 |
Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger in happier times. After they divorced she held a jewellery sale and donated proceeds to an animal welfare charity. Photograph: Kevin Mazur Archive/WireImage Divorce is never easy. Even in the privileged circles of southern ...
Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger in happier times. After they divorced she held a jewellery sale and donated proceeds to an animal welfare charity. Photograph:
Divorce is never easy. Even in the privileged circles of southern California it is a traumatic and costly experience. There are lawyers to pay, prenuptial agreements to regret and houses to sell as once comfortable lives prepare to undergo a transformation. That is where Jill Alexander steps in.
Alexander, 37, has sparked a craze for "divorce parties" among well-heeled divorcees who are looking to offload the baggage of their married lives. Her new company, the Divorcee Sale, organises events where newly divorced women can sell their clothes, jewellery and handbags at bargain prices. Held in hotel ballrooms and chic event spaces across the Los Angeles area, the sales have become a huge smash.
"I just knew it would work. Divorce is pretty common these days and people are looking to offload their stuff," Alexander told the Observer. She sees huge potential for the Divorcee Sale across America and the rest of the world. "Divorce doesn't just happen in southern California," she said. "It will be my way of turning a negative into a positive."
It seems a win-win situation. The women get a windfall just when they need it; customers get knock-down prices; and Alexander takes her cut. A percentage of the proceeds goes to various charities.
Certainly the items on offer are attractive, and at prices which mean everyone from the rich to the budget-conscious can find a bargain. Recent sales have included a poncho by Dior ? a snip at $4,200 (£2,560) ? and a pair of Tory Burch shoes for just $140. Other brand names included Prada, Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabbana.
But Alexander, who, perhaps tellingly, is a little wary of marriage these days, says that the main aim is not to create a business: it is to help a woman get through a difficult period of her life. While the money the sales produce is important, it is the psychological lift of shedding the trappings of a previous life that can be most important.
"It is a really cathartic experience. When you clear out your closet, it can be freeing. You are downsizing, but you also don't want the clothes from your past life," said the former fashion manager.
One of Alexander's clients, internet and radio executive Julie Spira, has blogged about her experience of a sale. Alexander came to her house and helped her examine her closet. "It felt like the scene in the Sex and the City movie, where Carrie and her friends collectively decided on what she would keep as her life was moving forward with Big," Spira wrote.
Business is certainly booming. The Divorcee Sale will hold its first event outside southern California next month, when Alexander hosts a three-day sale in New York. A space has already been booked in the trendy downtown neighbourhood of SoHo and Alexander is anticipating major demand.
After all, New York is not short of wealthy divorcees or those who would like to snap up their belongings at cut-rate prices. "It is going to be great; we are expecting an off-the-charts weekend," Alexander said. Nor is it likely to stop there. So far Alexander's only disappointment is failing to attract any celebrities to the cause. "I thought the celebrities would come but they have not shown up yet," she said. Perhaps image-aware stars are still a little wary of being associated with divorce, despite its prevalence in Hollywood, or more likely they are used to handling such things themselves.
Big name stars have long been hitting the headlines for their own personal divorce sales. When actress Ellen Barkin split from her husband Ron Perelman in 2006, she flogged off jewellery worth $20m via a sale at Christie's.
Kim Basinger did likewise after divorcing Alec Baldwin in 2002, selling off numerous pieces of jewellery and donating cash to an animal welfare charity.
Worried about the financial consequences of divorce? Don't get a prenup - get a partner you can trust Printable version Send to a friend Share Clip Contact us Article history Comments in chronological order (Total 23 comments)
7 August 2011 5:39AMAh yes, profiting from divorce. It's this sort of attitude that will keep America great and get the economy going again... and who said all they care about is money?
As for divorce parties in general, it just goes to show the superficial nature of most marriages these days - they're not going into it for long term commitment, but as a thing that feels right for now. No wonder they feel nothing post divorce - the real exes would be hurting - because they actually gave a shit.
7 August 2011 8:03AMI wonder what I'd get for a slightly worn pair of Primark pyjamas the other half stretched to for last year's Christmas gift?
Also how about offloading your cast offs to the local Op Shop/Salvation Army instead of to scavenging bottom feeders??? People in need would have more dignity.
7 August 2011 11:28AMWell at least it's not a party where you give stuff to the divorcees, as I was expecting before I clicked. As a single person, it's enough shelling out for weddings and baby showers etc. while enjoying higher living costs on a lower income without having to buy presents for divorcees. I have actually been to a divorce party, but it was just a piss-up, no "shedding of baggage" involved.
7 August 2011 1:24PMAt the age of eight or nine I went to a "divorce party" where two neighbours were getting divorced and held a party to celebrate.
7 August 2011 2:02PMGreat so as a man all the stuff I gave to my wife out of love and hard earned cash I might add is now sold on as a profit making enterprise.
It's easy to switch off when they're jabbering on about cricket, golf, cars, shares etc. but when it comes to bedroom duties and having to lie under them for a few minutes of an afternoon, most women need an incentive.
7 August 2011 3:39PMIt's easy to switch off when they're jabbering on about cricket, golf, cars, shares etc. but when it comes to bedroom duties and having to lie under them for a few minutes of an afternoon, most women need an incentive.
I don't understand this post, so you're saying the women talked about here got married to men they don't like in order to get expensive items but somehow they are the victims?
I make no judgements of couples who decide to base their partner choices on looks or money but if they do they are definitely not victims, neither the woman or the man involved.
Whoop-de-doo. When I got my divorce in 1980, not only did I have a divorce party, but my ex, who was a typesetter, did the invites for me.
7 August 2011 4:50PMI thought this would be an article about people celebrating their freedom, not some fancy auction of things. Things that more than likely the person had not used for ages and could have sent to a high class charity shop instead. Still I celebrated my divorce with a nice glass of pure malt. I had got rid of the violent abusive partner.
It's easy to switch off when they're jabbering on about cricket, golf, cars, shares etc. but when it comes to bedroom duties and having to lie under them for a few minutes of an afternoon, most women need an incentive.
[...] but when it comes to bedroom duties and having to lie under them for a few minutes of an afternoon, most women need an incentive.
7 August 2011 6:25PMSeeing as how it was all happening in America. I thought they were having 'divorced from reality parties'. Oh well nearly right.
7 August 2011 6:32PMWhen actress Ellen Barkin split from her husband Ron Perelman in 2006, she flogged off jewellery worth $20m via a sale at Christie's.
8 August 2011 10:52AMIn Japan they have Divorce parties- I think that's nice, being invited to celebrate- well at least acknowledge, the end as well as the start.
i think if i had given a wedding gift and it was later sold in a divorce sale i would be greatly offended. and for this reason i will not be buying well heeled calafornians wedding gifts from Tiffany's any more.
8 August 2011 1:36PMThis is so passe. They have been doing Divorce Parties in Liverpool for years. Except you keep as much stuff as possible and go get drunk in the Living Rooms!
guardiangardens: http://t.co/EPcPPrQ On the blog: a reader shares his family garden. Want to show us your garden? Email jane.perrone@guardian.co.
Elin Nordegren stands to secure up to $750m as part of divorce settlement after five years of marriage beset by golfer's affairsLicense/buy our content | Privacy policy | Terms & conditions | Advertising guide | Accessibility | A-Z index | Inside guardian.co.uk blog | About guardian.co.
This article appeared on p21 of the Main section section of the Observer on Sunday 7 August 2011. It was published on guardian.co.uk at 00.06 BST on Sunday 7 August 2011. It was last modified at 00.49 BST on Sunday 7 August 2011. It was first published at 00.07 BST on Sunday 7 August 2011.