The Chrisleys, The Housewives, The Kardashians Oh My!

Money, fame and wealth have taken over prime time television! 
We most definitely have come a very long way from the millionaire Thurston Howell III on Gilligan's Island and the wealthy Park Avenue business man Mr. Drummond on Different Strokes. Shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians, Chrisley Knows Best and The Real Housewives have brought fancy cars, luxurious homes, and glamorous lifestyles right into our very own living rooms!

In 2007, Ryan Seacrest and Eliot Goldberg created a reality show that would change reality television forever. Keeping up with the Kardashians gave home viewers a look into the lives of the pretty and privileged. The show developed multiple spin offs which to no surprise, became just as successful and also jump started the careers of the youngest sisters Kylie and Kendall. I was personally introduced to Kim, Kourtney and Khloe and found them to be quite lovely in person. I must say that I do enjoy Khloe's ability to keep the show lighthearted and funny even through the toughest of times. If you are an avid reader of my articles, you know Scott Disick (Kourtney's boyfriend) and I share similar interests such as watches, fashion, boats, and luxury cars. His posh personality adds a certain charisma to the ever growing franchise.
Fans are currently sitting on the edge of their seats awaiting the latest spin off, Kourtney and Khloe take The Hamptons! The girls recently opened a new Dash clothing store in the Hamptons located near Ralph Lauren. I recently passed by Dash Miami while I was vacationing there this summer. I was only there for a moment but the store seemed very busy and the location was superb. I couldn't stay long because I was on my way to the Versace Mansion but sadly it had closed early that afternoon. I did however settle for a yacht cruise down the famous Millionaire's Row, but I'm not complaining of course... 

New to the wealth on prime time is a family show titled Chrisley Knows Best. It is a delightful show about family values and success. The father of the show is Todd Chrisley. Todd certainly has a larger than life personality! Although Todd is a millionaire, he keeps his family level headed and in good moral standing. Some may view Todd's personality as a little overprotective but as you watch the show, you can obviously see that his actions are purely out of love. In a recent episode, Todd's son Chase deliberately goes against his father's wishes and sneaks out with his friends. The very next morning, Chase finds a boot placed on the front tire of his Range Rover. It may sound a bit extreme but you do have to admit, it does sound entertaining! You may recall an article I had written some time ago expressing my excitement for the new Mercedes Benz E class. I was inspired to write that piece because Todd purchased that particular automobile in one of the earlier episodes. Of course I ended up buying the Mercedes and I am very pleased thus far. Great marketing you might say.

Who doesn't fancy themselves a little Real Housewives franchise? Year after year we watch in suspense how each family grows in controversy and style. Is it the shiny new Bentley in the driveway that captures our attention? Could it be the many diamond studded Breitling watches that appear throughout the series that lures America to tune in? I believe it just may be the insanity that goes on in every family that makes for good T.V. Either way, there is no question that money and family issues do mix!  



 

Bringing Classy Back!

I was attending a dinner party late Friday evening and a discussion arose about how people used to dress back in the good old days. I had a picture of my grandfather on my phone and showed it to the table to point out how well dressed he was. It was easy to see that even the most expensive of t-shirts could not compare to a fine tailored suit. Why did I choose a photo of Sean Connery to head this blog? This photo spoke to me on many levels. First and most obvious, this is a clip from a James Bond film. From the bow tie to the brandy decanter, you can get a sense of how gentlemen were portrayed years ago. In old movies, everyone is dressed well and manners were present at all times. You can still see this behavior today but it is often acted out by those of royalty or old wealth. What happened to the cool classy things people used to do? Can we bring classy back?
For example, there is something to say about a person who has a library in the home or a wine cellar in the basement. It adds a sort of sophistication to the house. Playing a competitive game of chess or sipping tea in the afternoon has high class style to it. I love the simple idea of having my hands wrapped around a cherry wood steering wheel surrounded by gold trimmed accents on a 30' bowrider on the open water. I find playing a musical instrument shows culture and work ethic to one's life resume. In fact, I am currently in the beginning stages of learning the piano. While conversing with my good friend Brian last week, he asked me if I was playing the piano because I thought it was a "fancy" thing? I wasn't thinking of it that way but the old sport was spot on! I do believe that it is a very classy skill to add to my repertoire. What beautiful sophisticated woman wouldn't mind a nice glass of Harlan in front of the fireplace while the sound of a piano filled the room? Beethoven once said, "Music should strike fire from the heart of  man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman."
Have you ever asked yourself why the opera is so special or why giving a fancy name like caviar to fish eggs makes it a delicacy? It may not be the contralto you're attracted to from the balcony of the Royal Opera House in London or the crisp pop of wild sturgeon roe from the Russian Tea Room in New York City. What draws you in just may be the representation of these things. We like fancy. We want exclusive. It is quite expensive to enjoy the finer things in life but the feeling you can get from it is priceless.