The Hewitt Times

On the Upper East Side, you often see a stereotypical, coveted look, and an ostentatious lifestyle. Students pass by expensive stores and restaurants that are unaffordable for most Americans.  The Upper East Side markets to the wealthy which promulgates the concept of “Gossip Girl” life.

The Gossip Girl Effect is the idea that all girls and boys on the Upper East Side are wealthy, snobby, manipulative socialites, and everyone who does not fit that description is considered outcasts. Hewitt students are probably familiar with the popular show, Gossip Girl, which exaggerates the culture of an NYC private school life. Teenagers have tried to mimic the actions of the characters by dressing like them, acting like them, and even creating social media accounts like Gossip Girl. It usually resonates with younger teens, but since its final air, it’s become more of a running joke for New York private school students. The Gossip Girl effect has created a multitude of problems around how people in this area feel like they should be and who they should aspire to be. The vanity and choice of role models that teens on the Upper East Side feel as though they should follow are stereotypically socialites, fashion icons, and models. The influence that these public figures have for teens starts at an early age.

The vanity and money on the Upper East Side are things that are not always obvious, but can definitely be seen in some areas. People dress up in thousands of dollars in shoes, bags, clothes, and accessories, for something as every day as the supermarket. Coveted fashion for teens is six thousand dollar bracelets, which creates an almost impossible standard for fashion. In private schools it is more common to see teens with the latest fashion trends than not. Another trend that seems to roam the streets of the Upper East Side is plastic surgery, in particular, nose jobs.

For many living on the upper east side, it’s easy to fix your physical flaws, whether that be a crooked nose or thin lips. While it is easy to go to a doctor and get your flaws fixed to your liking, is it really seen in a positive light? Jessica F (11) got a nose job because it was a major insecurity of hers. She said that she would constantly find herself looking at other people’s noses and wearing makeup to attempt to take the attention away from it. In freshman year, thinking about her nose and how it looked from every angle became so time consuming that when she realized she had the opportunity to fix it, she did. “If someone has an insecurity and wants to fix it, there is nothing wrong with that, and if someone has an insecurity, and is not comfortable with fixing it, that is fine too.” (Jessica F. ’11) When asked if she thinks having the surgery done was worth it she replied, “Personally I am happy with how mine turned out and I think it was all worth it, but something like plastic surgery is really a personal decision.”

Getting a nose job is not always the choice of the recipient, in some cases, like Sophia M.’s, a broken nose can lead to having to get plastic surgery. While being a trend, it can be unwanted and seen as “not worth it,” by some. In freshman year Sophia M.’11 deviated her septum, broke her nose, and was having trouble breathing. She said that, “It was hard for the doctors because I specifically said that I did not want my nose to look different, but they had to fix it. They told me that in order to fix my nose they had to fix the break and narrow the tip so that it was not proportionate.” In response to being asked if plastic surgery was worth having Sophia said, “If it is something you’re self conscious about and you are unhappy then it’s fine. If it is a minor insecurity, it’s not worth it. I was out of school for two weeks recovering and I don’t think it is worth going through just to look a bit prettier, everyone is pretty the way they are.”