Well, I've got to get used to it. Despite my longing to, I dont think I will ever have a "fashion blog".
You know, where I style an outfit and take over-exuberant pictures of myself in front of a decaying brick wall.
When I was about 14, I'd shut myself into this room I had specifically for my clothes--yes, jeans, overalls, vintage plaid coats, comic-strip heels, Giraffe head styled as a handbag (found it!) and blouses from Black and White and more could be found in this room, complete with a body-length mirror and a stereo.
I would spend hours in the room, trying on different clothes, varying up the combinations I would never show the public--a favorite baby-blue Adidas mini skirt with tan pumps and a neon green cropped tank, for instance.
And I strutted my hot-pink comic strip pointy heels at least twice to school, coordinating it with tees about the 80's (not from the 80's), and ripped jeans.
I was known for my style for those I went to school with...but no one else knew I could (and would) wear things before they were a "thing". I came upon, "My Style Diary", which was the Lookbook of its day. However, this was before fashion bloggers were simply men and women standing in front of their apartment door, documenting their day's looks.
There was no professional camera needed, or model limbs juxtaposition or "tuck my hair behind my ear" movement needed. I dont think I ever uploaded a picture--my father was unconvinced I needed a camera (still dont have one, Dad!)
Then, the fashionn blogosphere manifested--bringing with it this expectation of professional magazine-like spreads for photos and well, a whole lot of purchasing.
The way I remember My Style Diary was everyone basically kept the same clothes, but just kept reinventing looks--and if someone got something new, cool! But c'mon, we arent going to expect them to keep buying things--they are only human (with human-sized bank accounts, probably).
In contrast, whenever I look up my favorite style bloggers, "Check out my new purchase!"..."I have a surprise for you guys (Insert picture of Celine shopping bag)" "Went on a spending splurge and got Yves Saint Laurent pumps!"
First of all, your Celine satchel is not a surprise for me!--you bought it and then are showing it to your readers, who will no doubt be a) envious (success!) b. wondering how you as a 21 year-old can pay for such an item c. brainstorm how they can purchase pricey items, too.
This buying-to-keep-current trend in fashion blogging does not speak to the beauty of art, of fashion. Its buying to keep fashionable, rather than simiply being stylish.
fashion versus style. Goodness, how many teen magazines have had columns about this? I like imagery.
Think of your favorite blogger--I have mine.
Now, think of Audrey Hepburn.
Yes, the woman had great style. Hers happen to be anything that began with "Gi" and ended with "venchy". Paired down, elegant.
BUT
we dont all want to wear black mid-calf dresses and hoop earrings.
some of us like color, boho prints, plastic jewelry up to our elbows and platform heels--yes! We dont all have to style ourselves like Audrey, but there is something she holds that we, in our fervor to buy-to-impress, have tucked away.
I read accounts of Audrey Hepburn when she lived in London, after the war. She got work as a model and bits of acting gigs since she was too old to fulfill her dream, to be a ballerina. Although people did not know her well, they noticed what she wore and exclaimed at how well she wore things, "...the things she could do with a scarf! One day around her neck, the next tied around her waist.." Audrey had her little wardrobe and reworked it, using her imagination to make it fresh, different.
Her reworking of her wardrobe shows responsibility to me. What I understand of her circumstances, she could not have gone out and bought something new if she wanted. No, out of necessity, she became timeless.
There are plenty of fashion bloggers who appear they have money to order new things--and if that's the case, terrific! But, I think, fewer bloggers actually have the financial resources to purchase Jimmy Choo's and another necklace from Zara. Yet, they spend. To keep up with not only that fashion mode, but the fashion blogging mode--of buying, perhaps in excess.
How many times do I read in a blog post, "I havent worn these in forever", "I forgot about..." "I found this is in my closet!"
Now, I dont think I"ll be getting any offers to endorese, well, anything.
So, my suggestion is this:
buy the greatest quality of any item of clothing you can. yes, that may mean expensive--but it must be of good quality.
What defines "quality"? Google it. Loads of tips will pop up. For example, shoes which you cant see the stiches, fit together flawlessly, usually some type of leather (for vegans, there are faux-leather options), and the sole will not be coming off --again, usually made of leather or heavy duty rubber.
Have the pillars of your wardrobe be of high-quality. Go ahead, shop at high-ticket shops--but you're looking for the basics of your wardrobe. Because they should be on heavy rotation. They will be used throughout the week--they will never be the "lost lamb" in your closet, that you, the stylish shepherd, rescues. You will use them.
I did the second-hand store (and "its my mom"s) route before it was socially applauded--so, Im a big advocator for buying things second-hand--even the Heavy Hitters (basics) of your style.
But dont be caught in the trap of buying whatever you want to because its cheap. Been there. You'll end up with too much stuff that looks old, wears cheap--and lets be honest, you could have saved some money. Be ruthless in second-hand scouring. "Quality" is your chant.
And then, wear your clothes, accessories, and accept the creative challenge of mixing it up. Yes, we all need a breath of fresh air in our wardrobe, but styling the clothes we already have, we will become perfectors of our own style, become classics in our choices.
AND we stand up to the "bigger" things; we give our voice to the "global" issues. When we make smart clothing decisions, we empower ourselves, rejecting what someone else wants us to buy. we are thoughtful and confident in our choices--and that brings goodness to the world.
Love,
E