Oil Prices Surge: Is This the End of Our Cosmopolitans?

Hello Lover...I Mean Oil Prices!

So I'm sitting here staring at my closet full of shoes wondering if I should start investing in...oil? Because darling it seems like the Middle East is having a bit of a 'situation,' and suddenly my brunch budget is threatened. You see last night things got a little heated in Iran and the price of crude futures jumped higher than Mr. Big's commitment level. It seems Israel launched some airstrikes and now everyone's worried about oil supplies. Could this be the end of cheap Manhattans? I shudder at the thought.

Targeted Military Operation or Fashion Emergency?

Apparently Israel launched a 'targeted military operation' against Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program. Because nothing says 'international relations' like blowing things up right? As Benjamin Netanyahu so eloquently put it 'This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.' Which frankly sounds like my approach to finding the perfect vintage dress. But will this 'operation' ruin my upcoming date to the latest fashion pop up? These are the questions that keep me up at night... almost as much as wondering if Big will ever *really* commit.

No Radiation But Plenty of Anxiety

The International Atomic Energy Agency says there's no increase in radiation levels. Phew! But honestly radiation is the least of my worries. What about the radiation of bad news on my wallet? U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio chimed in to say that Israel acted alone without U.S. support. Which makes me wonder is this a 'Samantha deciding to open her own PR firm' moment or more of a 'Charlotte running off and getting married to Trey' one? Either way drama darling drama!

Retaliation: The New Black?

Israel's Defense Minister declared a state of emergency anticipating retaliation from Iran. Retaliation is the new black haven't you heard? Iranian state media is reporting that one of their top guys was taken out. Which if you ask me sounds like the plot of a particularly scandalous episode of… well my life! Oil investors are now worried that Iran will retaliate potentially disrupting oil supplies. Because you know global conflict is just *so* inconvenient when you're trying to decide which Louboutins to wear to a gallery opening.

Trump's Hair and Oil Prices: A Tangled Web

Apparently Donald Trump is focused on lower energy prices. Because of course he is. Actions by Iran affecting Middle Eastern oil supplies and consequently raising gasoline and diesel prices for Americans are politically damaging to the U.S. president. It's like when Big gave me that hideous swan purse – politically damaging to my fashion reputation! The oil markets have been shrugging off geopolitical risks for the last year so these recent developments are a 'wake up call' that these risks are more 'tangible and imminent' than many expect.

To Hormuz or Not to Hormuz That Is the Question

The Strait of Hormuz is a key chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which one fifth of the world's oil supply passes. It's basically the Bergdorf Goodman of oil routes. While there has been no direct targeting of Iranian oil production or export facilities which means that Tehran can continue exporting oil. For Iran there really is no net benefit to trying to impede the passage of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Closing the Strait of Hormuz may bring about economic pressure from Iran's largest oil customer: China. China does not want the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf to be disrupted in any way and China does not want the price of oil to rise. So they're going to bring the full weight of their economic power to bear on Iran. Like when Miranda brings the full weight of her legal arguments to bear on a bad date. I don't think we're looking at anything as severe as when Russia invaded Ukraine. It's just not that significant a threat to oil supplies. So maybe I *can* afford those new Blahniks after all.