Socialite Prep Work

Once upon a time, I was an Abercrombie & Fitch wearing teenager who spent all of her babysitting money on A & F polos bearing the moose emblem. I did so all in the name of preppiness. This was a precursor of the Aspiring Socialite journey I would embark on as a young adult in New York City. Over the years, I have found preppy style to be as timeless as a tennis foursome. Preppy fashion is not a requirement of being a socialite, it is an inevitability of the high life.  These looks are as classic and versatile as men’s suits or the little black dress.

Popularized by the Kennedys, America’s Royal Family, preppy fashion with its iconic collars, plaids, and argyles is as distinctive as the East Coast Ivys where it originated. Even if you have never played tennis or golf, you have probably worn the clothes or at least an inspired style. These virtually unchanging looks give us a much-needed element of dressy casual. If it were up to me, we would all participate in athletics photo ready with a color coordinated collared shirt and matching bottoms? If there is anything I have learned in my 24 years on this Earth, it is that it is always better to be overdressed than under dressed. What separates a true prep from the rest of society is that a true prep is never under dressed no matter what the circumstances may be.

For a photo tutorial on how preppiness has stood the test of time check out Take Ivy:

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of my wonderful fans and readers!  I must say that I truly love you and your support of the Aspiring Socialite movement. Thank you for joining me in showing the world that there is nothing wrong with loving the finer things in life, even if they are completely out of your price range.  Speaking of the finer things, even if you are not in a relationship, who doesn’t want the perfect engagement ring for Valentine’s Day?  Being both sparkly and symbolic, there is no doubt in my mind that an engagement ring is the ultimate accessory.

The best engagement rings are noticeable, not oversized.  One must be able to look at it and know it is an engagement ring within seconds.  It is the responsiblity of the ring to announce your engagement before you do.  Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t need to be 20 carats to do so.  Emma Bunton, the pop star formally known as Baby Spice, received one of the most impressive engagement rings a few weeks ago when longtime boyfriend, Jade Jones, proposed to her a few weeks ago on her 35th Birthday.  In honor of the occasion Emma tweeted, “Yahooooo I’m Engaged! Love you Jade! I’m a very happy lady!”  Paired with this lovely picture of her and the ring, it was the tweet that shook the dating world.

Those Aspiring Don’t Have Cruel Intentions

Beware of the beautiful ones.  While some may say that I was seduced by the rich and powerful, I would say they were really more of an inspiration.  When one aspires to be a member of the New York City elite, it is easy to be mistaken for a gold digger or devilish debutante. However, an Aspiring Socialite is neither.  I suffer not from greed or deprivation, but from a more elusive “Diamond in the Rough” complex.

Aside from being Gossip Girl before the Gossip Girl, the popular 1999 film Cruel Intentions is the perfect example of why evil will never conquer high society.  For this reason, Cruel Intentions is required viewing for everyone who is on or aspires to the A-list.  As you probably already know, the film tells the story of fictional socialite Kathyn Merteuil played by Sarah Michelle Gellar who makes a bet with her stepbrother Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) to seduce the new headmaster’s virginal daughter Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon.)  After much scheming, backstabbing, and driving around in a vintage Jaguar 1956 XK140 Roadster, Sebastian ends up dead, Kathryn is exposed for the sick girl she is, and Annette drives away alone in Sebastian’s convertible Jaguar.  So let this be a lesson to all of us that luxury and cruelty just don’t mix.  Don’t stab your friends in the back because you see an opportunity to make it to the top.  You will meet them again on the way down.  Plus, you should never wear fur.

2011 Happy New Year Socialites!!

The year 2011 is finally here and as an Aspiring Socialite I can’t wait to see what adventures the New Year has in store for me. In 2010, after starting this blog in February, I received personal invitations to Fashion Week, the MONET showroom, and exclusive Lord & Taylor events, but my journey to stardom has just begun. The arrival of 2011 means an entire year of new parties, fashions, and philanthropic endeavors. Will leggings stay in style or become “so last year?  I’m thinking they will be in fashion for years to come. I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, but it is my hope that more people will discover this blog the way thousands did in 2010 and get inspired to take charge of their lives through shameless self-promotion. So if you haven’t already, make it your 2011 New Year’s Resolution to stop eating your humble pie and go on a diet.

Follow in the Footsteps of Paris Hilton Adopt a Pet

If you are anything like me, you are still looking for a New Year’s Resolution for 2011 that is worthy of socialite status.  As a vegetarian who adores animals more than luxury itself, I urge you to make 2011 the year you adopt a pet just as our favorite celebrity socialite, Paris Hilton, recently did.  After a run in with the law earlier this year, Paris Hilton decided to complete her 200 hour community service sentence at The Animal Foundation, the largest single-site open-admissions animal shelter in Nevada that takes in more than 50,000 homeless animals a year.  The shelter was thrilled to have the heiress as their newest volunteer.  She was even said to have tears in her eyes when the blonde socialite toured the site and heard of the shocking statistics abandoned and abused animals face on a daily basis.

Paris Hilton was so inspired to make a difference that she adopted a new pet of her own, a 3-year-old Chihuahua named Skeet who she renamed Sid Vicious.  So inspired by her love for animals everywhere and her new friend, Miss Hilton took to Twitter urging others to adopt. “This Christmas, if you’re thinking of getting a dog or cat, get one at your local animal shelter. Save a life. Don’t shop. Adopt.”  Remember that when you adopt you are actually saving two lives, the life of the pet you are adopting and the life of a new animal you are making room for in the shelter.  It is lonely at the top. So it is in your best interest to get a friend who loves you unconditionally.