Very interesting review of a store

annagybe

I was reading another site and a commenter linked to this two year old article. I adore Isabel Marant. But this article interesting enough reminds one that style is independent of price or means. I'm going to have to digest this a bit

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04.....wanted=all

I put it under shopping, because ultimately it is a review of a store.

13 years ago

Shopping

10 replies

Latest reply was from rae

Ana

(website)

Veteran

This is a really interesting article, Anna! I think the writer makes some good points.

My only problem with "the look for less" (at least the feature as it's presented in many magazines) is that often times when I see the original look, and then the "copycat" look, they don't really seem that similar. All the great detail and fabric I liked in the first place is usually missing. Or an item from some place like F21 might photograph really well in the less expensive version of the outfit, but it feels terrible against my skin, that sort of thing. I think it is definitely possible to search out quality items in thrift stores and on ebay, and I have done that. But it takes a lot of time. So I guess it just depends on how a person wants (or needs) to balance their time/money ratio.

Anyway, great article. Lots to think about.

13 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Anna, this is such an interesting article. Thanks for sharing.

I think in the end this comes down to whether or not you enjoy the hunt. Ana is right - it takes effort and time to do the "look for less" well as opposed to just cheaply, whereas if you just buy the Isabel Marant, you know what you're getting for very little effort on your part.

It's kind of similar to how I will see some knitwear in a store, but rather than buy it, I decide to knit it myself, because not only do I enjoy the process, but I think I enjoy/cherish the finished product more because of all the effort I put into it.

13 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I remember reading this article when it was originally published. I wished that the author had included some illustrations of her lower Broadway purchases - I used to work next to those stores long before Isabel Marant opened a boutique and there definitely was some good stuff out there. The question is what one is trying to achieve - if you hang out with a bunch of people that shop at Isabel Marant they will know the difference between your army/navy scarf and hers. If you want to be stylish and chic, on the other hand, the value added is a bit more questionable.

13 years ago

Anonymous

What a GREAT article, Anna. I'm sorry I didn't get to it right away. As someone with more time (to haunt thrift stores) than money, it was very gratifying to read. Thank you so much for sharing it.

13 years ago

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

SO interesting!

These things came into my mind about what the designer is supplying and what you pay for.

The designer is supplying themselves (who and where they 'are' at this moment in time in the fashion world); an image (what sort of label they are, kept up by the look of their shops or marketing etc) a collection (a vision they have put together) and an item (which is *exactly* as they want it to be - fabrication and construction may or may not be particularly pricey but design certainly needs to be 'just so' whether for something deceptively simple (a striped top for example - I'm really wowed by the maths ratio concepts that sometimes goes into making stripes just right) or something more obviously complicated to put together).

If we buy something from them, perhaps we all buy something different? We might buy the designer, the label image, the collection or the item or any combination of those. Perhaps we just need to be happy with what we're buying into and be happy with that? Then we can thrift to get the look, buy it because we want *that designer*, buy it because we love what he/she's doing right now or buy it because we adore the quality.

All fun!

13 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Fascinating read! Personally I enjoy the hunt! And my budget is such that sometimes the hunt is necessary. This article just serves as a reminder that style is something that can't be bought:)

13 years ago

Anonymous

I guess since I don't hang around people who wear designer clothes, I'm safe. Seriously, I've managed to find quality at almost all price points. I've also seen plenty of junk at almost all price points. I try to ignore the label and look at the quality of the garment itself. The price I pay for something is also determined by how long I think the garment is going to be worn and whether it's a classic style or likely to be just a quick blip on the fashion scene.

13 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

Yes, I remember this article. Kim France, the founder and former editor of Lucky, has a blog and she recently talked a bit about her thoughts on Isabel Marant (point #3 in this blog post on her trip to Paris):

http://www.girlofacertainage.c.....ostmortem/

13 years ago

Chippy Mia

Active Member

Thanks for the article, I especially love this quote:

The point is to recognize a meritocracy in things of value, regardless of their low points of origin, current trendiness or future invisibility. Quality is quality, period. All else is corporate fear, hype, vanity and vexation of the spirit. Foolish is as foolish does.

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

A fun read, especially as a reader who 'trolls flea markets regularly. I think the swap meets sometimes make me even *more* brand hungry, because the thirll off the deal is heightened. This article is a nice reminder to consider the overall look and quality first.

Asking whether or not you can create the look for less is a great way to decide if an item is unique/precious enough to warrant the price.

13 years ago

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