Is Irvine more flashy than Lake Forest? (Orange, Mission Viejo: real estate, neighborhoods)

[MrJester]

Originally Posted by saibot

I wouldn't say that. I certainly know some extremely frugal Asians, and some profligate white people. But there are certain places in South OC that seem to be dominated by wealthy, flashy Asians, and people notice and remember that. As a white woman with no eye for fashion, I feel very out of place in South Coast Plaza, for instance.

But you wouldn't say Chinese women are more into fashion than white women, would you? I still don't see it as a racial or cultural thing so much as an income thing. You have some wealthier Mainlanders in Irvine but you also have lower income Mainlanders and Taiwanese in Monterey Park. After all, Newport Beach is mostly white, I wonder where the white women there go for high end fashion? Not South Coast Plaza?

Also consider that the wealthy Asian tourist is more likely to visit and shop in LA and SF than they are the East Coast. The wealthy European tourist is more likely to visit Miami than the West Coast. So there are definitely high end European shoppers visiting America, I'm sure, but mostly in Miami, NYC, the East Coast.

[amokk]

Originally Posted by MrJester

But you wouldn't say Chinese women are more into fashion than white women, would you? I still don't see it as a racial or cultural thing so much as an income thing. You have some wealthier Mainlanders in Irvine but you also have lower income Mainlanders and Taiwanese in Monterey Park. After all, Newport Beach is mostly white, I wonder where the white women there go for high end fashion? Not South Coast Plaza?

Also consider that the wealthy Asian tourist is more likely to visit and shop in LA and SF than they are the East Coast. The wealthy European tourist is more likely to visit Miami than the West Coast. So there are definitely high end European shoppers visiting America, I'm sure, but mostly in Miami, NYC, the East Coast.

Fashion Island primarily. But you see white people at South Coast too.

[saibot]

Originally Posted by amokk

Fashion Island primarily. But you see white people at South Coast too.

I was about to say Fashion Island. Of course there are both white and Asian people at both, but the percentage of Chinese is noticeably higher at South Coast Plaza. And they are mainly either recent immigrants or tourists...people who are young, wealthy, and walking around speaking Chinese. I haven't been there all this year, but in past years, a high percentage of the women were also hugely pregnant.

[Vic Romano]

Originally Posted by MrJester

So given the same income in the same area, White people are more frugal and less flashy than Asians? I thought it was Asians who saved and invested a lot.

Guess you don't know Asians very well, do you...

[amokk]

Originally Posted by saibot

I was about to say Fashion Island. Of course there are both white and Asian people at both, but the percentage of Chinese is noticeably higher at South Coast Plaza. And they are mainly either recent immigrants or tourists...people who are young, wealthy, and walking around speaking Chinese. I haven't been there all this year, but in past years, a high percentage of the women were also hugely pregnant.

Yes. There were actual tour bus companies (pre covid obviously) that would drive Chinese directly from LAX to South Cost to go shopping. Whenever I go to South Coast the majority of shoppers are mainland Chinese. But also some Middle Easternern oil money too. It's all about new money conspicuous consumption.

[amokk]

Originally Posted by MrJester

So given the same income in the same area, White people are more frugal and less flashy than Asians? I thought it was Asians who saved and invested a lot.

What you're seeing is the difference between new money and old money. Most Chinese are just first generation wealthy. As in their parents grew up in rice paddies in some village and their uncles were disappeared by Mao. Now that they have money it's all about flaunting it.

Compared to families who have been brought up with wealth over multiple generations. It's not a big deal so showing it off is seen as beneath them and as a way to distinguish themselves from the new money. This has happened for centuries.

[dtran103]

Lake Forest is at a lower tax bracket. I don't consider It flashy. It's a bit hillbilly if I had to say.

[MrJester]

Originally Posted by dtran103

Lake Forest is at a lower tax bracket. I don't consider It flashy. It's a bit hillbilly if I had to say.

Ha ha, hillbilly? Yeah right. What do you mean? Lots of gun owners in Lake Forest?

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by MrJester

Ha ha, hillbilly? Yeah right. What do you mean? Lots of gun owners in Lake Forest?

Guns.... a still in the backyard, barefoot children, a few goats and chickens.....

[MrJester]

Originally Posted by TimTheEnchanter

Guns.... a still in the backyard, barefoot children, a few goats and chickens.....

Oh yeah! Bake Parkway, it's the Mason Dixon Line of Orange County!

Where can I get that Lake Forest moonshine? Where can I listen to Dixie being played on banjos in Lake Forest?

Or Confederate Flags being flown in Lake Forest?