STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

work closed due to heat in NYC!

needsfashionadvice · Kate Spade

He's so lucky (assuming that he still gets paid for the time off anyway)! That would never happen here in Louisiana because we've got air conditioning everywhere.

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

Good question, he didn't mention if he was still getting paid or not. We've been using a record amount of electricity in NYC over the last couple days and I guess at some buildings the AC is just not up to snuff for coping with 100 degrees and up temperatures; either that, or non-essential businesses are cutting back on electricity use. We went to the movies yesterday and it was pretty warm in the theater.

blubirde · Chanel

I'm always so surprised when I hear about parts of the U.S. going apesh*t over hot weather, mainly because I live in TX and no one would dare be without air conditioning. I also don't understand the brownouts, blackouts, whatever because of overuse of electricity. If Houston can do it, I'm pretty sure Cali can handle it, too.

But then I guess other states don't understand why we shut down all business when there's ice on the roads, huh?

Kel · Coach

I feel like nothing ever shuts down around here, even though tropical storms most people are still expected to work.

Grace · Dooney & Bourke

I think business use too much energy in general...they do not need to turn places into ice boxes! If every business everywhere set there air a few degrees warmer...I would think quite a bit of energy could be saved...don't you think??

cc · Marc Jacobs

That's so weird. Is their building's AC just not strong enough to make things comfortable or are they trying to save energy/money?
I know Con Ed makes a lot of office buildings do certain things to cut down on electricity usage during the day. My building turns off most of the lights in the lobby and one elevator in each bank is out of service. And normally during the summer the office is freezing but this summer it's actually been comfortable to slightly warm. In previous years I would be cold even in sweaters but this summer I'm fine in short sleeves.

My dad came to hang out with me this weekend and he kept saying how it really wasn't that hot and he didn't know what people were getting so worked up about. I reminded him that he drives everywhere so he really isn't being exposed to the heat that much. Unlike most people in NYC who have to walk to and from the train, then stand on a platform that's even hotter than the air outside, then get in crowded and possibly un-air conditioned subway cars. I went to the grocery store after work last night and I thought I was going to pass out on the 4 block walk home - the heat combined with the weight of the sweat-inducing plastic bags was just too much.

boobaby · Kate Spade

I grew up in a place where temps in the high 90s/100s with high humidity were pretty common in the summer, but having just lived through the last week in Chicago, I can honestly say I have never been that miserable and hot in my life.

Growing up, I had central air, we drove everywhere in an air conditioned car, and everywhere we went was air conditioned.

I have spent the last week sleeping on the couch and even that was uncomfortable with 2 window units, which were powerless against the heat. I have no car and walk and take the train everywhere. The only truly comfortable place was my office. During the heat wave, I went to many stores and restaurants that were incredibly hot, including national chains like CVS.

I got my hair done and the salon was sooo hot. The air conditioning was on, it just had no effect with all those people and hair dryers, etc. I swear, I had to keep reminding myself that my discomfort was temporary and I shouldn't ask the stylist to chop all of my hair off. Even on the train, sometimes the air was definitely on, but all those sweaty, hot people were radiating heat!

I think in urban areas, we are more exposed to the elements, more crowded, etc., which adds to the suffering. Plus, I believe I once heard that concrete traps heat, so urban environments and downtowns stay hotter than rural and suburban places with lots of grass.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

how funny. I am in houston and i am barely using ac in my apt. only a few hours on saturdays and sundays and i survive just fine. I just use my ceiling fans.