Signs Of A Preppy Upbringing

[woodwardiocom]

Today I found myself articulating the difference between Lands' End and L.L. Bean.

I suppose it's a sign I'm aware of having privilege, that doing so made me feel guilty (if only fleetingly).

Comments

[taura-g.livejournal.com]

Hey there, I've been trying to get a hold of your wife. Is she doing OK?

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

She was fine at 7:30. I'll ping her.

[taura-g.livejournal.com]

Thank you, it is appreciated.

[ceo]

There's a really easy way to articulate the difference between LL Bean and REI: The door handles on LL Bean stores are canoe paddles. On REI stores, they're ice axes.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Ooh, what is the difference? I've been a Lands' End girl all my life, but I'd switch if given a good reason.

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

Briefly: Lands' End is what you wear to the shore. L.L. Bean is what you wear to the mountains.

Less briefly: LE is a fraction more formal and snooty. LE is for yachting, clambakes, the Hamptons. LLB is a bit more woodsy. LLB is for ski trips, hunting, Bar Harbor.

Practically speaking, of course, 90% of their products are interchangeable.

[archangelbeth]

That's actually kinda useful as a description. Thanks.

[dancer.livejournal.com]

Which is funny, since Lands End is featured at Sears now. :)

For my serious hiking brother and his wife, it's all about REI or EMS.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

*nod nod* Makes sense. I think I had that association too, now that you spell it out. I think of Lands' End as more comfortable and pretty, and LL Bean as more rugged and bulky.

[whswhs.livejournal.com]

I see that Massachusetts has not cast off its Puritan heritage. . . .

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

It is said that the appropriate response to recognition of one's own privilege should not be guilt, but rather anger. However, I feel a little guilt is appropriate for the purposes of calibration.

(It's hard to say whether this specific example is just silly, or entirely the sort of thing that defines the preppy-WASPy circles I was born into, and matters to no other group, and therefore is both shibboleth and stigma, but [shrug] at least I'm aware that there's a question there.)

[msbutterpecan.livejournal.com]

Interesting...

OT:

I don't have either of your numbers and I'd like to be able to text. PM me here with that data, if you please? Thank you ever so. :-)

[muffyjo]

Where you start creates your history, what you do with it, is what counts.

[muffyjo]

Which is to say, the recognition is good, the guilt is over-rated, and the good use of super-powers is highly amusing.