Standard operating procedure

Standard operating procedure

Thursday night the crew rendezvoused at The Standard Bar and Grill. There were fashion colleagues to the right of our table, some entertainment folks in from the West coast to our far far right, some guy who claimed to have started and sold Skinny Cow to Nestle to the left (and if you’re reading this Skinny Cow man, thanks for the three rounds of drinks and if you’re interested in a tax deductible contribution to the out-of-work fashion editor fund please contact me at dabagirls.com), and faux rapper guys in between lobbing fries at our table. Before the night turned into a veritable 6th grade cafeteria our conversation focused on a new plight affecting serial dating DABAs everywhere.

DABA Girl #1: “Am I the only one who’s having a significantly harder time maintaining my five boyfriend minimum now that there are half as many banks? I found out the other day that two of my guys with preferred FBF status are now working at the same bank slash hedge fund slash investment firm.”

DABA Girl #2: “Ugh, I know! When Bear Stearns was bought out by Barclays I had to hand out more pink slips than Bear Stearns.”

DABA Girl #3: “This is just a hypothetical, I mean, I’m just putting this out there, but have you ever considered not dating soooo many people at once? I mean, this could be contributing to your trust issues.”

DABA Girl #1: “Did you just call me a slut?”

DABA Girl #2: “She def just called you a slutski.”

DABA Girl #1: “I don’t know what you’re laughing at ho-bag she was talking about you too.”

DABA Girl #3: “No- well maybe- but all I’m saying is that you gotta keep your s**t tight.”

DABA Girl #1: “OMG, did you just call me fat??”

DABA Girl #2: “She did, you really should try this coffee, lemon juice, Claritin diet I’ve been on.”

DABA Girl #3: “Jesus, no! What I’m saying is that when there is an economic downturn such as the one that we’re currently experiencing, maybe it would be best to similarly downsize some of your investments.”

DABA Girl #1: “See I think we’re coming from different schools of thought on this one, I was trying to diversify. And I don’t have trust issues, I have trust fund issues, as in, I don’t have one.”

DABA Girl #2: “How long have you been waiting to use that pun?”

DABA Girl #1: “I’m sorry, are you heckling my conversation? I will straight-”

DABA Girl #2: “Ignore me, I’m in a sex coma, I’m so mellowed out that I’ve lost the ability to care about other females. Don’t worry I should regain feeling in a day or two.”

DABA Girl #3: “Ladies, let me tell you a little ditty about a DABA Girl, that DABA Girl being me, whose luck recently ran out… It all began one dark and stormy night in San Francisco. I was there recovering from a broken heart when-“

DABA Girl #2: “Correction, it’s more like your heart was broken, then got run-over by a semi while a troop of stiletto wearing plus size models pranced down it like it was a catwalk.”

DABA Girl #3: “Eff off sexpot. Now, where was I? Oh yes, I was meeting a blind date. Not just any blind date. A blind date set up by a famous Bay Area matchmaker. There’s a year waiting list to see her. You have to fill out a twelve-page application, swear on the bible that you’re ready for a serious committed monogamous relationship and not dating anyone else, and if she successfully sets you up with your future husband you’ll hand over your first born baby. Now, I of course agreed to all this because I’m twenty-seven and my pre-injectible years are quickly coming to a close.”

DABA Girl #2: “Correction, your pre-injectible years ended two years ago.”

DABA Girl #3: “Lies.”

DABA Girl #2: “Bulls**t, let us all see you try to raise your eyebrows.”

DABA Girl #3: “I have migraines, it’s for a medical condition, and friendship over.

As we all know, old habits die hard. At dinner my blind date started to talk about all the business that he does in New York. Suddenly I put two and two together. I was pretty sure my NYC FBF also worked in the M & A section of the same bank of my blind date.

At this point the waiter asked if anything was wrong with my untouched baby duck breast and fois gras appetitizer. I still rue the moment that I let him take it away.

