The title of the Spring 2009 New York Times Style Magazine is "A Stimulus Package," as in "Please please please spend some or all of your stimulus money on fashions. Please? Pretty please? Ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease?"
As a recovering shopaholic (I know, I can't believe it either) in a, shall we say, precarious economy, I feel limited ambition to buy anything, especially the Gainfranco Ferre PVC platform (thanks Imelda):
or the Dior Fertility Fetish heels (thanks Shoebuy):
I used to dress (and shop) as if I were designing a costume, with belts, button covers, hair bows, scarves, jewelry, and even (eek) hats.
Image from Finishing Tuxes
Some of it was in style, so I feel I should be pardoned for the acid washed denim and the shoulder pads with their own area code. On the other hand, some of it was just plain peculiar. Why I thought wearing a stickpin topped by a little puff of mink was a good idea, I'll never fully understand; I prefer to try to forget it ever happened.
Thanks Cathy's Cubby, for use of the image.
Eventually I grew up and realized that most of the foofy stuff I thought was all that was really more oh-please-not-all-that-again!
So I cut down on my shopping considerably, and once the kids came around it was way more funner to shop for them than for me, so I cut down on my shopping way more.
I know the people at Mrs. O are trying to convince themselves and everyone else that Michelle Obama will breathe new life into the American fashion industry, but I'm not hopeful about that. I hesitate to believe that what's foremost in Americans' minds is the health of the clothing industry.
The Oscars are tonight. Does anyone really think that whatever the actresses wear tonight will inspire viewers to dash to the stores tomorrow?
