Cheap chic ruined us - Salon.com

Any number of good quotes here.

“We spend more money on eating out in restaurants” than we do on attiring ourselves – and only 3 percent of the measly amount we spend on clothing goes to apparel made in the United States.”

“You are what you eat, but you are also — to an even more publiclydiscernible extent — what you wear. So what are you when you’re wearing a $5 polyester shirt made in China and shipped here by the boatload?”

Or wearing something exclusive made by exclusive brands that are so expensive that most people can’t afford them, what does that say?

“Buying cheap clothes is fun, but wearing them and having a closet full of them turns out to be dissatisfying for a lot of consumers.”

Having a closet full of exquisitely tailored items is nice too, but if you’re just buying it because it got featured on HTTTGAP or DWW, is that better?

“Expertise about clothes has always meant knowing about fabrics, seams and craftsmanship. Now it’s knowing about price points and trends.”

Agreed, which is why I think following trends closely is hugely unsatisfying on a personal level.

“These huge corporate clothing chains have put a lot of money on the concept that cheap is chic and it’s cool.”

“We’re buying either low price or we’re buying a name.” (emphasis mine)

And the one most applicable to my own habits as a thrifter who espouses the idea of “spend less, spend better”

“When we’re just passively consuming it as a disposable good we’ve lost our connection to something that could be so meaningful. And that’s tragic.”

I shop actively.  I don’t consume passively. I hunt, I seek, I scrutinize.  

The takeaway, for me as a thrifty blogger, is that it’s fine to love finely tailored clothing. But trolling Yoox for the latest Boglioli/Piombo/Boggi/Isaia whatever isn’t substantially better than hitting Old Navy for the latest, greatest, trendiest item.  

Focusing on what the blogosphere loves this season won’t bring you any closer to your wardrobe, it’ll just get you more reblogs.

Buy less, buy better or Spend less, spend better.  But do it better, don’t just do it cheaper and trendier, no matter where it’s from.

And read this article either way.