My throat closed and my cheeks turned a deep, typically tequila shot induced shade of rouge. I had to ask him. I chugged my light on the juice, well-shaken cosmo and outright inquired as to if he knew my other FBF. And by outright I mean I identified my NYC FBF as my best friend’s ex-boyfriend (fyi DABITs, typically a fool proof alibi). Without hesitation he responded “Oh yeah! I love that dude, we talk like five times a day. He’s killing it right now in our fantasy football league.”

I feigned swine flu and left before dessert. Needless-to-say the matchmaker has banned me from future matches until I can get my philandering ways under control. The whole incident was très unfortunate.”

DABA Girl #1: “Très

DABA Girl #2: “I hope you didn’t tell your blind date that you write a blog.”

DABA Girl #3: “What, do you think I’m smoking the true crack rock?”

DABA Girl #2: “You never know with you.”

DABA Girl #1: “You’re banned from coming to dinner post coitis.”

DABA Girl #2: “Fair enough.”

DABA Girl #1: “Am I the only one who thinks like blogging is sooooo first quarter 2009?”

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But not us. No, we’re a lost cause apparently. No surprise really, we’re about to give up on ourselves…

Let us know if you go on the show so we can tivo it and try to learn something, anything.

From Chadwick, the Dr. Phil intern:

I work with the “Dr. Phil” show and am very interested in speaking with you regarding a show that we are working on for Wednesday, October 21st 2009. Our show will focus on the problems that the collapse of Wall Street and the housing market are causing on marriages. I have read the blog entries on your website, Dating a Banker Anonymous, and would like to  talk to you about possibly having some of the couples on your blog appear on the show. We are looking for couples who are currently experiencing tension and stress in their marriages due to the change in their economic status, and want help moving forward. Please email me at drphil.intern@cbsparamount.com to discuss further details. I look forward to hearing from you and possibly working together.


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Come and prove that you ain't no bottle poppin' girl

Come and prove that you ain't no bottle poppin' girl

DABA Girl #1: “Alright this sabbatical of yours has gone on long enough missy. Frankly, it’s selfish. As my emergency contact I need you within a 10-mile radius of me at all time. What use are you to me holed up in San Francisco?

DABA Girl #2: I’m busy dealing with my posttraumatic stress. My Prince Charming turned out to be a Prince Harming and I’m pretty sure the “it’s not me, it’s the recession” excuse has been played out. Either this blog has rendered me fundamentally unable to have a functional relationship or something actually is wrong with me… Is it my hips?

DABA Girl #1: Did you just quote Clueless?

DABA Girl #2: Yes and I still maintain that it is a cinematic masterpiece. It’s so deep. I mean, I would be much more social if my going out clothes weren’t so constricting.

DABA Girl #1: Home girl, you need to hightail it back to The Big Apple before all the good guys are taken.  Do you want a repeat of the winter of ’05?

DABA Girl #2: That was my first winter on the East Coast! How was I to know that: (a) a boyfriend was necessary during the winter to ward off seasonal depression and (b) all the good ones are on lockdown by Thanksgiving?

DABA Girl #1: I know, I know I blame myself for not giving you a heads on that one, which is why if you will just agree to get on a plane back to NYC I will have dates lined up and waiting for you. Refresh me of your requirements: min 6′1”, EA*, appreciates California (whatever that means), orders his steak more rare than medium… what else?

DABA Girl #2: Prefers Picasso to Dali and knows my sizing in La Perla.

DABA Girl #1: What happened to Ivy League educated and former D1 athlete?

DABA Girl #2: Dude, I can’t be too picky. Thanksgiving is a mere two months away. Still, worst comes to worst I’ll just move back to San Francisco.

DABA Girl #1: Oh no you didn’t! We’re in this together my friend. ‘Til death do us part. And referring to me as “dude” only makes me resent California that much more.

DABA Girl #2: Don’t you mean ’til one of us gets married do us part?

DABA Girl #1: Marriage, death, same thing.

