on this, everything I have gotten many many years of regular wear out of has been more of a statement piece than a basic. I’m just a lot more likely to build looks around things I see as weird and cool rather than something I see as interchangeable
Same! I have come to realize that the quirky pieces that I am excited about are legitimately smarter buys for me (provided, and this is important, that the fit is good).
Pieces may be “timeless” but my body is not. Over the course of my adult life my body has changed in shape and size over and over again. So for a piece to be truly timeless my body would have to stop changing. On the other hand, my essentials, are pieces that I wear often and replace regularly, like my Stan Smith sneakers or white Tshirts.
I have almost started to hate the word "intentional". Not because it's a bad thing, but it feels more like a lifestyle add than something I can relate to. It feels as meaningful as a tv-commercial for perfume.
Oh, it's aaaaalllllll the same thing in a different font for me.
timeless / effortless / intentional / elevated / curated / forever / considered / thoughtful....the list could go on!
Like, it's not BAD for you to be able to describe your stuff like this. But it's not something the brand can ascribe. "Intentional" for who?!? Which is why it feels like a perfume ad (and I really like that description).
Wow. When you reframed to frontloading our wear expectation, my mind was blown. This is a perfect prompt when buying something; can I wear and rewear the hell out of this RIGHT NOW?!
As usual - a thoughtful (and somehow also always entertaining) post from you. I agree with your views - one of my big struggles is when I find a brand I like and respect, I find a subtle pressure to buy a bit more just to keep them going - even when I know I don’t really need another item. (And if I could do footnotes in a comment I would - I love your use of footnotes, just the icing on the cake for me!!)
I hear you on this and often feel the same kind of impulse. I just remember that whether any one band lives or dies is way bigger than one person. Whether YOU buy that next item or not is never actually it. Buy it if you truly want it / need it, but don't feel like you need to buy just for "support".
Love this whole take, from the realization that I have more clothes than I can reasonably wear, to the marketing hell version of “timeless”. Also! No hate to anyone who loves neutrals but I am sick to death of quality brands ONLY selling boxy neutrals, as if color and defined shapes are somehow antithetical to “timeless”.
To your point about it being personal: Yes, of course, the peplum top is very 2010 (and 1985. And apparently they’re trying to bring it back now?). But I have a top that looks and feels amazing and happens to have a peplum cut and I have been wearing it since I bought from a secondhand Anthro seller on eBay in 201….? Whaddya know; it’s a timeless classic!
This is such a great read!! So detailed, honest, and penetrative.
The whole timelessness concept is interesting because it started off as this cool, appealing way to encourage sustainability. But it does end up as another kind of marketing strategy, contradicting true sustainability with inherent business models of fashion
This resonated with me deeply. I started to really understand my "personal style" the moment I stopped buying. I discovered the word "timeless" only makes sense when it's attached to a piece you really like that you've worn for years and always feels like you — it's not really "timeless" if it's a piece you bought yesterday and taps into the latest trend, right? We don't need more, we just need to learn to be creative with what we have.
Love this. My body has changed so much in the past 7 years that the only items that approach “timeless” in my wardrobe are a few pairs of shoes (including some Frye booties pretty similar to your rag and bone ones!), a purse, and a pair of sunglasses that have magically lasted way longer than I ever expected! Which teaches me that if I’m going to spend money on a high quality item it makes way more sense for it to be an accessory.
I’m a Gen X’er (58) and I’ve kept a few pieces from the 90’s, including dresses from Calvin Klein and Betsy Johnson. I still wear the Calvin Klein. I don’t wear the Betsy Johnson, but my daughter got a lot of wear out of the Betsy Johnson dresses when she was in high school for formal events. I’ve also kept a couple of pairs of “Long and Lean” flare jeans from Gap from the early 2000’s and I always get compliments when I wear those. I’m lucky that over the span of my life my weight hasn’t fluctuated more than 5-6 pounds in either direction (not including pregnancy), so it is quite humorous to see that I was a size 4 in Gap in the early 2000’s, but now I’m a 0 or 00. Ahhh…vanity sizing at its best!
What a great read! It made me question a lot of my own decisions, but also made me feel seen — I’ve always had such a hard time picturing myself 2, 5, or 10 years from now. Two years ago, I had no idea my style would be what it is today, so in my mind there’s no way I can buy clothes expecting I’ll keep them forever. Buying better quality so they last? Sure! But knowing I’ll love it as much in 5 years? Meh. I much prefer the idea of wearing the hell out of something right now!
Totally, I think buying for quality is a fine goal to support repeated wear NOW and maintain the *option* for you (or perhaps someone else) to continue wearing later.
