I was just wondering what everyone thought about it...or if they did.?

Don't get me wrong, I am not made of money, but the older I get the more I think about having quality over quantity? There's a fine line between getting a good deal and buying something everyone else has via chain stores vs. getting something moderately to high priced (and i am not talking high end luxury pricing) that is unique and different.

thoughts?

Hi Chi-I have been on your kind of route lately myself. I have always worked wear looking "trendy" is part of the whole business. Now I find myself looking for Good Basics (and I am looking for USA made) and mixing with more unique pieces(what I've been into) Not to say i don't like getting a good deal-but I'm alot more particular now! BTW I love your new spring looks!
Kathe

Thanks Kathe!

I love having some basics and mixing them with unique pieces. One summer (2003) I wore a tank I bought at the gap, went to a summer festival and saw like 3 people in the same tank and several others in the other gap tanks I had purchased. It was right then that I swore off the gap and old navy. I do still sometimes shop BR, but only occasionally and only sale items as I would never pay full price for a mass-produced item.

I just hate it when people compare the cost of something mass-produced overseas to the cost of something made here in the USA...it's apples and oranges even if it's two handbags.

no one else has any thoughts on this? please share...

this is a broad topic with so much involved, but here's some of what i do + think about a lot...

most of what i purchase(clothing, accessory wise) was made in the US, but take into account a lot of what i purchase + wear is vintage.

fashion is a love hate relationship...at least with me.

don't get me wrong, i like to shop, dress + look good, but to me it's a fine line. as i've gotten older, i can't help but think about where the clothes i buy are "actually" coming from. whose hands made them? who really designed them?

i think about the natural resources it takes to produce all this fashion around us. clothing that takes it turn down the runway, then deemed OUT by next season. what a waste...

i say why design + make clothing that isn't incredible + timeless. why make clothing if it can't even last longer than most people's indoor plants! seriously.

i'm also big into supporting those producing sustainable fashion + accessories, and more often than not it's the small entrepreneurs with a limited collection that i end up purchasing from.

to me it feels very private + real to do this, instead of purchasing like you said, from a big chain retailer.
another reason i do this is my ideas + values are usually in alignment with small entrepreneurs, and not even close to the large mass produced clothing companies.

i think their should be a fashion course on this + every woman should have to attend. think about all we'd learn + the friends we'd make. sounds fantastic to me!

cheers!

xo-

heatheranne -

i loved everything you had to say!

I know so many young, up-and-coming designers from handbags to clothes to jewelry and I get so frustrated with the current marketplace. I've read so many blogs about this name brand and that one and why would anyone purchase from an unknown designer when they can buy coach or prada or whatever.

I am not saying don't purchase name brands, but do so because you love it, NOT because of the name, or because this or that celebrity has it, or because you think it's a status symbol. buy it because YOU like it.

What people don't think about is that every designer was an emerging designer at some point. I just want people to take a good look at what they are spending their money on and why. I think the fashion course is a GREAT idea. I wish there was more people who wanted to create their OWN style.

cheers to you too!

I agree again with both of you. Up untill recently I was a "Plus Size" girl and finding things that suited me and what I wanted to wear was very hard to find. I did find Michael Kors came out with rally nice pieces that I was able to really feel good in. I really liked that about his line. I have never been a name brand shopper and I think I'm always going to be on the look out for fun things I can make my own.
Thanks for keeping this subject in our minds. Unfortunately with the way our economy is going, let's try to find designers in our own backyard and keep our seamstress and tailors in our country stiching away!

Isn't it wonderful to find a line of clothing that really fits your style? I think fit matters more than brand name.

I just found some great deals on swimsuits at Target, and I loved the style so I bought them. I guess I like creating my style sometimes, even if they are unknown brands and the price is right.

This discussion is thought provoking. I love to shop and see what's out there. When it comes to making a purchase most of what I buy I want to keep in my wardrobe for a long time. So I need to find things that fit well and are timeless. Sometimes well-fitting pants are so hard to find for us ladies. Especially when one has a curvier figure...My viewpoint is, I don't go for items because of the label, I go for it for the fit, and because I love it. Sometimes that means paying more for an item that has a "label". I was in Macy's one day and came across an Amazing dress as I was walking down the aisle. It made me stop right there and I took it off the rack immediately and went to the dressing room. It looked amazing on me :) (I wear it over jeans). That's when I looked at the label (MIchael Kors) and the price (thank goodness it was on clearance...) and took it right to the sales clerk. I agree with Heatheranne's comments that we need to be aware of where our clothes come from and the "story" behind them-by whom and how they are made. I think we are so unaware as consumers and that doesn't just pertain to fashion. With anything, it's about education....

For classic pieces you can wear for years I go for quality. If you luck out and get that piece on sale even better. If your hard to fit like myself I'm happy if I just find something,and pray it doesn't break the bank. Never been one for trendy items, even when I was a "hippie".