DABA Girl #2:  You have a point, albeit a dramatic one. I mean marriage is fine for a Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy, but in real life there is something cheesy about all that fanfare.

DABA Girl #1: Exactly. Marriage is archaic. I’m over it. You’re stuck with me and therefore must faithfully fulfill your duties as my emergency contact.

DABA Girl #2: Fine, but I want a line of suitors literally waiting outside my door when I make my triumphant return.

DABA Girl #1: Done.

DABA Girl #2:  and AND please brief them ahead of time that I require an actual phone call and under no circumstances should I be asked on a date via text message.

DABA Girl #1: What happened to not being too picky?

DABA Girl #2: A DABA Girl still has priorities.

DABA Girl #1: Okay well be sure and make the above event a priority because  b t dubs, you’re hosting it with me.

*note latest DABA vocab word: EA=emotionally available

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13051236

Dear DABAs, FBFs, Potential FBFs, friends, family, Nanna, Poppa, Uncle Brad,

We have some good news and some bad news.

First the good news: We have been having a fabulous summer. Our tans are truly spectacular. Yes, despite the every other day rainy weather, we have managed to procure some serious color.

Also, as luck may have it, one, two, three, or four of us have found ourselves in LUV. It can happen out of nowhere, over a plate of tagliatelle alla bolognese at dell’ Anima, in the library at Hotel Griffou, or poolside in East Hampton. And poof, all of a sudden you’re not looking for an FBF anymore- you have your very own!

But alas, all this tanning time and romantic bull market-esque dating time has left very little time for other things, like blogging. Since the Parisians get to take August off we decided that in the name of all things sacred (the Euro, tanning, and love) we are going to take August off as well.

See you post Fashion Week (i.e. Labor day).

xo

The DABA Girls

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I want to be there

I want to be there

 

 

 

Dear Daba Girls,

I am a potential FBF, I am in my mid/late-twenties working as a trader for a bank in Zurich, which is certainly not as big or as happening as New York however, having lived in a big city, I like it here. The ski slopes are only an hour away during winter and in the summer, weekend trips around Europe are all too easy to organize. Bearing all of this in mind; there is still one aspect of my life which is incomplete and that is: I am still a “potential FBF”. I am having trouble finding a decent DABA girl to share it all with. I lie awake at night dreaming of being mentioned (anonymously, and although this may defeat the object of the whole exercise in the first place, she would of course tell me all about it afterwards and we would both laugh about it…) on your website by a young lady who desperately needs help trying to figure out new and exciting ways of spending my money and of prying me away from the office.  

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I lack attention from the fairer of the species, it just so happens that I am unable to tell the difference between those that are truly worth it (DABA Girls) and those that aren’t (Bottle-popping girls).  So for the sake of “potential FBFs” (can you think of a better term for that one?) around the world could you please give me some pointers as to how to tell the difference between the two?  How do I know that the girl I may be chatting to at the bar is actually a complete sleaze who is just in it short-term for the cash?  And more importantly, how do I send out the right signals to the girls that are actually worth it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Yours truly,

Timo 

Ah, finally we get some love from Switzerland, where the locals love cheese with holes, classic timepieces, and chocolate as much as we do. Not to mention the huge vaults filled to the brim with gold.  Don’t despair Timo. We can help.

Spotting a true DABA Girl is as easy as ABC (I’m watching the Michael Jackson tribute so just go with it). Take a cue from MJ and be on the look out for: 

A: Authenticity. A true DABA Girl is authentic in all that she does. Her boobs, laugh, and intentions are real. Her intentions with you, or any guy, may include a little somethin’ somethin’ about a man that can ‘provide a certain lifestyle’ but she will be honest and upfront about it. On the other hand, if she tells you she is just looking for a soul mate and then claims to love action movies, you have encoutnered a bottle poppin’ girl charading as DABA Girl and your B.S. meter should go off.

