Analyze This/Analyze That: Money Can’t Buy Happiness

Analyze This/Analyze That offers up an in-depth analysis of a fashion story or spread – the story it tells, musings about the imagery, any connections to culture and society that I infer from it, etc. I was so pleased to see the positive feedback on my first post in this category, I thought I would try another. I’ll call this one…

MONEY CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS

Magazine: FASHION (March 2009)
Story: Overboard (p.120)
Photographer: Gabor Jurina
Stylist: Susie Sheffman
Model: Why don’t they name the model? This is Le Call.

The story:

This fashion story begins with a lovely looking couple on a very expensive yacht, complete with white leather upholstery, with blue sky above and blue ocean below. They are clearly experiencing a sense of distance between them. The wealthy man looks at her, perhaps thinking, “I’ve given you everything. Why aren’t you happy?” Meanwhile, the woman is looking away, not thinking of him at all, but rather, of something different — something far away from the boat, something away from him. They haven’t had a fight, she’s just grown disinterested.

 

 

Turning the page, she muses: “This Versace dress may have cost $35000, but, darling, you can’t buy my love.” While the couple seems to have all the material posessions they could desire, they lack an emotional connection, at least from her point of view.

 

 

Growing uneasy with their relationship, and desiring something more emotionally satisfying, she vies for the attention of the on-board Mr. Fix-It. She shamelessly flaunts her femininity and glamour to get his attention. It’s working.

 

Inside the boat, she follows him around as he tends to the many things that need fixing. Look at the important work he’s doing in this picture. She eyes the tape measure and wonders if he’s trying to tell her something…

 

 

Back on deck with Mr. Loveless Fancy Pants, she sits close, but her mind could not be further. The only thing keeping her sane at this point is her gorgeous Pink Tartan outfit. She contemplates what it would be like to lead a different kind of life.

 

“But, oh! I’d be leaving all this glamour behind!”

 

Nevertheless, it’s time for her to go. She knows this and in this image, says “goodbye.”

 

 

She’s left her posh lifestyle for Mr. Fix-It and his four young boys. At first, she is in shock and not sure she fits in.

 

 

Shock turns to exhaustion — kids are so much work!

 

And exhaustion turns to mastery of her new role, peace, and acceptance (though reluctantly for some chores).

 

But look at those angelic faces looking back at her: how could she not work hard when their love is the reward?

 

Sometimes this new life is harder than she bargained for, but she is consoled: “I never knew I could make gingham look this good!”

 

A bond is formed between the new family. Instant step-mom.

(Note: This fashion story draws inspiration from the 1980’s chick-flick Overboard starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russel. You can read about the film and plot summary here if you want to compare and contrast. Or check out the Editor’s Letter about drawing inspiration from this film.)

The message:

Money can’t buy happiness, but it can sure buy amazing clothes and accessories. The people in your life, and their love for you and from you, are what matter the most.

There is glamour, humour, struggle, fun and romance in this fashion story. Clearly clothes for Spring can be of two extremes: high-end glamour or simple life and low-key.

Throughout the beginning of the story we see the model in glamorous, expensive clothes and accessories, with red lips and nails. Once she is on land with her new man, her clothes look drastically more down-to-earth, organic, and country-chic. And her hair, lips, and nails are more natural. An interesting thing happens when this change occurs: instead of being drawn to the clothes and jewels I notice her natural beauty more. I find this to be true in everyday situations: I notice the real beauty less of those who are too accessorized or trying too hard to be glamorous. (The exception, of course, would be participating in Wear a Gown to Work Day — read about it and view the logo — which can only make one look more fabulous.) You should wear the clothes, make-up, and hair — they should never wear you.

I don’t know that she looks happy in her new life (certainly not when she first arrives), but she does look content, which is a big improvement over her removed and distant self back on the yacht. She left an extremely comfortable life behind for a more challenging one. There is depth to her character, and clearly to her closet and wardrobe, too. Regardless of the lifestyle you lead, you can always look good living it.

Mr. Right doesn’t always appear in real life as he does in the fairytale young girls may dream of having in their adult lives. In this case, he comes along with step-children. Having adorable, good-looking children in fashion stories, while not commonplace, certainly isn’t anything new. The images that come to mind of such fashion stories featuring kids, however, are of picture perfect, fully intact, Leave-it-to-Beaver families. Here though, FASHION offers us something more, something real, and something with a modern twist.

Does a relationship and family like this require hard decisions and hard work? Sure. Can you still wear beautiful clothes? Of course. Does it include endless amounts of love and understanding? Undeniably.

A modern love story close to my heart.