OK for J. Lo to bling bling!
An interesting New York Times piece on how the backlash against conspicuous consumption seems to exclude rap and pop stars like J. Lo since they are preceived to have earned the right to "bling bling" or flash their wealth:
The answer is that despite appearances to the contrary, deep down Americans don't really have a problem with conspicuous consumption per se. It is all in the packaging: we're O.K. with bling bling so long as we believe it has been earned. Lopez makes for an interesting case study because her public image is simultaneously middle of the road -- as the star of the bland romantic comedy ''Maid in Manhattan'' -- and streetwise, as a pop singer who collaborates with rap artists and borrows liberally from hip-hop culture. It is the latter point that matters, because even now hip-hop culture remains a safe haven for ridiculous expenditure.