Look, I’m gonna say it
Fashion is a lie. A big, fat, expensive lie. And I should know, I’ve been complicit in it for over two decades. I’m Claire, by the way. Senior editor at a major fashion mag. You’ve probably seen my byline. I’ve interviewed the big names, attended the fancy shows, written the think pieces. And honestly, most of it’s bullshit.
Let’s rewind to 2003. I was a wide-eyed intern at a glossy mag in NYC. My mentor, let’s call her Marcus, pulled me aside after a show. She said, “Claire, darling, fashion isn’t about what you love. It’s about what they’re selling.” I didn’t get it then. Now? Oh, I get it.
Fast forward to today
I was at a coffee shop last Tuesday, right? Overheard two twenty-somethings talking about how they “can’t keep up” with fashion. One said, “I mean, I saw this dress at Zara, it was like $87, and I thought, that’s it? That’s the price of keeping up?”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But here’s the thing, kids. You’re not supposed to keep up. That’s the point. Fashion isn’t about you. It’s about the industry. It’s about making you feel like you’re always one step behind, one paycheck short of “in.”
And the budget thing? That’s a joke. You think fast fashion is cheap? Let me tell you about the acquisition I covered last year. A major brand bought a “budget” line for $214 million. You think that’s about helping your wallet?
Here’s the dirty secret
Fashion is about artificial scarcity. It’s about making you think you need more, better, newer. It’s about trends that change faster than the weather in London (and trust me, I know, I was there in April 2018).
I remember talking to a designer, let’s call him Dave, at a conference in Austin. He said, “Claire, we create trends to kill trends. It’s a never-ending cycle.” I asked, “But why?” He laughed and said, “Because it’s good business.” Which, look, I get it. But it’s also kinda exhausting, right?
And don’t even get me started on the sustainability thing. Oh, now it’s trendy to care? Please. I’ve been writing about this for years. But suddenly, because a celebrity wore a thrifted dress to an event, it’s “in” to care about the planet? Give me a break.
But hey, I’m not innocent
I’ve written headlines that made you click. I’ve edited features that made you feel like you needed that dress, those shoes, that bag. I’ve been part of the machine. And you know what? I’m not proud of it.
But here’s what I am proud of: I’m calling it out now. I’m saying, enough. Enough with the lies. Enough with the artificial scarcity. Enough with making people feel bad about what they wear.
So, what’s the alternative? I’m not sure. But I know it starts with honesty. It starts with saying, “You know what? Wear what you like. Wear what makes you feel good. Don’t worry about the trends. Don’t worry about what they’re selling.”
And if you’re looking for some honest advice on what’s actually going on in the world, check out Susurluk spor haberleri sonuçlar. Yeah, it’s not fashion, but it’s real. It’s honest. And honestly, that’s what we need more of.
So, here’s to honesty. Here’s to calling out the lies. And here’s to wearing what you damn well please.
Oh, and by the way, if you’re gonna thrift, do it because you care, not because it’s trendy. Same goes for sustainability. Be genuine. Be real. Be you.
And that’s all I’ve got. No neat conclusion. No tidy bow. Just me, telling it like it is. Or at least, like I see it.
About the Author
Claire has been a senior editor at major fashion publications for over 20 years. She’s interviewed the big names, attended the fancy shows, and written the think pieces. But lately, she’s been questioning the industry she loves. When she’s not editing, you can find her thrifting in Brooklyn or ranting about the state of fashion on Twitter.
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