Canadian
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 189
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
Hi,
I remember being a teenager, and I am certain I had certain experiences with clothing and fashions. When I was a kid, (under say, 9 or 10) it was extremely common for my clothing, which was generally purchased new to be passed on to others. Relatives, friends, etc.
When i turned about 15-16, I decided I was going to start wearing a necktie as often as possible. I owned exactly two dress shirts, two pair slacks and one pair of good shoes, which really didn't fit. I had two neckties, one being comically undersized.
I had considered it absolutely impossible that I, on such a limited income was going to buy anything other than brand new clothing. I didn't get into the vintage look until university. But as a little kid, it was accepted that people gave away and received clothing from others.
At what point does a young man's (and I suppose a young woman's) fancy turn from practicality to vanity. I probably could have purchased used suits during my high school years, but I felt so self-conscious that I'd rather wear the rags I owned clear, than buy a great looking suit that had seen service and use.
My first suit cost 100 dollars at a local retailer. My Dad walked into Tip Top Tailors and said, "My son needs a suit, get me a really cheap one". I have never spent more than six hundred dollars on a suit. Most of my closet is (as it was when I was a little fellow) used, hand me downs from people who either gained or lost weight and had items they didn't want to throw away.
What I often wonder is, when does the ego demand that we abandon thrift, then re-adopt it when reality strikes. Sadly, shirts do not cost three dollars, nor do woolen suits sell for a hundred anymore. So for somebody who, in my financial state, is paying their own way, will purchase older items. It therefore makes sense that a person reaches three stages: economic innocence, vanity and thrift. Innocence in that money isn't ever noticed, vanity in that you are focused over what you want to wear in leisure and academic wear and then, thrift.
Does a child's innocence with used and hand me down clothing reappear at a later date in life? I love buying vintage look clothing, which is often second hand (or perhaps in many cases, owned by many hands) as many of us do.
Perhaps our younger members could answer this better, but do you, find there is a point where you start caring about how much you spend on how you dress, both in an aggressive manner, and in a reaction to high prices?
More importantly, how do you teach thrift to a fifteen year old boy who's just discovered dances, girls, whiskey, fast cars, and hanging out at the local bars that a used suit has as much merit as a new suit with a high price tag.
I am very glad that I'm comfortable wearing old jackets and old ties. But I wonder, had I taught myself twenty years ago that it was alright to own clothing which, as we did when I was little, that wasn't brand new. That it was normal to wear stuff which (in the absolute naivety of a child who knows not money, class divides or pretense) wasn't in perfect shape.
Where did you shift? Did you find during your teenage years to leave these principles, and to adopt the old ideas of thrift again?
I remember being a teenager, and I am certain I had certain experiences with clothing and fashions. When I was a kid, (under say, 9 or 10) it was extremely common for my clothing, which was generally purchased new to be passed on to others. Relatives, friends, etc.
When i turned about 15-16, I decided I was going to start wearing a necktie as often as possible. I owned exactly two dress shirts, two pair slacks and one pair of good shoes, which really didn't fit. I had two neckties, one being comically undersized.
I had considered it absolutely impossible that I, on such a limited income was going to buy anything other than brand new clothing. I didn't get into the vintage look until university. But as a little kid, it was accepted that people gave away and received clothing from others.
At what point does a young man's (and I suppose a young woman's) fancy turn from practicality to vanity. I probably could have purchased used suits during my high school years, but I felt so self-conscious that I'd rather wear the rags I owned clear, than buy a great looking suit that had seen service and use.
My first suit cost 100 dollars at a local retailer. My Dad walked into Tip Top Tailors and said, "My son needs a suit, get me a really cheap one". I have never spent more than six hundred dollars on a suit. Most of my closet is (as it was when I was a little fellow) used, hand me downs from people who either gained or lost weight and had items they didn't want to throw away.
What I often wonder is, when does the ego demand that we abandon thrift, then re-adopt it when reality strikes. Sadly, shirts do not cost three dollars, nor do woolen suits sell for a hundred anymore. So for somebody who, in my financial state, is paying their own way, will purchase older items. It therefore makes sense that a person reaches three stages: economic innocence, vanity and thrift. Innocence in that money isn't ever noticed, vanity in that you are focused over what you want to wear in leisure and academic wear and then, thrift.
Does a child's innocence with used and hand me down clothing reappear at a later date in life? I love buying vintage look clothing, which is often second hand (or perhaps in many cases, owned by many hands) as many of us do.
Perhaps our younger members could answer this better, but do you, find there is a point where you start caring about how much you spend on how you dress, both in an aggressive manner, and in a reaction to high prices?
More importantly, how do you teach thrift to a fifteen year old boy who's just discovered dances, girls, whiskey, fast cars, and hanging out at the local bars that a used suit has as much merit as a new suit with a high price tag.
I am very glad that I'm comfortable wearing old jackets and old ties. But I wonder, had I taught myself twenty years ago that it was alright to own clothing which, as we did when I was little, that wasn't brand new. That it was normal to wear stuff which (in the absolute naivety of a child who knows not money, class divides or pretense) wasn't in perfect shape.
Where did you shift? Did you find during your teenage years to leave these principles, and to adopt the old ideas of thrift again?
I didn't move out of my parents' house until right before dh and I got married. Getting married and having to work and pay for things myself ended my days of buying the most expensive thing in the store. These days as I'm ever edging toward 60, if I don't stay in my night clothes all day is a major accomplishment. And most of the time I'd rather endure a root canal than go shopping for anything but food.
