I don’t think I will ever be an influencer but maybe I would become a socialite. Ahh, I can imagine the stories on the social page, “The well known socialite, Mixdenny, graced the theater district with his presence last evening…” Seems like you don’t actually have to do much, just be seen and admired. Can you work your way up or do you have to be born to a well known family? Seems like most socialites are women - can a man be one? Will Taylor Swift wave to me?
You used to have to be born into a rich family or
be pretty and hang out with someone from a rich family, but now I think you start out with a viral Tik Tok and then get a YouTube channel with lots of subscribers.
I am not sure I totally understand the term socialite. I have always thought about it being at different levels. We have a group in my town for example that thinks of themselves as socialites, and they do have higher level socialites that may frequent their parties. These same guests would be considered guests of honor but at the higher level these same guests would be a much lower status. We often refer to them as social climbers.
Or just lie really well:
Stranger
This is who I came into the thread to mention.
But you can’t just be rich and handsome and well-dressed - there are thousands of people like that at the theatre on any given night. To be called out by the papers [and we know its the media that makes celebrity], you have to be someone who other people want to be with. Which means either having social power that you can dispense, splashing your cash to good causes and your circle of free-loading friends or be really entertaining, making you laugh so much that your monocle falls into your martini.
@mixdenny - I’m not sure which of those suits you best, but I’ll wave at you, even if Taylor Swift doesn’t.
Just to clarify, lying about being a rich socialite isn’t a crime until you get people to give you money you don’t intent to pay back. Then it’s considered fraud,
Unless that town is someplace like New York City, Miami, or Milan, I’m not sure that really counts.
I mean I don’t know if there is some sort of formal thing to become a card carrying “socialite” (or if they have actual cards they carry). But as I understand it, being a “socialite” is simply someone who is in the upper echelons of society who spends most of their time attending galas, balls, gallery openings, and other social events where they can be seen. I think that’s also pretty much all they do, otherwise they would be referred to as “award winning actress”, “successful business woman”, “world famous astronaut” or whatever.
I think it used to be more structured in the old days where girls had formal “coming out balls” introducing them to “society”, which basically just refers to the ecosystem of wealthy families from which to find a suitable suitor.
These days, I think it’s just an informal term for a wealthy young woman who spends all her time hanging out with her wealthy friends living Gossip Girl style.
I’d rather use my connections as a mogul and titan to meet the socialites as well as belles and starlets.
I’m social-lite.
Not social much.
Ain’t got me nowhere, quick.
Too late, I am already there. But welcome anyway.
I once was gazing at a fantastic gown at Goodwill in the designer clothes area. I mused to a woman near me, “What a dress! I have no idea where I’d wear it, though…” She answered, “You wear a dress like that around, and you’ll get invited!”
Around here we have an organization called the Junior League, where wealthy socialites get together and hold fundraisers and various other do-gooder events. They allow a handful of eager wannabees to join (my wife’s college roommate was one of them) from time to time and do the real grunt work. If the grunts stay in the organization long enough to start getting their photos in the paper with the grande dames (and if their husbands can afford to maintain them) they or maybe their daughters can work their way up to being genuine local socialites.
The attrition rate is pretty high, even for those willing to put into the time. Even the daughters of the rich aren’t all that interested anymore.
I find it interesting that some women were not fooled by Anna Delvry since even though she wore fashion clothes well, her hair was not done up to their standards.
Note to self: Find a great stylist.
I am reminded of the quote (can’t find the source immediately):
Shock report! Last night there was a society party in New York where George Gershwin didn’t play the piano…
RIP George…
According to Q.I. (I think), you should not only dress well when crashing an event; you should head straight for the center of the crowd and start mingling. You’ll be considered a wallflower if you remain on the fringe, and no one will take any interest in you.
When you do make contact, start with a generic open question that can’t be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No.”
Oh sure, you can get a place in the Hamptons and, having secured the services of the latest celebrity chef, get them to attend your party with that lure. Or go the big fish in a small pond route someplace like Savanna; but that would require marriage into the established gentry. Your best bet is to ingratiate yourself into a troop of stump-tailed macaques, and groom your way up the social ladder.
How do I get to be a trendsetter? I don’t actually have to set any trends, do I? I want the title and the respect, but setting a trend sounds like a lot of work.
Ooh! I know! I want to be the Voice of a Generation. Now there’s some respect. Again, I’d prefer to not have to do anything to get the job.
Let me know, SDMB. Time’s running out…
note to self: grow hair
Metropolitan Life, a collection of satirical essays by Fran Lebowitz, has a chapter with “So you want to be…” multiple choice quizzes to see if you’re really qualified. /s One of them is “So you want to be a social climber.” It’s very funny, if you can find that book. (Although the best of the quizzes is “So you want to be the Pope”.
So I’m picturing myself wearing some upscale designer, but who would care at my local sports pub?
It’s not like Lady deVerily of the Hampton deVerilys would pop into Bubb’s Tap for a bratwurst and a Fireball ‘n’ Dr. Pepper…
.
Now this sounds like more fun. And you don’t even have to be social… I’ll bet J. D. Salinger didn’t have to attend any Celebrity Charity Balls!
(Though I hear Camus would wow 'em on the Riviera with his “impressions of existentialists doing embarrassingly awkward standup jokes”).