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Original poster

To cringe when my friend talks about her "expensive" tastes?

108 replies

NoddyHoldersWig · 28/12/2011 19:44

We have been friends for about 3 years. In the past year or so she's becomes obsessed with "fashion" and basically spending shit loads of money on ridiculous items. She comes into work saying stuff like "oh I've seen the most gorgeous coat, it's £485 though" she then waits for the shock response and then adds "but I love it so much - my husband said he doesn't mind if I get it" she waits again for a response and then adds "but it's Soooo expensive" blah blah on and on. So she buys the bloody thing and then starts going on and on about some new boots she's seen for £500 - same thing again - "oh but they're so expensive - oh but I love them - oh I don't know what to do - I can't stop thinking about them" on and on and on.

But then the really cringe worthy bits come when she says things like "Oh I really want this Superdry jumper I've seen - I mean, when you wear superdry people KNOW it's expensive, that's why I want one" or "I prefer the brown boots to the black ones as they LOOK more expensive and people will notice how expensive they are" Hmm

To add - she then tells me they're struggling with mortgage payments Hmm

She's my friend and everything but aibu to find the whole "I want people to think I wear expensive stuff" a bit sad and tedious?

I mean - example of how ridiculous it is - our company was in trouble and there was talk of redundancies - we're all sat around moping and she sighs and says "oh I'm so stressed out" I'm about to agree with her and she adds "I can't make up my mind about those boots" ffs

sausage in grandads eye

OP posts:
Notcontent · 28/12/2011 22:22

As someone else pointed out, it's quite likely that she is depressed and/or has various emotional issues. I say that because I can relate to this. I don't go on about how expensive things are, but I am a bit obsessed with fashion and I am fully aware of the fact that I am basically trying to fill an emotional hole in my life.
Having the perfect boots/coat makes me feel momentarily that my life is complete - of course that's complete rubbish....

Averyyounggrandmaofsix · 28/12/2011 22:29

Even I know both pauls boutique and Superdry are favoured by teens and very young adults, although that said there have been a few PBs handbags on Corrie lately!

DigOfTheStump · 28/12/2011 22:33

Add message | Report | Message poster StealthPolarBear Wed 28-Dec-11 19:45:53
she sounds like a sitcom character! Can't you just laugh when she starts? Or poke her in the bum with a piece of bamboo and then charge her £50?

Stealth that made me laugh, go back and check my thread, and then mutter FFS I meant poked on the butt, not in!!!!!! In would be weird, on was just an odd massage lol.

OP your friend has way too much money and is surely hugely in debt?

melika · 28/12/2011 22:33

I thought Pauls boutique was a girl band! What a load of bollocks!

I think I would walk off when she starts bragging, I would feel sorry for her more than anything.

neverputasockinatoaster · 28/12/2011 22:38

I thought Paul's Boutique was a local hairdresser and wondered why so many people worked there until I saw loads fo kids at work wearing the jackets....... I'm a bit out of touch! Blush

ninedragons · 28/12/2011 22:42

I agree with Notcontent. There's something wrong. If she's really your friend, give her the chance to talk about what's really going on - my guess is that she and her DH are in such deep financial shit that she's talking up the expensive clothes to disguise it.

MmeLindor. · 28/12/2011 22:42

She sounds like a friend of my SIL who never has a brown jacket. She has a £400 jacket.

Her kitchen isn't white. It is a £10k kitchen.

Her trousers are not black, they are "my £250 boots".

She doesn't do adjectives, just prices.

Bloody annoying.

Could she be covering up that she is unhappy? SIL's friend used to spend loads to cover up the fact that she was desperately unhappy cause her DH was having an affair.

Tunnocks teacakes in the conservatory

melika · 28/12/2011 22:45

What the hell would I want 'Pauls Boutique' plastered all over the back of my jacket or bag. It looks awful.

I'm the opposite, I love telling people what bargains I have bought. I think my face would tell her what an idiot she is.

StealthPolarBear · 28/12/2011 22:50

Pampas grass on the lawn
This gets stranger and stranger.

