Growing up on a Panhandle farm during the Depression, my mom used to say, she and her siblings would be ecstatic to find an orange in their stockings Christmas morning. It’s not exactly fruit time yet in Highland Park, but,according to Harry Yianitsas of Deno’s shoe repair there, inconspicuous consumption is the watchword this season.
Harry tells about a guy who took a $60,000 necklace from a local jeweler home to his wife, who promptly told him to return it because, even though they could afford it, hanging 60 grand around her neck wouldn’t be appropriate given the still-struggling economy. Harry’s also seeing men bring in expensive shoes–including one suede pair costing $800–that have been intentionally roughed up to make them look old.
Three years ago, I gave my better half a $2,000 pair of boots from Neiman’s for Christmas; this year, we’ve agreed to give each other next to nothing. Sure hope she likes oranges.