B: Boyish charm. I’m talking about her alpha personality. A DABA Girl doesn’t need you to order for her (but you should), she’s self sufficient, opinionated, and confident. Beware, she’s not going to let you get away with much. Make sure that your information on the late Mr. McNamara’s career is factual (she’ll know if you’re just regurgitating yesterday’s article from the Times).

C: Coolness. A DABA girl isn’t desperate. She doesn’t care if she meets you or not. Most likely she’s dating three other guys already. You’re going to have to approach her.

Which brings me to these easy steps:

1: You’re zeroed in on your girl. Whether you’re at a bar and she’s laughing away with her friends or sitting at a cafe reading Isadore Sharp’s Four Seasons send over a drink or stop and say hi. Simple as that. Warning: DABA Girls are not girl haters and therefore do travel in packs.  To get to her you may have to approach a group of 4+ women. If this intimidates you, you are not FBF material, and you should stick to bottle poppin girls who generally travel in two’s to avoid competition.

2: Be calm and confident. A DABA Girl wants to meet a guy who is uber confident and won’t be intimidated by her. Don’t be a jerk, but a sprinkling of cockiness never hurt.

3: If you click, ask her if she would like to get together some time. Call the next day (note: I said call, don’t text or email). Take her on a date that you would like to go on. Don’t take her to Benihanas because you want to make sure she’s not into you just for your money. Don’t take her to a five star restaurant, you’ll look like you’re trying too hard. Take her to a restaurant that you’ve been dying to try or one that you love.

If you are indeed the potential FBF you claim to be, we assume you can take it from here.

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I think it's supposed to read, avoid texting while DATING

I think it's supposed to read, avoid texting while DATING

This past weekend we lounged around at DABA headquarters doing what DABAs do while partaking in a group Hamptons detox, indulging in self-help book binging, marathon man over-analyzing discussions, work catch-up (from having ditched out on work early the last five Fridays), and sushi spending sprees. (Bt dubs the Hamptons detox is a chic new diet that calls for no burgers, fries, or blacking out for two days and gives you a healthy glow in less time than a roundtrip Jitney ride.) One of the founding DABAs had dished some tough love crackberry advice the previous night to another DABA Girl and each were presenting their closing arguments:

DABA Girl #1: You most definitely cannot become blackberry messenger friends while casually dating.

DABA Girl #2: I disagree. It is not any different from texting.

DABA Girl #1: What planet are you living on? When you blackberry messenger you can see when the other person has read your text message. It takes away all mystery, and all the fun from flirtexting. What if they don’t respond right away? What if they read your text and then don’t write back? Maybe for hours? I don’t care how many yoga classes you’ve gone to that day, you’re going to freak out.

DABA Girl #2:  You are officially an OCD DABA BBMer. I’ve dated enough finance guys to know that they are extremely busy at work. Text reply time is in no way reflective of their feelings. 

DABA Girl #3: Really? I always thought that there was a reverse correlation between text response time and their feelings for you. The shorter they take to write back the more they adore you.

DABA Girl #1: Oh no you didn’t just play the I’ve-dated-enough-finance-guys-to-know card. Lemme tell you my friend, I’ve dated enough finance guys to know that what DABA #3 so articulately explained is tres true.

Well, the debate was never resolved (the blondies from Gwyenth’s GOOP email last week emerged from the oven just in time to calm the brewing tension) and so we turn to you to settle the debate: should a blackberry messenger invite be the new engagement ring? Do not accept unless you expect to partake in a serious monogamous relationship. Or is it the new text message?

Send in your votes today.

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This piece, Welcome to your Quarterlife crisis, all rang a little too true. And as the finance guy who forwarded it to us said, “good article, basically about me.”

