“People must never know the state of your finances,” my mother inlaw told me, “They should never be able to guess the days you are broke and the days you have money. Be consistent.”
Since these words the sweetest for me have been the cheap thrills… then you realise that nectar adds up. The small spends like lipstick and medium high heels have been my thing and I have also realised that when you start scoping the fashion ramps you notice the sway towards the ‘cheap’ and more ‘modest’ looks.
So yes, as much as the state of the economy does affect fashion, fashion has a place in the economy.
I’m nudged by the scene from the film Devil Wears Prada when Miranda Priestly explains to her new assistant that whether you value fashion or not, you are a part of the ecosystem and you buy into it with every purchase.
I’m guilty of purchasing items that are ‘modest’ but i still purchase. I’m a part of the flow. Now to be aware of what’s out there and what’s trending is something else. Awareness has a massaging effect on the bank account; though I search for a cheaper option pretty often than not, I am forming a part of those making and keeping the industry relevant.
The next time we dismiss the fashion industry and it’s contribution, let’s not forget that retailers, multinationals, production houses, publishers and more form part of the fashion industry. All of these companies provide business to more ‘traditionally-accepted’ fields such as law, finance, and technology. Some of the biggest deals that employ JD- and MBA-holding folks come out of the fashion industry. Some of the CEOs of these industries include CAs, lawyers and other ‘traditionally-accepted’ professionals.
