$40 for a T-shirt? That would have to be SOME T-shirt.

$320 for a cardigan??? I don't think so! Oprah really HAS lost touch with average people, I don't know anyone who would even pay $32 for a pair of panties, not to mention the rest of those outrageous prices.

I have spent about that for a good quality bra. But heck no on the cost of everything else!

If these are essentials according to the mighty O, what do poor people wear - gunny sacks? Sounds as though it's turning into Elle... I agreee with petra - completely out of touch.

Is that $32 for panties for the suggested thong the fashion expert says we all should wear? We could never "get our panties in a wad" again.

"...the fashion expert says wear only thongs to eliminate panty lines."

OMG! I must really be out of touch. I wear Hanes cotton briefs to eliminate pantylines...works for me. I tried a thong on once and I just don't "get" it. The thought of wearing dental floss between my private parts is just a bit too much for me.

And Oprah? When she came out with her "new favorite" item, The Kindle", I knew she had really lost touch with the real world. Someone needs to b!t@h slap her back down a few notches. For goodness sake, pick up a darn book and read! We don't need to re-invent the wheel.

Is that $32 for panties for the suggested thong the fashion expert says we all should wear?

Nope. It's odd, but after the thong pronouncement, the panties pictured looked like boy shorts trimmed in lace. No panty lines from them......just bunched-up silk.

But Donna, it was a "dressy" t-shirt! LOL

You know what? I could care less if people walking behind me can tell I have underwear on. in fact, I kind of hope they know I have underwear on, LOL!

I hate thongs...they are neither practical nor comfortable.

Maybe it's like all the home decorating magazines when they show furniture that costs the earth and decorating fabrics for $500 per yard. It is meant to be used for the "idea" and then you buy a similar item at whatever price point is good for you. I certainly would not be buying metallic flats at $225 but I did get some nice ones at the beginning of the summer for $50. But leggings at $248?? Surely they jest!

Years ago, Glamour magazine did an article about women who dress for success. All the clothing items were separates that matched with everything else. Like jackets, blouses, sweaters, with matching trousers and skirts. THree tops with two bottoms equals six different outfits. I shop at stores where I can get items for single digits. Those magazines are good for ideas but for real life? NOT

Procrastinating this afternoon, I created my own version of the O pieces. I didn't make them dirt-cheap, because that's not comparable to the look they're going for. But I think these are reasonable substitutes. My total comes to $413, but almost 1/3 of it is the silk wrap dress ($125). (Cheaper ones don't really compare.) Buy an approximation at Target for $29.99, and the total goes down to $321.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nine Essential Pieces by Joann

good job joann! You're hired! :)

Wozer, what prices!

Leather day bag ($198) my leather back pack purse was $29 at TJmax
Trouser jeans ($70) I don't own any I paid more than $36 for EVER!
Knit leggings ($248) WHAT??? I can knit some for less than 20, with a quality yarn!
An arty silk shell ($66) That one I actually find reasonable.
The right undergarments* (bra, $74; panties $32) bra cost, yep, a good one costs good money, but panties for over $12, that seems way high to me!
Metallic flats ($225) You got to be kidding, not even my knee high leather boots cost that much (but I did buy at the end of the season for 20% off)

A dressy t-shirt ($40) another item way to spensive!
A knit cardigan ($320) again, no way in he!! would I pay that. I would knit one, and I bet, I would be able to find the yarn for less than 100, even if it was wool.
A jersey wrap dress ($385) Helloooooo, ever hear of sewing for yourself???

WOZER, those original prices just knock me over.

Moni

I'll bet even Michelle Obama doesn't spend that kind of money on some of those things.

*the fashion expert says wear only thongs to eliminate panty lines
I'm guessing that fashion expert is a male.

Sue

Everyone is so uptight about panty lines. I'm with a previous poster. I don't try to make them show, but if they do, so what.

I'm with Mrsmarv here--hope people know I'm wearing underwear.

I finally did it--forgot to bring panties to the Y to put on after swimming. White shorts and stopping for lunch with a friend before going home.

You really couldn't even tell, but I brought a pair of the Hanes from a new package in the car into the restaurant and put them on before going to the table.

Leggings??? Are we back in the 80's? I know the new look is slouched at the heel,(went to a fashion show at NM) but would never wear them. Isn't the rule if you remember it you can't wear it? Some of those prices are incredible.

Nice work, Joann! You can be our KT Personal Shopper.

Oh, and yeah--the expert promoting the thongs was indeed a male.

I don't subscribe or read magazines because they're full of usless information, just like that!

One of the best parts of going to the hair salon or the doctor's office is reading magazines. I enjoy picking up O Magazine to find out what Oprah and Gail think I should be doing-wearing-reading-eating-thinking etc.

Oprah has come a long way since her childhood. It's almost like she was dropped here on Earth from a planet far away, a rather exclusive planet I should add. Except for the prices (and the leggings) the list makes a lot of sense for someone working in an office. As Jannie pointed out 'mix and match' separates are very handy in the work place.

I just can't figure out why Oprah seems to wear her clothes so snug. Whether she's trim or heavy wearing clothes that hug her body just accentuates her all her curves, a look that's not very attractive. But obviously the Big O isn't reading my magazine 'mcm.'

I started to post on this last night but didn't for fear of being FLAMED...well now I'll post cause I'm seeing I'm not the only one who thinks O needs to get back to the real world...If I worked in an office my thinking might be different...Thank goodness I wear a uniform so I don't have to think about putting outfits together...if I didn't I'd be up a creek cause I'm not going to spend that kind of money on clothing...and I think most of us here all feel about the same...

My one extravagance is I always buy leather bags, no plastic or vinyl for me. They wear like iron and look good for years. My last bag was a Coach bag that cost me $250. two years ago. I still use it every single day. I buy panties five for $12 at a local dress shop favored by teens. I won't be going there anytime soon, it's still "back to school" shopping time in my area.

I have long been turned off at Oprah. She may be the richest woman in the US, but I think she is soooo out of touch with the rest of the world. I don't buy her magazine, either. I think it is too self-absorbed with her on every cover. How nauseating. The thing that kills me about her, is, when she does anything good, she makes a show out of it. "Yay me! I built a school in Africa" whereas there are many rich people and not-so-rich people who do things without ever tooting their own horn. (This is the same reason I don't watch her show - it's all "look at what I'm doing, have done, will do. Boring.) Those clothing prices are reasonable for rich people who think nothing of throwing away a lot of money on perishables like that. I also do not like the mags that show photos of what "stars" are wearing and the price tags on them - $2000 for a pair of shoes? More than that on many other things. Imagine all the good that could be done with the money "stars" throw away on stuff like that. Granted, it's their money, but I'm not interested in it. I remember one show where some designer re-did a house with items from Sears, Walmart and the like. And Oprah was so dumbfounded that decorative pillows could cost $15. And the place looked wonderful. I thought then that she's forgotten what it was like to be an average person.

I've always been an Oprah fan, but I agree that she's out of touch with most people. I especially remember one show that featured home decorating tips. When an interior designer decreed that silk flowers are tacky, Oprah exclaimed that she didn't know why anyone wouldn't use real flowers instead. Paris Hilton I could understand, but Oprah should know better.