Iowa Fashion, Lifestyle, Consumer practices (Des Moines, Waterloo: upper-class, coupons, buying)

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Just wondering,

If you could have the ideal car, truck, or SUV what would it be? Do the ladies need a Coach Handbag or one made from some other mid to upscale company or does the purse at the local Wal-Mart suffice? When you buy clothes does a designer name enter into the purchase decision, or do you shop at Kohl's?

Something that interests me are the ideas held by those around the nation. I love the states of Iowa, California, Arizona, Texas, and New York. Each offer a differant angle on what is important to a consumer. Having lived in Iowa for a two year span back in the mid 1980's I was amazed at the vast differances in what was important to the average consumer back then comparing Southern California Coastal to the Waterloo area.

If you have the time lets talk what is important to the Iowa Consumer.

[mustang84]

It entirely depends upon what area of the state you live in. West Des Moines, Urbandale, Bettendorf, Iowa City, etc. are as consumer-driven as LA or New York. You will see Mercedes-Benzes, Prada handbags, people walking around with mocha lattes, etc. Granted, the number of upper-class people in Iowa is much smaller than LA or New York, but they can be found clustered in the suburbs of larger Iowa cities.

If you are in small towns or rural areas, naturally people have lower incomes and less access to expensive items so they'll tend to be driving around in Chevrolets, purchasing clothes from Wal-Mart, and saving money on groceries by clipping coupons and buying store-brand products.

Waterloo has long been an economically-depressed area, so I would expect to see them fall more in line with rural purchasing habits than suburban ones like West Des Moines.

[capitalcityguy]

I find it a bit offensive (or maybe niave) to ask a question as if all Iowan's would react or answer the questions the same way.

Also, I'm not sure if you've gotten the memo, but all blacks don't like fried chicken and watermelon and the Jewish people don't own all the banks.

[hdinia]

Just like anywhere else, you will find people who have to have the latest and greatest along with those to whom labels and current trends do not matter.
I know at least 3 people who have more than a couple of Coach bags but I myself haven't spent more than $45 on a purse.
I have a Harley but also drive a Jetta.
I don't own a pair of Oakley's or shoes that cost over $100 but have several friends that do.

[Chicago60614]

It's not like people aren't allowed to leave the state. Just drive 3.5 hours from Iowa City and you can do a weekend of shopping in Chicago. Or fly to the west/east coasts. Or order things online.

Anyone and everyone who has the desire and money for purchases can find them. It's a much larger world than it was in the 1980's. Iowa is also more urban than it was 25 years ago. Des Moines metro is nearing 600,000. It's getting a lot more stores.



Why would someone who wanted a designer bag go buy it at Wal-Mart? Because they're in Iowa and too stupid or ignorant to know there's a difference?

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Funny the responses that I am getting to this question. I was looking at the Iowa picture thread and of the pictures with people in them I never noticed anyone in designer style clothes. It seemed to me that clothing styles, haircut styles, the cars ect were either dated, or no one in the pictures gets out much.

CapitalCityGuy, why would you find the question offensive? I asked what type of transportation is prefered. What styles are prefered. Is that offensive to you? How in the world does that relate to race? I can tell you that consumer product companies do this same thing all the time. Does that offend you?

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

Funny the responses that I am getting to this question. I was looking at the Iowa picture thread and of the pictures with people in them I never noticed anyone in designer style clothes. It seemed to me that clothing styles, haircut styles, the cars ect were either dated, or no one in the pictures gets out much.

CapitalCityGuy, why would you find the question offensive? I asked what type of transportation is prefered. What styles are prefered. Is that offensive to you? How in the world does that relate to race? I can tell you that consumer product companies do this same thing all the time. Does that offend you?

What thread? I just know of the main Iowa Picture Thread....which has 6 pictures with people actually in the photo. 4 are of parades in little rural towns where they're specifically dressing up/driving historical cars, and two of a street festival in Des Moines...with people outside all day and in the grass (not exactly a designer fashion situation).


I think it was just the way the original post was worded. I mean if you're going to something at Hancher in Iowa City, or an Opera, cocktail party, theatre or a city's symphony you're probably going to dress up more. If you wanted a Coach handbag, that's probably where you'd use/take it. If you're just hanging out at a picnic or doing some random saturday afternoon shopping with the family - you're just going to wear khakies or jeans and a t-shirt, hoodie, etc.


There's not much unusual in Iowa that you wouldn't find anywhere else in the country - outside maybe Hollywood, Rodeo Drive or Midtown Manhattan where people tend to dress worrying about serious high end fashion more than normal people across the rest of the country. It depends on the situation and if you're in West Des Moines or some rural farm community.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Kind of proved where I was going with this Chicago. Going outside to any event without a designer label is not going to happen for many people in LA. Even to a family picnic or county fair, or going to the shopping center. My wife and most of the women I know have to have their Coach, YSL, or some other designer purse all the time.

[thatguy1]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

Also, I'm not sure if you've gotten the memo, but all blacks don't like fried chicken and watermelon and the Jewish people don't own all the banks.

They dont?

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

CapitalCityGuy, why would you find the question offensive? I asked what type of transportation is prefered. What styles are prefered. Is that offensive to you? How in the world does that relate to race? I can tell you that consumer product companies do this same thing all the time. Does that offend you?

The fact that you can't pick up the sarcasm within my comment about race makes me now view your original question as niave, rather than offensive. I'll withdraw that remark.

Yes, of course consumer product companies do the same thing, but through either statistically significant sampling or focus groups where they ask the INDIVIDUALS about their OWN preferences. They don't asked them to speak for an entire population as that would be ineffective and naive to think you could get accurately gather feedback that way.