmet" from butter, flour, sugar and salt. However, everyone who bakes knows that the very best shortbread consists of only those four items. They must be artfully combined. That is when the magic happens. James Beard understood that simplicity and beauty, where many so-so chefs do not.

The people who wrote that article have the most simplistic approach to fashion--if it costs more, it must be better--which is as wrong in fashion as it is in any area of life.

Cindie

One of the criteria was the number of schools offering fashion-related fields? Meh. Since the website that put the list together is a real estate website, I'm assuming they just did this for the clicks it would garnish?

Mochi, you're exactly right about online shopping! If the only store within fifteen miles of you is a Target, that doesn't mean that has to be the only place you shop.

Susie

Veteran

Yikes....I didn't mean that the way it might have sounded! I hope Janet knew what I meant!

Isabel

Veteran

OK, I am afraid to look at this list. But here I go. : )

Well, since nothing in MA was listed, I concur.

Seriously, I think that the criteria is laughable : number of high end shops.
I think that this is, I hope, a little tongue in cheek, since a realty group put this together.

rachylou

Veteran

That's not very nice. Very shallow.

I wonder what they meant by high-end stores even. Are we talking the chain Coach stores? Did they look at any independent boutiques?

Thistle

Veteran

Milwaukee is in the top 10. Not really surprised. We probably belong there. Although, Chicago is so close and with the Internet, you can get better than the shops here would indicate.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Hmph. I grew up in Colorado Springs (#2 on the list!) and while it's not exactly a fashion mecca, at least not if you define "fashion" as being "runway", but honestly, it's not all sweatpants, all the time.

Clearly they must not have included department stores that carry luxury brands or independent boutiques, either.