Ashley Mears, a former fashion model and now an academic sociologist, dives into the complex relationship between status and beauty in elite social circles. She shares insights from her book, revealing how women leverage 'bodily capital' for gains in nightlife. The conversation touches on why clubgoers prioritize beauty, the unexpected dynamics of being scouted, and how beauty influences academic perceptions. Mears also reflects on her writing process, advocating for a deeper understanding of social status and economic capitulation within the glamorous party scene.
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insights INSIGHT
Women as Status Symbols
Wealthy men in clubs use beautiful women as status symbols, similar to curated entourages throughout history.
This specific type of beauty, often tall, thin, and white, is deemed rare by the fashion modeling industry.
insights INSIGHT
Club Clientele
The men frequenting these clubs are typically young, affluent tourists or businessmen, not all economic elites.
Older, established wealthy men like Midwestern CEOs may occasionally visit but aren't the primary clientele.
insights INSIGHT
High Spenders
Men who want to be seen with beautiful women tend to have high disposable income, often from fields like Wall Street.
These can include younger men with quick money, recent divorcees, or those seeking business connections.
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In 'Pricing Beauty', sociologist Ashley Mears provides a detailed analysis of the fashion industry, drawing from her own experiences as a model in New York and London. The book examines how models, agencies, and clients interact to create and market beauty as a commodity, highlighting the roles of gender, race, and class in shaping worth in the marketplace. Mears offers insights into the 'reverse economy' of commercial and editorial modeling, revealing the often unseen challenges faced by models.
Very Important People
Ashley Mears
In *Very Important People*, Ashley Mears delves into the elite global party circuit, exposing the intricate dynamics of beauty, status, and money. She spent eighteen months researching how clubs use beautiful women to attract wealthy men, highlighting issues of gender inequality and exploitation. The book offers a captivating narrative that critiques the conspicuous consumption of the wealthy, shedding light on the transactional nature of relationships within this exclusive world.
Ashley Mears is a former fashion model turned academic sociologist, and her book Very Important People: Status and Beauty in the Global Party Circuit is one of Tyler’s favorites of the year. The book, the result of eighteen months of field research, describes how young women exchange “bodily capital” for free drinks and access to glamorous events, boosting the status of the big-spending men they accompany.
Ashley joined Tyler to discuss her book and experience as a model, including the economics of bottle service, which kinds of men seek the club experience (and which can’t get in), why Tyler is right to be suspicious of restaurants filled with beautiful women, why club music is so loud, the surprising reason party girls don’t want to be paid, what it’s like to be scouted, why fashion models don’t smile, the truths contained in Zoolander, how her own beauty and glamour have influenced her academic career, how Barbara Ehrenreich inspired her work, her unique tip for staying focused while writing, and more.
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