Whatever happened to the old adage "Money can't buy you happiness?"
Suppose it can't, but it can buy you that BMW, that Louis Vuitton bag, and that Chanel jacket. It could also put a pool in your backyard and a maid in your kitchen that you can pay minimum wage because she came from Mexico.
Okay, I suppose I sound bitter. But I can't seem to wrap my head around the label obsession of the average consumer. Something about carrying a Louis Vuitton bag screams "Status" that it makes people feel wealthy, and important. Even if they nearly maxed out their credit card to afford it. What is it about designer labels that cause people to become so... impractical?
I have never cared about brands. I'm willing to pay decent enough money for a good quality garment, but you'd never catch me spending hundreds of dollars on jeans, a bag, or even shoes. Maybe jewellery but even now I'm happy with my $40 rings and cheap, cute accessories. I am more satisfied when I discover a thrift store gem. I think it's kind of funny that I'm going to school for Fashion Design when I don't really care a whole lot about what's going on in the world of fashion. The most I've ever actually attempted to follow the industry has been in this past year. I haven't always hated it, I quite admire the work of designers like Betsey Johnson, Marchesa, Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen. But I just as much admire the work of many of the sellers on Etsy.
I just don't really understand the nature of the fashion industry. There are people who actually DECIDE what the colour trends are going to be. Self-proclaimed fashionistas feed into this, eating up the latest September issue of Vogue and proudly sporting their latest [insert luxury designer brand here] shoes/bag/outfit/whatever, and before you know it the season is over and it's onto the next trend. Sure, some privileged people can afford these "luxury" items - I'm not sure what is so luxurious about them, since I've never actually held them in my hands - but why are they really buying it?
I suppose there are a variety of factors that come into a customer's buying habits. I don't understand why a Brand name would be one of them. There are some things I do think should be considered:
- Fit - Is it flattering on your body?
- Comfort - Can you walk in those shoes?
- Quality - Will it last longer than a year? Or more?
- Fabric - Is the quality of the fabric good? How does it feel on your skin?
- Emotion - How do you feel when you wear this? Does it make a statement that you want to make? Does it make you feel confident? Happy?
- Ethics - Was it hand made? Domestically made? Or was it outsourced? Was it produced ethically?
Fashion is one thing, style is another. I think style is how you use clothing to express yourself, to make a statement of your personality. Style is also about how you put your outfit together in an appealing way - kind of like using the elements and principles of design. But at the same time, it's about wearing what you feel like. Fashion on the otherhand, is this omniscient presence, a commercial clusterfuck that controls the minds of consumers.
I have seen many people who just wear whatever they want. As long as it's put together well, I can appreciate it. Even if it's not, if they bring an aura of confidence to what they're wearing, then I can appreciate that too.
I guess I just don't get the big deal. I don't know why some people care. Perhaps this is why I will never make millions off my designs. I don't need to, I just want to be able to live comfortably, doing what I love.
It just leads me to a song I previously posted recently:
"Is there anybody thinking what I am? Is there any other alternative?"
