Comments on: Fashion http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/ News, analysis, and what it looks like from the inside by an expatriate American in Astana Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:13:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: KZBlog http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-148 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:15:54 +0000 http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-148 <blockquote>"A cell phone for $200 is considered wasteful by a significant segment of the American consumers but in the xUSSR it’s something that even the “starving student” types might save up for. </blockquote> Excellent point. Last year I worked with a student doing his internship. I know he made the same as I did--$400 a month. But he bought two cellphones during the year--both around $200/$300 and a fur hat for $500 and a coat for another $500. He said looking good and having expensive brand name items was very important. Whereas I, being an American, went to the bazaar and bought a nice warm parka for $100 and the cheapest cell phone I could find! Someday I will write up a post on my experiences. Thanks for bringing that up.

“A cell phone for $200 is considered wasteful by a significant segment of the American consumers but in the xUSSR it’s something that even the “starving student” types might save up for.

Excellent point. Last year I worked with a student doing his internship. I know he made the same as I did–$400 a month. But he bought two cellphones during the year–both around $200/$300 and a fur hat for $500 and a coat for another $500. He said looking good and having expensive brand name items was very important. Whereas I, being an American, went to the bazaar and bought a nice warm parka for $100 and the cheapest cell phone I could find!

Someday I will write up a post on my experiences. Thanks for bringing that up.

]]> by: D http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-146 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 07:40:26 +0000 http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-146 Roundtrip ticket is 1200 or less with the discounts and whatnot (when the trip originates in KZ it's cheaper than for those of us who buyu it from the Western travel agents) You also have to keep in mind that people spend differently in the US and in the xUSSR. A cell phone for $200 is considered wasteful by a significant segment of the American consumers but in the xUSSR it's something that even the "starving student" types might save up for. As for the shopping trips - well, folks that I know who do that are not wealthy/rich. Middle class, management-type jobs. 2000k/month and up. They don't go shopping every month, of course, maybe once a year or every other year when they need to update the wardrobe. They claim that the savings are worth it. Roundtrip ticket is 1200 or less with the discounts and whatnot (when the trip originates in KZ it’s cheaper than for those of us who buyu it from the Western travel agents)

You also have to keep in mind that people spend differently in the US and in the xUSSR. A cell phone for $200 is considered wasteful by a significant segment of the American consumers but in the xUSSR it’s something that even the “starving student” types might save up for.

As for the shopping trips - well, folks that I know who do that are not wealthy/rich. Middle class, management-type jobs. 2000k/month and up. They don’t go shopping every month, of course, maybe once a year or every other year when they need to update the wardrobe. They claim that the savings are worth it.

]]> by: KZBlog http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-145 Wed, 29 Nov 2006 12:01:44 +0000 http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-145 My understanding is that anyone who has $2400 to spare (roundtrip ticket) and another $1500 to buy 3 suits--not to mention anyone who has need for buying 3 suits at a time--would be pretty wealthy. Plus hotel and food costs of the trip. In the US, such a person would be considered super rich. In Kazakhstan, I can only imagine. I'd be interested in what level of people can afford giant shopping trips to New York. My understanding is that anyone who has $2400 to spare (roundtrip ticket) and another $1500 to buy 3 suits–not to mention anyone who has need for buying 3 suits at a time–would be pretty wealthy. Plus hotel and food costs of the trip. In the US, such a person would be considered super rich. In Kazakhstan, I can only imagine. I’d be interested in what level of people can afford giant shopping trips to New York.

]]> by: D http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-144 Wed, 29 Nov 2006 10:25:29 +0000 http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-144 Shopping trips are not just for the super-wealthy. Sometimes a shopping trip to NYC sounds quite economical, actually. A nice man's suit can cost 1k or more in Almaty while the same suit would be 400-500 in NY. If one needs 3 suits (and some coats, sweaters, pants, etc) the 1200 ALA-NYC ticket is worth it. Shopping trips are not just for the super-wealthy. Sometimes a shopping trip to NYC sounds quite economical, actually. A nice man’s suit can cost 1k or more in Almaty while the same suit would be 400-500 in NY. If one needs 3 suits (and some coats, sweaters, pants, etc) the 1200 ALA-NYC ticket is worth it.

]]> by: ChrisM http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-142 Tue, 28 Nov 2006 13:32:31 +0000 http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-142 The difference is certainly noticable between Astana and the UK when you walk down the street, in terms of the appearance of women. Although women seem to spend a lot more time on their appearance, especially before going out onto the street, I do wonder if this activity sometimes takes too much time away from their free-time, especially if they are just popping down to the shop etc... Please ignore the following link, I'm trying to test trackback functionality on my site - http://www.chrismerriman.com/index.php/archives/289/trackback/ Hopefully see you this evening... The difference is certainly noticable between Astana and the UK when you walk down the street, in terms of the appearance of women. Although women seem to spend a lot more time on their appearance, especially before going out onto the street, I do wonder if this activity sometimes takes too much time away from their free-time, especially if they are just popping down to the shop etc…
Please ignore the following link, I’m trying to test trackback functionality on my site - http://www.chrismerriman.com/index.php/archives/289/trackback/

Hopefully see you this evening…

]]> by: Leila http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-141 Tue, 28 Nov 2006 06:51:41 +0000 http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/27/fashion/#comment-141 An example of bored housewife is Leila Khrapinova, a wife of a former Almaty akim Victor Khrapunov, who has her own jewelry business - "Viled". Yes, women are becoming more involved with business in Kazakhstan, but often there is a powerful man behind... An example of bored housewife is Leila Khrapinova, a wife of a former Almaty akim Victor Khrapunov, who has her own jewelry business - “Viled”. Yes, women are becoming more involved with business in Kazakhstan, but often there is a powerful man behind…

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