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fashionforward

We have to admit that sometimes we feel a little (or maybe a little more than a little) guilty about spending so much on shoes, clothes, etc. I mean, the price of one pair of Brian Atwoods is equivalent to how much it costs to support a child in a third world country for an entire year.* And by support we mean pay for their housing, food, clothing, and education. We don’t need that guilt on our shoulders- what if it keeps us from getting our beauty sleep? A serious fashion faux pas! That’s why we’re going to DABA girls Dang and Auerbach’s event tomorrow. What’s better than confession with cocktails. See you (and LL) there!

xo

The Daba Girls

*prices vary depending on the third world country.

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Just incase you missed my debut on NBC you can check it out on nbcnewyork.com.

We decided to talk about affordable dating tips because just a season ago, a first date could easily run over $300. It would begin with a three course dinner at one of New York’s nicest restaurants, after-dinner drinks as a swanky lounge, and flowers delivered to your office desk the next day (in all likelihood arranged by your date’s administrative assistant). Being taken on such an extravagant date in the current economic climate is not only unrealistic, it would cause unnecessary financial stress for everyone involved - we spent as much (if not more) on our outfits for these pre-recession dates.  This doesn’t mean your dating life should now be reduced to watching a movie while sitting in someone’s living room joint kitchen joint bedroom.  New York is full of spots that are light on the wallet and heavy on romance.  And remember, above all, women appreciate it when men put effort into planning a date.  So don’t think of these dates as being “affordable” but as being “thoughtful.”

Here are all of the tips since some didn’t make the minute thirty segment.

XO L

Tip #1: Go BYOB

  -Alcohol can really run up your tab at a restaurant, which is why BYOB is the way to go. Our personal favorite is Ivo and Lulus, located on Broome and Varick. Everything on the menu ranges from $12-$15, the duck pate is unmatched, the corkage fee non-existent, and the ambiance is romantic.  We also highly recommend Big Wong on Mott street in Chinatown, namely for their lobster with pan-fried noodles and lack of florescent lighting. Average dinner: $30 at either restaurant + wine ($12) = $43

Tip #2: Take her for a ride

  -Take the Staten Island Ferry around the Statue of Liberty. The ride is free and the view breathtaking. Although we don’t recommend bringing food on the trip, least your date get sea sick, packing a picnic for your final destination is a nice touch.   While we recognize the difficulty in pulling off a picnic in a non-cheesy fashion, we’re confident that as long as you don’t pack a basket full of heart shaped quiches, you can pull it off with your manhood intact. ($12) Bottle of wine + ($3) baguette + ($8) brie = $23

Tip #3: Give Her Some Sugar

-  As a former pastry sous-chef at Le Cirque, the creator of the dessert truck, Jerome Chang, knows better than to come between a woman and a sweet tooth craving.  The dessert truck serves fabulous desserts - all under $5. Our favorites are the warm chocolate bread pudding and vanilla crème brulee. Locating the dessert truck is half of the fun, but if you need some help you can check out his website, www.desserttruck.com, for his whereabouts.  Often spotted near Washington Square Park, eating dessert by the fountain in the park will undoubtedly set the mood.  Warning: although you are likely to encounter live music by the fountain, don’t bank on it being violins. 

Tip #4: Go on an trip

- If you have a whole day take the A train up to the Cloisters, which has a suggested donation of $20 per person.  Explore the museum and lounge around afterward in the garden.  Another great city escape is the funky and fun Mark Bar in Greenpoint, Brooklyn complete with pool, darts, and bingo on Wednesday nights. Beers are $3 and the menu includes pigs in a blanket for $5 and mac and cheese for $6.

Tip #5: Show Her a Secret Side of You

-Women love feeling privy to special information, hence our fondness for gossip and secrets. Introduce her to your favorite dive bar or neighborhood restaurant.  It’s not just a sandwich place, it’s your favorite sandwich at the deli your grandfather used to take your to.  We’re fond of New York mainstay Katz’s Deli, where you can sit at the When Harry Met Sally table and daydream with your date about how the two of you are going to recount the “how we met story” at your wedding.  Two Katz’s pastrami sandwiches ($15) + 2 root beer floats ($4) = $38  

Final Tip: Make a call

- If you really want to sweep her off her feet - call her the next day and tell her what a good time you had.  Note, we said call, not text or email!  Calling the next day instead of playing it cool and waiting 2 or 3 days will show her that you are confident.  Trust us, recession or no recession, women definitely respond to confidence. Phone call: $0

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Dear DABAs, 

I am a young, southern belle DABIT confused and discouraged with my past failures of snagging my very own FBF. I’m in great need of sage wisdom from my more experienced sisters.

