Name-dropping is fine, but social climbing is icky
Everybody social climbs a little bit, or they have at one point in their lives. Middle school and high school were ruthless, so it was a survival tactic that in retrospect was really dumb. Everyone gets butterflies in their stomach from hanging out with glitzy and glam people, and that's totally normal. Hanging out with a famous person is a cool story to tell to your friends, but when name-dropping supersedes asking your friend if she's feeling better after a bad night or how her new relationship is going, you've taken a bad turn. Making it your mission to be featured on "Rich Kids of Instagram" or to get a Cartier love bracelet from someone whose name is featured on the Hollywood Walk of Fame or is a member of a political dynasty is tacky and only alienating people. If it is attracting people, I guarantee you it's people who don't have your best interest at heart. Curating a social circle that's contingent on glam factor is gauche and everyone can see right through you, including those of the créme de la créme that you're pandering to.
(Looking at you, Taylor Swift.)
[Photo via @taylorswift]
.jpg "How Comms Guru & Founder Of The PR Net Lisa Smith Put Her Stylish Stamp On The Industry")
.jpg "Who Are The Assoulines? Meet The Chic First Family Of Luxury Publishing")
