I was in conversation earlier this week with a friend of mine and I was relating to her the frustration of being stylish in a world where fashion has become ‘dog cheap’. Of course, like most frugal fashionistas out there, for me, the reality was actually like experiencing ‘a gold rush’ at first. But in truth, after a few monotonous buys in different hues, a selection of the same shade of blue jeans and pointed tip shoes in the colours of the rainbow, one does realize that access to cheap clothes has caused us to be unstylish.
We have become motivated to buy on impulse because prices are set low. There is no genuine desire to own any of the things we buy; price is the main deciding factor. Perhaps this may be why we feel the need to constantly buy, give away and do the famous one-time, two-time wear. If we were actually contented with our style we wouldn’t consume as much. Neither would we feel the need to buy all the time.
Globalization and the digital age have done many great things for the world at large but equally have caused a slight disturbing ripple effect. With garments being constantly produced not only does it impact on the pro-disposable-clothes mentality but it has also contributed to cheap labour and environmental issues among others.
There are several pieces in my wardrobe to date that I have no solid justification for owning, other than the fact that they were on sale. It’s either there was huge mark down on the item or that it was something at a bargain price for the supposed brand prestige.
Most of the times these items aren’t even that attractive, come to think of it. Nevertheless, you’re drawn to them because the reality of not owning something so cheap that seems good enough for the money is taboo in the fashion world.
I remember purchasing two pairs of Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses in one go earlier this year at a TK Maxx in Germany. Together the sunglasses came up to just about one hundred US dollars. They were both okay, but definitely not something I would look at if it were full price.
How does one mange one’s personal style in the 21st century with so much cheap choice? I’ve started to:
- Stay away from sales. I get it. Everyone wants to save but let’s face it paying cheap for something that you will eventually get rid of is the same as buying something expensive. Once there is no value attached you are wasting money.
- Stay away from fashion media from time to time. This is where I believe we get the impulse to shop. We get so many email notifications of sales and it’s hard to not just look. Don’t subscribe to too many online shops’ mailing lists.
- Do the Do I want or Do I need before I buy and be honest. Our failure to do this is probably the very reason so many of us have one pair of shoes in 5 different colours.