The suoerdry website doesn't look like it's aimed at teens. And yes, think I thought cheap gore tex stuff too, just couldn't explain it quite as xlealrly!

Driftwood999 · 28/12/2011 22:54

As you say, she is your friend, so tell her what you think and go from there, you have nothing to lose, and she may well have a refreshing new outlook on life...

raffle · 28/12/2011 23:00

PB is awful awful awful. But it's tossers with WILLS written across their chests that really confuse me.

Pork chop in papa's pie hole

whomovedmychocolate · 28/12/2011 23:02

What does WILLS mean? Confused

Live lobster up the ariole.

humblehippo · 28/12/2011 23:05

Your friend does sound quite unhappy or insecure but no idea how to sensitively raise the issue of her spending and her being boring about it - she will be offended. I guess you and other friends should just show her nice things you have got for normal prices on the high street etc and try to subtly persuade her there is nothing wrong with that, sort of generally comment about cutting back these days in this economic climate etc Confused

As for Superdry, I used to really like it 5 or 6 years ago and I do still think some of the stuff is nice enough but nothing special. Paul's Boutique is just plain hideous. Funnily enough I was shopping with my SIL today who was commenting how great these 2 "brands" are and I was a bit Hmm

melika · 28/12/2011 23:05

Never seen WILLS yet, sounds as bad as having GAP written all over you.

And Bench, FCUK etc.

WHY??????

humblehippo · 28/12/2011 23:07

WILLS = Jack Wills? I saw a girl in town today with a hideous bright pink t-shirt with JACK WILLS in block print, teamed with a "lovely" pink plastic watch...

missmiss · 28/12/2011 23:20

I love Jack Wills Angry

Mini chicken Kiev down the back of the radiator.

shockers · 28/12/2011 23:28

I've got a superdry zip up hoody that I bought in Wales 4 years ago when I got wet in a rainstorm and I was really cold....

Nice bit of blue cheese in the welly cupboard.

yellowraincoat · 28/12/2011 23:30

I don't understand why people like any brands in particular. Especially ones that are just sports clothes, they all look the same.

whomovedmychocolate · 28/12/2011 23:36

Nor me, I remember when you could see the Kappa army parading round the streets when the closest they got to exercise was seeing if they could outrun the police when they turned up to tell them off for flicking cigarette butts into peoples gardens. Grin

Goji berry up the armpit.

oksonowwhat · 29/12/2011 00:01

Shes trying to buy herself happy i reckon.

lady007pink · 29/12/2011 08:24

I had to google Superdry, all I can say is Xmas Shock
Who is their right mind pays good money for this sh*t!

I could get a Primark jacket, boil wash it several times to create a Superdry jacket.

I could buy a ?5 pair of jeans, boil wash them then spin dry at the highest setting to fray the material, get a scissors and cut awkwardly - then I have a pair of Superdry shorts!

Your friend is obsessed, she's high maintenance but her DH loves her nevertheless. It's up to him to talk sense to her.

And YANBU, but her DH IBU to put up with it.

quirrelquarrel · 29/12/2011 08:27

Bit like when people talk about doing "cultural things"- I always feel like asking, "so what does that mean, exactly?"

Or when people describe themselves as working or middle class....the first one isn't so bad. Second is just....what's the point! Surely it's the kind of thing that's obvious...

LizzieMint73 · 29/12/2011 11:46

Don't know where 'Pampas grass on the lawn' came from Stealth, but I have a friend who says that this means that the householders are swingers.

Is of no relevance to conversation, I know.

I also though Superdry was an outdoor brand and I know someone like the OPs colleague - very irritating

MrsCampbellBlack · 29/12/2011 11:50

Reading this wearing brown boots and a superdry shirt - am I you friend Wink

Oh and 'brown boots' are not mum boots - mum boots are a very distinct thing and actually tend to be black.

rhondajean · 29/12/2011 11:59

She thinks Superdry is expensive?

Hahahahaha.

However I think she is having a MH problem, I don't know how you help, but it sounds to me like she is so scared of losing everything that she has to keep buying crap to prove she can have things?

Not well phrased, I'm I'll poor me, but you get the gist.