Been thinkin' a lot about cheap clothes lately.
Mainly because I have too many, need less, and want more.
I mean, is there reallllly anything more viscerally satisfying than taking home something new - staring at it - waking up to it - imagining ways to style it - trying it on with impractical shoes alone in your apartment - imagining how your nonexistent boyfriend would hate it, but you would love that he hated it, and wear it out to dinner anyways just to irritate him - picturing how your children would idolize you when you passed it down to their fashion-minded little selves?
Too far? Neva.
Anyhoot. I'm having a hard time internalizing this proponed notion that "less is more", "quality ranks over quantity", and "it's worth it 'cause it will last you [me] forever", when I rely so damn heavily upon the seemingly ceaseless coping mechanism that is materialism.
Seems to me, I'm probably not going to capital-L-Love a pair of awkwardly(beautiful)-strappy heels from A.Wang any longer than I am, say, those obnoxiously-striped pants from Forever 21 - despite how much I tell myself that "they're quality (expensive, worth it, timeless), and that they'll last FOREVERRR."
They won't. I won't. And I might as well get my joy out of hoarding while I can. Right? Because who needs food/water/shelter, etc, etc, etc?
(in recent news, I'm officially homeless as of today! So hello Priceline hotel rooms for the next few nights.)
(upon further consideration, I may need to begin entertaining the possibility of sorting out my priorities).
It just seems to me, that a such a large portion of the "quality" argument is a tool for justifying our exborbitantly expensive purchases and classy labels - even when I don't honestly believe that (unless we're talking silk, cashmere, handmade, custom, etc) the materials and craftmanship are really all that different.
I may be wrong. Maybe this mass-produced H&M dress is like, 10,000 times shittier than the mass-produced Stella McCartney one for like, which runs 900 times more price-ay.
Maybe.
But if I'd be too afraid to wear it out, goof around in it, and mar it's absolute "perfection", would it really even be worth a penny?
 |
| dress: H&M (10 dolla) (lots here), boots: vintage, rings: The 2 Bandits, Etsy, Brandy Melville, cuffs: Anthropologie |
So, lay it on me -
how off am I?
Like, a lot?
Nothing new there.
Cheers.
photos by Shoiab :)
I have an eerily similar inner dialogue running everytime I open a browser for yet another visit to ASOS or drop by one of my fast fashion retailers of choice. Quality or quantity. Good or evil. Should I save this twenty I'm about to blow on more acid wash denim for that $5000 (Y)SL blazer? And really what the hell constitutes quality today anyway? Generally in that order.
ReplyDeleteIt's a discussion/argument I have endlessly with myself. And while I'm not as indiscriminate as I once was, the glory of youth and all that, I say embrace the materialism. Quality, quantity - whatever works. Oh and sales are our friends, always, forever.
LOOOVE this dress! Hugs from Cali! xx The Golden Girls
ReplyDeletecouldn't agree more with the dispelling of the idea that high fashion is quality. these days high fashion is just as mass produced as fast fashion and probably in the exact same factories, under the exact same conditions. it's really not that much better and more often than not doesn't reflect the price that design houses charge for it until it winds up on some mega sale. and in a time when trends last about as long as an instagram video it's pretty much the only way for those on a budget/broke/homeless such as ourselves to keep up.
ReplyDeleteabigail
www.farandwildjewelry.com
My mindset on this is that I spend a lot of money on classic items. Anything that is fad-dy I like to buy at the less expensive stores. In all honesty most of my clothes come from Target, Old Navy and J.Crew! Clothes are the types of things you'll grow out of or damage so why buy really expensive stuff just to not wear it later on? Bags are the only thing I really think that is worth investing in.
ReplyDeleteI love me some designer handbags. And it's so much more fulfilling to get ten things from target than one blouse from a designer. IMHO
and your HOMELESS? we obvi need to catch up
i can't tell you how much i agree with you....and ALL of you ladies. i mean, i'm a teacher for crying out loud (not to mention a mother of three) so i'm not going to even pretend that i live in a world where spending money on high fashion pieces is a practical choice for me. i think it's wise to not immediately think that just because it's expensive, that it's of better quality. i'm totally with gaby on spending more for classic pieces and spending less on the 'fad-dy' (haha, love that word) pieces. and i LOVE LOVE that h&m dress gabi (i'm getting confusing, aren't i).
ReplyDeletesorry to hear that you're homeless...i hope that your situation sorts itself out soon. if my new house wasn't totally unfurnished and unliveable right now, i'd offer it as a temporary solution....yikes.
xo
n
Love this dress on you! And the boots are awesome as well. I get what you're saying. I would hate to buy something and admire it but be too afraid to wear it out. However, I've come to notice that sometimes it is better to buy the more expensive, quality item since a lot of my stuff from forever 21 falls apart after a few wears. My most expensive item of clothing is probably my Zara leather fringe skirt that was almost $100. I believe it is real leather... I mean, it better be! I wear my most expensive items as often as I can so I can put it to great use. But I wouldn't spend more than $30 on a casual top or whatever. I'm pretty sure I'll stain it or somethin'.
ReplyDeleteOh man I love this article ! You're a damn good writer I laughed so hard cause I really recognized myself in your words :) !!
ReplyDeletexx Selma
http://www.mylittlefashionthoughts.com
I love your writing! Almost as good as your outfits, that are amazing!! :)
ReplyDeletexo,
http://oceansofstyle.blogspot.pt/
I dunno - I have so many pieces from chain stores that I have owned for over 10 years that are still like the day I bought them (and have a few more expensive pieces that didn't stand the test of time >:( ). If you launder properly and have your clothes on a rotation (i.e. not wear them to death in the first month) they can last just as long as any pair of Alexander Wang shoes - interesting you should mention A. Wang, he was embroiled in a sweat-shop scandal in relation to the manufacture of his garments so like Abigail said it really is all made in the same factory!!
ReplyDelete♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.
http://shoe-fiend.blogspot.co.nz/