Check out Cathy Horyn’s review of fashion week in the New York Times. She writes:
“In the age of Twitter, the inessential becomes the essential. You sense this reductive pattern in a lot of the spring shows: that designers are trying to crash their collections with a lot of quick, short-term thinking. Meanwhile they are making just as much noise as they did in the past.”
This sage thought grabbed our attention—its wisdom goes beyond the catwalk.
A bitch on a budget can’t afford to succumb to “quick, short-term thinking” when making choices about how to invest her precious and woefully-dwindling resources (and we’re not talking just moola but time and lust—oh-so-easily confused with love—as well).
After all, we’ve become slightly nuts for twitter—it’s such a clever and addictive way of shrinking full-sized thoughts into itty-bitty screen-bites. (Or maybe aborting full-sized thinking into shallow e-commerce networking?) No matter. How else does a modern woman keep up with the instant buzz of the moment?
But a smart B shouldn’t confuse a significant trend (as in something with meaningful, investment-grade, lasting style direction) with instant fad and mindless filler. Remember our inaugural post (just a few days ago) when we talked about editing? Well, if you’re bombarded by a constant barrage of jagged pieces of information, streaming at staggering speed, how will you ever be able to sort and edit the absolute must-haves every bitch needs?
Train your inner bitch. You know those angels and devils always appearing on the shoulders of cartoon characters? What you need is a bitch sitting on your shoulder, clad like a dominatrix, red-lipped and narrow-eyed, cracking her whip whenever you get caught up in useless fads.
… studded platform gladiator shoes
WHAP!
… puffy-hipped skirts
WHAP!
OK. We know. Fads can be fun, and sometimes it takes a while to know which look really has legs. (Who knew stove pipes could last this long?) Just remember, no big spending gulps on a passing fancy, only little micro-bites allowed. More simply put: no Fendi gladiators, only H&M knockoffs!
WHAP!
(That last one was because we know you secretly like it…)
27 comments
Thrift, Virtue and Splurging | Bitches on a Budget says:
Jun 1, 2010
[…] in our “Whap!” post we talked about the devil and the angel sitting on your shoulders helping you resolve your […]
Rachael Sibley via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
Oh lawd no
Julie Walker via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
Wish the fashion world would get a grip & think of something new just please let’s not do the 80s again ewwww!!!
Jennifer Guevara via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
My Mom always said, “keep your clothes, they always come back into fashion”….lol…that is one way to save. Pack it away. It always comes back.
Lako Holstein via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
Everything comes back in fashion! I pass on them…
Jen Williams via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
too funny, I had no idea flare pants were back in, but just saw an old navy commercial advertising them. Personally, I’m not huge on fads I prefer to wear what looks good on me.
Amanda Heyns via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
lp
Gretchen Robinson via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
I still have all that junk from when I bought it. I am back in baby.
Linda Tranter Herndon via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
I make some items and scout consignment shops. Sometimes a piece can updated with a few alterations.
Ronda Henderson via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
I remember when flares were called bellbottoms!;)
Cheryl Tolodziecki via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
Shop consignment stores and or thrift shops…..!!! You can find some really great stuff for pennies on the dollar! Wish I could keep all my clothing, but my weight bounces around too much to be sure I would be able to wear anythng that I’ve saved. I pass my things down too…!!!
Amy Daitz via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
God i hope not…90s fashion was hideous!!!
Max Gordon via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
Easy: Never dress like anyone else.
Kelly Vanspybrook via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
I avoid that by dressing in what looks good on ME instead of what’s “in.”
Daenk NavySeals via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
90s ??????????????
so funny, that i’ve to buy it . . .
Abby Grove via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
I just keep the clothes until they come back. Still have my flares and velvet jacket. Additionally my grandma was a pack rat and I still have her clothes from the 50s & 60s to wear. Great to reuse the goodies. 🙂
Lulu Turner Cavens via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
i thought it was the 70’s again. God! Are we never gonna get rid of the 70’s???
Marisa Pullan via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
I wear what I am comfortable in and what looks good on me…don’t care much for fashion 😉
Brittanie Williams via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
…Really? I think ill stick with my ultrahip cool mom yoga pants and tshirts…
Kendy Murphy via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
Well I never get rid of anything….so I always have what’s in lol
Leeta-Rose Ballester via Facebook says:
Aug 14, 2011
I’ve been wearing flares and bells this whole time cuz they balance my big butt lol. And in the 90’s I dressed like I was in a nirvana video but I was in elementary and jr high!
Rhonda Walker Thorn via Facebook says:
Aug 15, 2011
I like to add items (accessories)? that are a “nod” to current trends, rather than going crazy with a trend.
Melinda Hicks via Facebook says:
Aug 15, 2011
I rarely buy something that’s a ‘new style’ unless it’s around long enough to not be the ‘new style’ anymore. That way I don’t look fadish, and I don’t waste my money on stuff I won’t be able to wear very long.
Dana Rich Hanley via Facebook says:
Aug 15, 2011
i find it funny that the 50s never made a come back!ie poodle skirts saddle shoes.ect..but the 70s r just lingering around!lol
Tolonda Westbrook via Facebook says:
Aug 15, 2011
I don’t rush out and buy fad items ever! I have learned to wait and see if it’s a want or need…. Usually it’s a want that is unnecessary.
Judy Fitzgerald Rice via Facebook says:
Aug 15, 2011
I wore saddle shoes in the 70s when they made a brief comback. The soles were like a white foam, so they were an updated saddle shoe. I think I was 12 or 13 at the time. 🙂 I hate long skirts. Extreme flares make me think of Gumby. I like bootcut or straight leg (not tapered) jeans and classic jackets. I stay away from fads because they’re a waste of money. They’re out of style by the next season.
Martha McKnight via Facebook says:
Aug 15, 2011
A person would have to be crazy to wear that UGLY 80’s & 90’s bland crap !! YUK :-(((