At least this showed that Fluttershy's actually a good friend, even tough calling the dress she made her scrap. Not only she learned her lesson, she understood what is important. I guess this episode reflects a lesson for Rarity, mostly. She's always trying to fit in high society, yet she's denied that in every single chance she gets. This is because, tough her kind personality, she's sometimes a little too classy, and tending to ignore or despise lower-ranked creatures, even if she doesn't want or mean to.
testyal1: Thank you, sir. =P This was just me analyzing the episode while (desperately) trying to get away with dressed up Fluttershy. If Rarity did get Photo Finish's attention, then the name would be "Purple isn't your color" - relating to purple being fit to royalty and thus status. And even if she didn't do, she'd be too weak at heart to remember her old friends: she lacks the boldness to tell the blunt truth, she only does when getting pushed too far. Glamour and status have a price.
I think the case is not so much that Rarity looks down on everypony so much as she's just more focused on herself. She and Fluttershy are the best of friends and when Fluttershy is thrust into the spotlight Rarity is jealous because she wants the attention. Even with those feelings in mind Rarity puts on a good show of being supportive of Fluttershy telling her that she's happy for her friends new-found fame. She is still always kind to Fluttershy ecause she doesn't want somepony like Foto Finish to ruin their friendship. When Twilight almost succeeded in ruining Fluttershy's modeling career for her Rarity once again risked her reputation in the fashion world (i.e. the dresses she made for her friends AND let them wear in a fashion show that was being veiwed by Hoity Toity) in order to do what she thought was the right thing (she didn't know Fluttershy was TRYING to get fired). All Rarity wanted to do was what she thought would make her friend happy, even if it meant she was miserable. Rarity deserves a round of applause for good friendship here. Fluttershy has earned some applause for good friendship in this episode too. She HATES being in the spotlight. She can't stand everyone watching her, she can't take crowds of ponies following her everywhere, but she did it for Rarity. Fluttershy knew that this meant a lot to Rarity so she modeled for the photoshoot. After it was revealed that Foto Finish didn't care about Rarity's dresses and just wanted Fluttershy as a model Fluttershy almost immediately wanted to back out, but Rarity told her that she didn't mind that Foto Finish liked Fluttershy instead of her and that it would mean a lot to her if she continued. So Fluttershy did it with only one pony in mind, her friend Rarity. All Fluttershy wanted to do was make a friend happy, even if it meant she was miserable. Both ponies are excellent, self-sacrificing, friends who were only trying to think about each others happiness.
I guess some people thought I was in disbelief with Rarity, LOL xD But what if the episode turned out like they thought, and it happened, let's say, before the Flying competition one, think: would she remember about her let's say, "lower-ranked" friends? She had to almost die to remember that the bigger they are, the harder they fall. She loves attention from the status world. Everypony does, but she wants to shine. AND, considering she'd successed in impressing Photo Finish, even if she wanted to go back, would she? Better yet, could she? I think it's too idealistic to think someone in a high society place, especially in fashion world, could go back to wherever they came from. Even if she remained generous (which is more than possible), she'd think she had to remain pleasing the noble idiots and rich fools, so keep working. This is also self-sacrifice. And she'd try to do everything to everypony, and then end up like after the fashion show starring the (horrid) taste of her friends. I think we won't get to see this in the show because it's too much of a harsh lesson for little girls. I think I wasn't very clear, I tried to tell that the high society is not the place for her because she can't be generous or sincere in such a place made of social masks and stereotypes. All episodes in which Rarity tried to fit in the glamour world it failed to show her it's a world of fake truth - or, as popular wisdom says, not all is gold that glitters.
but lets remember in "Best Night Ever" when she finally met her prince and her turned out to be a huge egotistic jerk and the worst date ever that she DID finally get fed up with him and tell him off for his un-gentlcoltly behaivior. Rarity knows who she is and who her friends are and I don't think that she would ever lose herself in a high society. She got really caught up in having wings because it was like a beautiful fashion accesory that everyone was looking at in awe, of course she got carried away. I kniow she had to almost die to get the message there but I don't think she'd ever forget who her real friends are. Also this is a great disscussion, I'm glad to see your veiwpoint, it means the producers are making us think about the episode. ^^
notashamed: Indeed this is getting a lot interesting. Even if she didn't lose herself, she wouldn't stay her ground, would she? NOW she knows high society is not what it looks like, but about in the start? For the very last time, I am not doubting of Rarity's character (it'd come out anyway), but her heart strenght. People change when they change their place, and ponies are no exception. And like I said, we all know how Rarity sacrifices herself to please others. This is a big weakness.
Every well-written character has flaws and thankfully, Rarity is no exception. Trust me I'm not about to dissagree with you about her being self-sacraficing or self-absorbed (they sound like contradicting traits but with Rarity it works).
