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Speaking of the silly, I think the fact that this story from today—about the popularity of candy shops during a recession—is the most e-mailed article at the New York Times Web site says more about public appetites for absurdist, sometimes funny, mostly groan-inducing trend stories during a recession than it does about candy’s allure in times of trouble. I, recessionista, myself bought some sweets recently—but not because pink Peeps make me remember the days when the Dow topped 11,000, but because it’s almost Easter, and man is that stuff on sale. (Also, just as a nod to an actual policy discussion: Corn syrup, subsidized, even/especially in a recession, is still cheap.) Back to the media criticism: Perhaps consumers are trying to escape by eating more junk food—but they're certainly reading more of the equivalent, too.
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You know, there's something about the whole lipstick level concept that doesn't make any sense to me. The theory is that lipstick is an economic indicator; supposedly during economic downturns, women will purchase comparatively cheap lipsticks rather than buy high-end frocks. But the whole thing seems like fuzzy logic to me. Either that, or from years of freelancing, every trend piece of this sort reads more blatantly as evidence of a reporter's ability to sell a so-called story that may or may not exist than evidence of an actual, real-world trend. What is more than evident if one surveys the latest fashion "trend" stories is that 21st century women are completely schizophrenic. Flats are in. Actually, high-heels are the new black. They're bringing sexy back. Wait, no, in fact it's really all about the return of masculinity by way of the '80s power-shoulder. Tie me up; tie me down. What's the word for what comes after postfeminist? Schizofeminism? The real trend piece is about whatever internal conflict is raging within women, not what's going on economically.
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In light of various conversations as of late regarding the sex lives of young women, I was amused to see Trend de la Creme's clever coolhunter take on the phenomenon. Pointing to an array of recent studies and stories on female sexuality gone wild, Jill Sherman spotlights the advent of one-night stand "kits" marketed to women. "[I]s this fem phenom behind the proliferation of one-night stand kits made specifically for the woman who wakes up in dire need of a fresh pair of panties? Or did women just get tired of gifting fruit baskets to their girlfriends, driving demand for something a little more interesting?" she wonders. From the "Just in Case" overnighter to the "Ho on the Go" set to the "Walk of Shame" kit, the results suggest there's a market in pandering to women with a morning-after guilt complex about casual sex.