But the overall tone out there at the moment WAY over-moralizes and over-emphasizes quality when the reality is most of are cycling through things with less wear than would ever make quality relevant.
I prioritize quality selfishly: only because it tends to make the garment *feel* nicer now (and therefore makes it more pleasurable for me to wear the thing now).
Yep, I agree! I also feel better knowing there’s a higher chance I can resell something if it ends up not working for me.
And buying better quality only makes sense if it goes hand in hand with buying less. Like you said, the more you have, the less you can actually wear your things. At the end of the day, every purchase should be intentional, not because someone else told you you needed it.
Been around awhile and have been a consumer of fashion “blogs” and “vlogs” for decades and my “takeaway” is that if you buy what you truly like you will get yourself a wardrobe essential. If you chase trends or try to keep up with influencers you will end up with a closet full of stuff you don’t wear. After all you are buying based on what someone else is saying you need not what you really want. Of course give yourself some grace because sometimes our picker is confused (mainly by the content we consume) and we make mistakes. I know this is not a unique viewpoint but I find that if you try to stay true to what you really like - even sleep on it - you might find that you end up not buying the thing after all (it’s forgotten). I am finding substack works really well for curbing my purchasing as the images don’t present as slick as they did on websites and tbh everything looks the same post to post so I am much less tempted and find that I will only pursue something if it really did ring my bell.
As someone who considers her wardrobe timesless, intentional and essential... I guess... I am going to reframe it as classical from now on 😂
Trully, this was spot on! I have just recently realised that I have justified every recent purchase with: it's timless! It's essential! and have only just now realized that i have indeed fallen prey to marketing!
Thank you for eye opening! From now on it's guilt free: am I going to wear the hell out of this now?
At least I am not going to be buying like a fool, which may just be the "intention" I was looking for all the time.
Such an interesting useful read. I think we can all be guilty of some personal greenwashing too. I’m not that bad because I won’t buy from the worst producers of fast fashion, or I’m not buying synthetic, or it’s ok because I’m sending most of it back so I’m being discerning really...
sigh
I have a lot of work to do to be better, but every intelligent article helps me deconstruct and reframe.
on this, everything I have gotten many many years of regular wear out of has been more of a statement piece than a basic. I’m just a lot more likely to build looks around things I see as weird and cool rather than something I see as interchangeable
Yuuuuuup. It's the things you adopt as your own regardless of trend. Your "personality pieces", which for many tend to be the statements.
Same! I have come to realize that the quirky pieces that I am excited about are legitimately smarter buys for me (provided, and this is important, that the fit is good).
Pieces may be “timeless” but my body is not. Over the course of my adult life my body has changed in shape and size over and over again. So for a piece to be truly timeless my body would have to stop changing. On the other hand, my essentials, are pieces that I wear often and replace regularly, like my Stan Smith sneakers or white Tshirts.
I have almost started to hate the word "intentional". Not because it's a bad thing, but it feels more like a lifestyle add than something I can relate to. It feels as meaningful as a tv-commercial for perfume.
Oh, it's aaaaalllllll the same thing in a different font for me.
timeless / effortless / intentional / elevated / curated / forever / considered / thoughtful....the list could go on!
Like, it's not BAD for you to be able to describe your stuff like this. But it's not something the brand can ascribe. "Intentional" for who?!? Which is why it feels like a perfume ad (and I really like that description).
Wow. When you reframed to frontloading our wear expectation, my mind was blown. This is a perfect prompt when buying something; can I wear and rewear the hell out of this RIGHT NOW?!
As usual - a thoughtful (and somehow also always entertaining) post from you. I agree with your views - one of my big struggles is when I find a brand I like and respect, I find a subtle pressure to buy a bit more just to keep them going - even when I know I don’t really need another item. (And if I could do footnotes in a comment I would - I love your use of footnotes, just the icing on the cake for me!!)
I hear you on this and often feel the same kind of impulse. I just remember that whether any one band lives or dies is way bigger than one person. Whether YOU buy that next item or not is never actually it. Buy it if you truly want it / need it, but don't feel like you need to buy just for "support".
Love this whole take, from the realization that I have more clothes than I can reasonably wear, to the marketing hell version of “timeless”. Also! No hate to anyone who loves neutrals but I am sick to death of quality brands ONLY selling boxy neutrals, as if color and defined shapes are somehow antithetical to “timeless”.
To your point about it being personal: Yes, of course, the peplum top is very 2010 (and 1985. And apparently they’re trying to bring it back now?). But I have a top that looks and feels amazing and happens to have a peplum cut and I have been wearing it since I bought from a secondhand Anthro seller on eBay in 201….? Whaddya know; it’s a timeless classic!
