LABELS: I DON’T PROMOTE THEM – AND I DON’T BELIEVE THEM

Every primitive tribe has its status symbols. Who owns the most goats? Who wears the most beads? Who has the largest lip plate? In the supposedly advanced culture we inhabit, people strut around proudly displaying their labels. Maybe we’re not as advanced as we think we are: beads make more sense to me.

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with wanting stuff that’s well designed and of good quality. I just don’t understood people who buy clothing that broadcasts the maker. Why wear a bag with a pattern that screams, “FFFF” or “COCOCOCO”– unless Fendi or Coach are paying you for the commercial?

gucci-coach-bagsFendi Bag2








Flaunting the brand has no esthetic value; it doesn’t make the item prettier or Read More »

FASHIONISTA BARGAINISTA: PART SIX

EBAY

This is, needless to say, an incredible resource for bargainistas. I’ve gotten everything from Arche sandals to Chantelle bras at lower-than-low prices. It does take a little effort. You have to study the measurements carefully, or better yet, know your size in each label because all brands vary. High-end European labels tend to run small: yet another reason to hate the French.

One neat little trick is to deliberately misspell the item you’re looking for. You’d be surprised at how many sellers list Chanel as Channel, so you can bid on that bag without much competition. I personally wouldn’t wear Chanel since she was a Nazi collaborator, but not everyone is as politically correct as I (sometimes) am.


CRAIG’S LIST

You can find anything on this site, from a one-month sublet to a gently-used coffin. Some of the listings, though, are quite poignant, and I often wonder about the back story.

“WEDDING GOWN, Cost over $5,000.00. Asking $750. NEVER WORN.”

“HUGE DIVORCE SALE – FORTY YEAR COLLECTION – EVERYTHING MUST GO”

There’s a lot of human drama going on here.

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