A lot of self evaluation goes into writing these pieces. Before I can start to be critical of one thing or in support of another I have to have had some personal experience in that arena. Right? I think so. I was thinking the other night of my own flaws when it came to fashion and such. Specifically the days where I was far more concerned with the brand than the item. This is hard for me to type and my brain is telling me "Why would you type this you jackass idiot, you're going to lose all your credibility." Oh well, but anyways, back in the day when Ed Hardy wasn't available at Gabes and was popular, I would have practically worn an Ed Hardy cape if I could have got my hands on it. I was so concerned with the fact that it was Ed Hardy that I completely overlooked the fact that it was straight up UGLY and ridiculous looking.
Another misconception I used to have was that designer brands were more expensive because they were of better quality. God was I wrong. Trust me, I've had my fair share of Lacoste Polos, Dolce and Gabbana pants, Burberry sweaters, and designer jeans. Perfect example, a couple of years ago I decided that it'd be a smart idea to pay $300 for a Burberry cotton sweater. Let me be frank. WHAT A PIECE OF SHIT. It shrank, was too short, and was uncomfortable. I have a cashmere sweater from Lands End that I think I paid $200 for and I'd put it up against anything. It has withstood the wash, hasn't lost its color and is still as soft as the day I took it out of the bag. An Ex- Girlfriend of mine spent the summer working at Gucci Headquarters on 5th avenue and assured me that their products are of no higher quality than something you can get at the mall.
Another angle of this is that logos and branding make the outfit. Wrong. Go to Ralph Lauren's Purple Label collection. Not a polo horse for miles and it's by far his most expensive collection of clothing. The reason for the lack of branding is because the demographic Purple Label appeals to doesn't need to flash what they're wearing. It looks good. They know it and they know you know it. I mean I don't know about you but if you are determined to spend a fortune on clothing, what's cooler than rocking a $500 t shirt without anything on it as opposed to Gucci's gaudy new line with gigantic double G's painted like the american flag.
There is an alternate side to this though. Some things require you to seek out particular brands for their quality. I think an appropriate example is boots and jackets. Two vital articles of clothing. I personally prefer to be dry and warm as opposed to looking pretty and being drenched and freezing. Spending the extra money on pieces like that is going to guarantee you a product that performs and will last you the majority of your life. Trust me, Red Wing's are going to do a way better job than a pair of "boots" from H&M. They may look the same, but that extra $300 spent is going to go a long way.
The key is knowing how to pick and choose what to splurge on. $500 Hermes belt or $75 Ariat belt, both hold up pants, both look good, so why spend $500. $350 Red Wings or $95 Timberland Classics, no comparison, Red Wing outperforms forever. Be smart people, be smart.
Nathan
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