Exactly!!
This is such a great read!! So detailed, honest, and penetrative.
The whole timelessness concept is interesting because it started off as this cool, appealing way to encourage sustainability. But it does end up as another kind of marketing strategy, contradicting true sustainability with inherent business models of fashion
This resonated with me deeply. I started to really understand my "personal style" the moment I stopped buying. I discovered the word "timeless" only makes sense when it's attached to a piece you really like that you've worn for years and always feels like you — it's not really "timeless" if it's a piece you bought yesterday and taps into the latest trend, right? We don't need more, we just need to learn to be creative with what we have.
Nailed it.
Love this. My body has changed so much in the past 7 years that the only items that approach “timeless” in my wardrobe are a few pairs of shoes (including some Frye booties pretty similar to your rag and bone ones!), a purse, and a pair of sunglasses that have magically lasted way longer than I ever expected! Which teaches me that if I’m going to spend money on a high quality item it makes way more sense for it to be an accessory.
I’m a Gen X’er (58) and I’ve kept a few pieces from the 90’s, including dresses from Calvin Klein and Betsy Johnson. I still wear the Calvin Klein. I don’t wear the Betsy Johnson, but my daughter got a lot of wear out of the Betsy Johnson dresses when she was in high school for formal events. I’ve also kept a couple of pairs of “Long and Lean” flare jeans from Gap from the early 2000’s and I always get compliments when I wear those. I’m lucky that over the span of my life my weight hasn’t fluctuated more than 5-6 pounds in either direction (not including pregnancy), so it is quite humorous to see that I was a size 4 in Gap in the early 2000’s, but now I’m a 0 or 00. Ahhh…vanity sizing at its best!
What a great read! It made me question a lot of my own decisions, but also made me feel seen — I’ve always had such a hard time picturing myself 2, 5, or 10 years from now. Two years ago, I had no idea my style would be what it is today, so in my mind there’s no way I can buy clothes expecting I’ll keep them forever. Buying better quality so they last? Sure! But knowing I’ll love it as much in 5 years? Meh. I much prefer the idea of wearing the hell out of something right now!
Totally, I think buying for quality is a fine goal to support repeated wear NOW and maintain the *option* for you (or perhaps someone else) to continue wearing later.
But the overall tone out there at the moment WAY over-moralizes and over-emphasizes quality when the reality is most of are cycling through things with less wear than would ever make quality relevant.
I prioritize quality selfishly: only because it tends to make the garment *feel* nicer now (and therefore makes it more pleasurable for me to wear the thing now).
Yep, I agree! I also feel better knowing there’s a higher chance I can resell something if it ends up not working for me.
And buying better quality only makes sense if it goes hand in hand with buying less. Like you said, the more you have, the less you can actually wear your things. At the end of the day, every purchase should be intentional, not because someone else told you you needed it.
Been around awhile and have been a consumer of fashion “blogs” and “vlogs” for decades and my “takeaway” is that if you buy what you truly like you will get yourself a wardrobe essential. If you chase trends or try to keep up with influencers you will end up with a closet full of stuff you don’t wear. After all you are buying based on what someone else is saying you need not what you really want. Of course give yourself some grace because sometimes our picker is confused (mainly by the content we consume) and we make mistakes. I know this is not a unique viewpoint but I find that if you try to stay true to what you really like - even sleep on it - you might find that you end up not buying the thing after all (it’s forgotten). I am finding substack works really well for curbing my purchasing as the images don’t present as slick as they did on websites and tbh everything looks the same post to post so I am much less tempted and find that I will only pursue something if it really did ring my bell.
As someone who considers her wardrobe timesless, intentional and essential... I guess... I am going to reframe it as classical from now on 😂
Trully, this was spot on! I have just recently realised that I have justified every recent purchase with: it's timless! It's essential! and have only just now realized that i have indeed fallen prey to marketing!
Thank you for eye opening! From now on it's guilt free: am I going to wear the hell out of this now?
At least I am not going to be buying like a fool, which may just be the "intention" I was looking for all the time.
Such an interesting useful read. I think we can all be guilty of some personal greenwashing too. I’m not that bad because I won’t buy from the worst producers of fast fashion, or I’m not buying synthetic, or it’s ok because I’m sending most of it back so I’m being discerning really...
sigh
I have a lot of work to do to be better, but every intelligent article helps me deconstruct and reframe.
Thank you for the interesting & challenging read.
Man this is so. So! Good. Something I’ve been thinking a lot about and you articulated it perfect. Imagine me literally clapping—because I am!
I love when what I write scratches an itch. Thank you!!
This felt personal. Wow. Such an enlightening take and now I have to reconsider my life. 😂