Christophe Decarnin Tees Make You Poorer Faster

Did you read Thursday Styles section of The New York Times? Egads! There could not be a more telling read into how the pending global financial meltdown has turned us into duplicitous schizophrenics. On the front page, Eric Wilson writes a standard gloom-and-doom piece about coming tough times for designers and retailers. Nothing new there. But he leads with a shocker -- at least it shocked and almost angered me. Designer Christophe Decarnin charges $1,500 for a Balmain T-shirt. That's just a plain old cotton T-shirt with a few holes in it.

If you want sparkles (and who doesn’t, really), Wilson reports it will cost you $3,000. Seriously, who buys these? Go buy a five-pack of Hanes T-shirts and a Bedazzler, and you’re good to go. Have at it! Thankfully, one source had enough common sense to question the wisdom of stocking $22,000 dresses and $5,000 jackets. But in style, like love, the heart wants what the heart wants. I guess.

Then on page 4, we glimpse frugal common sense with the reinvention of Gap, which probably could not come at a better time. Apparently, Europeans have been storming the flagship store on Fifth Avenue, looking to stock up on wearable and affordable fashions before the whole planet slumps into a depression. And you know Europeans, they know things. With designer Patrick Robinson breathing new life into the tired brand, the store has a fresh new look and lines that include slim-fit dress pants ($68), tweed blazers ($108), and cashmere V-necks ($40). Oh, and their T-shits only cost $16.

It’s hard to compare a $3,000 sparkling tee to a good pair of dress pants. I guess some days people just need to sparkle. Me? I’ll take the dress pants. And the cashmere V-neck. Thanks.