Vanity

When you look through the many gossip magazines of today, you'll notice that a main contributor is high-end, celebrity fashion. This can determine the celebrities' health, status, wealth and savvy. Pictures of these outfits can make or break the career, photographer, magazine, or even the designer. What is ironic about this statement though, is the apparent current dismissal of a class ranking due to fashion. In the younger, most impressionable group of celebrities, it seems the inspirations come from us simple ones, the people that cannot afford the Vivian Westwood's of the clothing rack. But lets not discredit ourselves.

We are fashion! There are much more of us then there are of THEM, and when we make a fashion decision that catches on, its going to become a trend - much faster than when a celebrity makes that choice. This may sound backwards to you, but think of it this way; can we really afford to mimic a celebrity? No. And who's designing for these celebrities? People like us, that watch our economic peers make something we're embarrassed of glamorous and interesting. When you think about hip-hop as a culture, you cannot ignore the urban struggle that is the respected backing of most of its artists. This is most clearly represented in lower income neighbour-'hoods'. Collectively, the hip-hop community creates more trends than most other subcultures, because they're able to take the trash and turn it into treasure. These trends are channeled onto the red carpet, and the sparkling faces claim credit for unique style and taste. So this brings me to an interesting question. What value do you place on expensive items vs. the cheap ones?

Lets face it. We fucking love designers. They're attractive, they make things that we can't touch, and that just drives us crazy. Crazy enough to create knock offs, save up for a year to buy some shoes, and for what? To own that Marc Jacob shoe, that looks like those shoes you saw at True Value Vintage? C'mon. Look, we're all guilty of this mindset. I mean honestly, you want to look like Mary-Kate Olson, don't you. I know I do. I mean, she's bo-ho, she's New York, she looks homeless but that purse is Chanel. She comes off as eclectic, but it works because she's wearing the entire Filippa K spring line at once. As we dwell in our basement suites about the unattainable, counting the amount of hours you worked to see if it will be enough to consider window shopping at Holt, we miss out on that yellow chord vest hanging on the 'just arrived' rack and the Salvation Army. We're missing out on those pointed- toe Mary Jane rubies that are actually from the 50's. We can't sit here in a bucket of self-loathing! Its time to start asking, "Why does Mary Kate want to look like me?"

So here's a new mindset.

You really want those Manolo Blahniks? Fuck it! The only way your bullshit wardrobe is going to look good, is if it's all 'priceless' trash or its all made of actual gold. I know for some reason stupid magazines tell you that pairing that 'pricey piece' with some shabby drab you have will 'make it all come together'. They're lying. They are just trying to continue the unnecessary obsession with expensive things you cannot afford. I know resorting to those poor quality mall stores like Stitches is not exactly what you have in mind. And I am not suggesting that at all! Actually, avoid that at all costs. You can find some really amazing things on some sale racks at great stores, or stick to the moderately priced stores that offer a nice fabric and some cool designers. Boutique shopping is more wallet friendly than you'd think! A lot of local designers cannot afford to rape your cash pocket, and you'll find some one of a kind-ers that you will love so much you might just turn it into a pillowcase.

Something I must stress is how truly amazing thrift shopping is. This is when your true fashionista colors will shine. Putting together an outfit out of odds and ends and making it work can be as difficult as putting together a car with spare parts, but if you can make it work, then you will be forever envied of that ensemble that no one can possibly imitate. The best stores are the vintage shops that also offer local and obscure designers, and high-end vintage. You can have three different phases of your wardrobe then, and even try to mix and match them. But trust me, you will probably not realize that you look like shit. So it's best to avoid that all together. I mean there are always the staple items that are going to be a chameleon to whatever you put it with, and sticking to those is a great decision.

Don't get me wrong, I get it. I know that those expensive items have something that you just wont be able to recreate in your finds. I know that wearing something from Valentino just has that certain feeling like "wow, I'm wearing a $500 shirt. I feel important. Glamorous." Well, that feeling is false and you should just be more proud of the amazing outfit you put together for 20 bones. Where is your sense of self! You ARE a designer!

Start standing in the mirror, take some pictures of yourself, and post them. Sign them as: Designed by [your name]. Who knows, pretty soon you could be getting some calls from the rich assholes wanting a piece. If I were you, I'd overcharge. Hey, its not your fault they're still at the mental state of a spoiled 12-year-old thinking expensive shitty pieces are as sweet as your actual shitty pieces.

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