It’s been the same story every time- I meet a guy, he’s attracted to me initially, calling and emailing me, dates ensue. But then, soon after, they stop asking to hang out, stop contacting me, and in the end, I’m left in the dark, wondering what had happened.

At first I thought it was maybe the age; they were still young and noncommittal. However, I just found out recently that one of them has settled down into a serious relationship!

I know your philosophy is: there’s nothing wrong w/ you, it’s “their loss” but after multiple failures, I can’t help but to wonder if I will be forever doomed.

I’m smart, sweet, attractive, and fun, and I’ve tried every trick in the book and nothing seems to work.

Are you sisters born with a special mutated gene, a god-given birthright that is needed to turn these finance boys into FBFs or is there still some secrets left that can change my streak of misfortune? 

I know I have a lot to learn and I am patient and willing to go through the whole training process. I also recognize that some of the learning can only be grasped through experience. Therefore, I want to take this summer to really refine and improve myself to becoming one step closer into a true DABA.

Any tips or must-dos you can provide to nurture your little DABITS? 

S Belle

Dear S Belle,

We applaud your commitment and desire to graduate from DABIT to DABA. So much so that we skipped Taco Tuesday at Rewind and Eugene Remm and Mark Birnbaum’s annual bday bash at Tenjune to compose this post. Below please find the five-step process to total DABA enlightenment. It’s not exactly FDA approved, actually we have no idea if it works at all (did you read It All Started When…?), but we feel like this should do the trick.

Step 1: Lose five lbs, get your nails did and your hair did too. Buy yourself something that will make you feel like the hottest thang since Adriana Lima on the Victoria Secret runway.

Step 2: Buy a pair of horse blinders. Put them on and do not take them off until we say so. These will keep you looking at any of the loser boys you’re hanging out with right now. You need to keep your eye on the prize.

Step 3: Go to your closest Barnes and Noble or library (be careful crossing streets with your blinders on). Get the following books:

                  -The Rules. Read it cover to cover. Yes it’s a little dated but until our revamped version gets published it will have to do.

                 -The Manual. If you don’t have a brother this is a must read.

                 -Why Him Why Her? This book is fascinating and will help you weed out all the FBFs that aren’t right for you.

The above books will thoroughly put you off to men for a while, at least long enough for us to get you to realize your DABA power (which is really what this is all about).

Step 4: Go back to the library. Exchange all the retarded self-books we just prescribed for below.

                  -What Color is Your Parachute? The key to DABA enlightenment is to realize that this is all about you. Your self-help research is not about figuring out how to get a guy back, it’s about refocusing the attention to you.            

                 -Are Men Necessary? The text within isn’t terribly groundbreaking but by repeating the title over and over you will start to understand how inconsequential men are and how it’s quite possible that the conspiracy theories in The Da Vinci Code might actually be true.

                 -The Female Brain. Our current obsession.

Step 5: Read the New York Times every day- front to back (although be particularly wary of anything you read about dating blogs- they’ve been known to get some facts wrong).

We’re guessing that by the time you’ve finished steps 1-5 it’s going to be close to the end of the summer and you’ll be cursing us for having just wasted your entire break that could have been spent at the beach unsuccessfully throwing yourself at boys. But trust us, you are now eons ahead of all the other DABITs out there. It’s all about realizing that you little DABIT hold the cards. The second that you truly believe this all the boys are going to come a running.

(Feel free to repeat Step 1 throughout the summer. Looking great never hurt anyone.) 

xo

The DABA Girls

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