I’ve recently sworn off fast fashion – ok, so maybe not entirely, but I’m slowly weaning myself off almost daily trips to H&M, Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, etc.
I rarely buy nice things because:
1. I don’t take very good care of my clothes – for three weeks out of every month my bedroom generally looks like it imploded.
2. I wear something a couple of times and I’m over it. I know – it’s a very serious problem.
A good friend of mine rarely shops, and when she does, she buys pieces worth their hefty price tag, like her two major purchases this fall: a classic Philip Lim winter coat and her perfect Costume National boots.
Tim Gunn recently said the number one problem he encounters with the women on his show is “So many clothes in the closet. Lots of clothes.” He gives the oft-repeated advice, “Buy less and buy better quality.”
I’ve decided to shop more like my friend and follow Tim’s advice, making my purchases slowly and with a lot more thought, investing in pieces that will last a few years, if not forever.
But it’s a practice easier said than done. Sometimes I just need a quick fashion fix, like the little brooch I’m craving from Screaming Mimi’s that I tell myself doesn’t really count as “fast” since it’s vintage. I can only imagine the excitement of looking forward to buying one or two amazing pieces, (that I swear I would hang properly in my closet), every six months.
Do you invest in a few great pieces every year? Or do you find yourself picking up loads of clothes that fall into the, “I can spill my drink on it and not care” category?
Tags: Costume National, H&M, Phillip Lim, Tim Gunn, Urban Outfitters
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I had a roommate who was addicted to Forever21 and Wetseal in college, it was horrible because all her clothes would shrink if she were to put them in dryers so she would hog the entire shower curtain rod to hang dry her pieces. She also went on to buy fake Louis Vuitton bags for $400 and went on fake bag splurge in South Korea, did she look good? I never thought so. Every year she would have a huge garbage bag of clothes she ends up tossing to make room for the next, she never made sense for me.
I am also a student and I don’t have the budget to splurge so I usually keep an eye out for designer sample sales. Otherwise I ask myself if I would be wearing this piece in my 30s and 40s. In terms of accessories and shoes, I don’t want to buy a bag that would wear me, if the first thing that a person notices is not myself but the logo of the bag that just means that the brand is overwhelming you instead of complementing you.
The concept of brand product was originally meant to complement the effect of age. Young people can still look pretty in even cheap clothings and enjoy the moment, but that sort of energy becomes subdued over time as one ages and gains a further sense of self. Then it is quality of the product that is affordable with a person of that status that would complement that gradual transition from young & cheap & still cute to polished and sophisticated.
Not sure since at what point (perhaps the Hollywood celebrity culture overdose), but young girls toting Balenciaga and Chanel became one of the icon of our era, and this original relationship between brand and style got inverted…(and my roommate who totes a fake Birkin bag she bought for a dear $500+ wearing a forever 21 tanktop and H&M cardi with bead embellishment falling apart is…well, existing today as a result of that).
I do appreciate beautiful design and designers who strive to produce beautiful works that complement the female body, and I am not against young girls enjoying brand name products, but i feel that the current bombardment of images of Nicole Richie and Lindsay as teen model is not helping anyone think sanely about what fashion is about.
One thing though…at least for shoes a sturdy good one is worth the investment, it really deforms the bones if you squeeze into a cheap piece that doesn’t take into account human anatomy.
for sure quality over quantity, ive learnt this recently after clearing out my closet, and almost everything that went to the charity shop(4 big black binbags) was from h&m and primark(im in england) and similar shops. everything i kept was either vintage or designer, and also some nice simple black h&m/topshop dresses.my main vice is shoes, specially miu miu ones, i prefer to save up for a good pair of miu miu’s and not spend money on cheaper low quality shoes that are uncomfortable and dont last very long,specially as i wear 4-5″ heels on a daily basis, so wearing cheap heels is not the most comfortable option! if i buy clothes i get vintage garments mostly off ebay and vintage shops, so im not spending a lot of money on garments at all. if i do find an h&m dress thats simple and nice,ill get it but i have to be sure that its a classic piece that i can wear alot and will look good for some years. i find that getting lots of fast fashion is more of a waste of money because you are spending hard earned cash on something that might not be worn a lot but only bought impulse cause its cheap. better to spend the cash on something more expensive that you know you will take care of and love for years to come.
you can get designer shoes and clothes at the thrift shops if you shop them right- I just got a pair of Anne Demuelemeester ( sorry for bad sp) boots for 50 bucks! hmmmm!
Tim’s got it right. Most woman’s closets are not too small, it’s they have too much stuff. Buy less, buy better quality. Work with a professional organizer to maximize your closet space if necessary. Don’t forget to use the wall space for storage. If you have simple shelf and rod, start over!
Scott Roewer
http://www.declutteryou.com