Hello Kitty Fans ... More Money Than Brains?

Martin Pavion

The Hello Kitty craze is now reaching into the designer jewelry business and further into consumer pockets. There are now some designers who will be unveiling their collection of Hello Kitty jewelry at upscale stores around the Unites States and the world.

Judith Leiber who is well know for creating elegant handbags that are on the cutting edge of high fashion, has now drifted into Hello Kitty  designs. Her handbags have gained acclaim through the use of crystal accessories and the Hello Kitty designs can be found in the American luxury brand. Ms. Liebers most notable Hello Kitty design is the Minaudiere. This Hello Kitty handbag, which can be found at fine department stores such as Neiman Marcus and from Ms. Liebers boutiques, may be purchased for the mere retail price of  $1895.00. For those of you who are looking for a Hello Kitty compact, Hello Kitty cell phone cover, Hello Kitty ipod cover or any other accessory customized you’ll just have to visit momoberry.com, and contact them for details on a price for your customizations.

What if Hello Kitty accessories were added to the ensembles of the elite stars that are found on the ‘Red Carpet’…
As this author thinks about all the sparkling elegant stars to walk the red carpet, let us say….. The Oscars for instance, Miss Julia Roberts comes to mind. She is of the most elegant stars on the Red Carpet and has been named best dressed on a number of occasions. What would the Red carpet picture look like with the Hello Kitty bag being held in her hand next to her beautiful  Vera Wang gown….?  

In this author’s opinion Ms. Roberts would have a more difficult time meeting the Best Dressed list sporting a Hello Kitty bag. This stylish star has brains that equal money and a $1895.00 bag choice would certainly not be Hello Kitty.

One star that is in the news constantly now has opted to use Hello Kitty accessories for her look. Britney Spears in her video “Do Somethin” is wearing a custom 9 carat Hello Kitty necklace designed by Kimora Lee Simmons said to be valued at over $50,000.00…….Again, just this author’s opinion….but more money than brains.

Ms. Spears seem to be having enough trouble looking grown-up these days in the media. Using a Hello Kitty necklace as an accessory probably isn’t helping her image as an adult.

Other Hello Kitty accessories by Kimora Lee Simmons include:

Hello Kitty Diamond Bracelet Watch $3500.00
Hello Kitty Ceramic Diamond Watch, White $2900.00 
Hello Kitty Ceramic Diamond Watch, Pink $2900.00
Hello Kitty Zodiac Kitty Necklaces $700.00-980.00
Hello Kitty Diamond Kitty Watch $1995.00

More Hello Kitty accessories available at Neiman Marcus include:

Hello Kitty Pave Diamond Ring $4,250.00
Hello Kitty Simply Kitty Necklace $4,250.00
Hello Kitty Silhouette Kitty Necklace $950.00

Hello Kitty Dream Kitty Necklace $3,600.00
Hello Kitty Princess Kitty Ring $2,800.00
Hello Kitty Karma Kitty Love Necklace $900.00
Hello Kitty Lucky Charm Necklace $1,300.00
Hello Kitty NM Exclusive Pet Sweater $100.00 ( A dog sweater with a Hello Kitty studded design on the back…….what….my dog would pout for days)
Hello Kitty Aloha Kitty $4,200.00

When thinking of spending hundreds, better yet, thousands of dollars on jewelry, the first thing that comes to mind is not Hello Kitty. Is this author out of the loop? On the other hand, are others so out of their minds?

When celebrities see a trend that is catching on (how and why is beyond this author) they all grab at it hoping to catch a piece of the publicity to heist their visibility with the general public. There are growing lists of celebs that are sporting the Hello Kitty accessories. This authors opinion ( agree or not) is that women/men, meaning female or male….however you choose to see it, i.e.: persons over the age of 18, wearing clothing and accessories that spawn from a cartoon cat that was aimed at children is somehow insulting to adults with the ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy. After all. The Hello Kitty Character was introduced as being in the third grade.

Example: Mariah Carey dropped out of school in the eighth grade…..super star no less……but still a little girl at heart, hence Hello Kitty paraphernalia everywhere. This is just an example and is not intended to single out Ms. Carey (who by the way is one of my favorite artists) never the less, she is a grown woman.

The whole point of this article is that the Hello Kitty craze is just that……It is a fad that will be here today and gone tomorrow just as so many fads have done before.

Honestly, being an adult, dressing as an adult, presenting oneself as an adult is gratifying. When we are teens, we long for the time that we will move into adulthood, to be able to be viewed as an adult with adult privileges, rights, and responsibilities. The persons that can get away with sporting the Hello Kitty paraphernalia are those who have come into their own as stars (not everyday people). If one were an attorney for a firm in their local town, Hello Kitty would not be well received.

Moral of the article, if you’re grown and want to portray that image, then accessories, attitudes, clothing and the way you conduct yourself play a heavy part on how people see you. First impressions are lasting impressions.

This author says “Goodbye Kitty”