How can fashion be affordable?

[leyla m.]

Originally posted by oanadobre@Apr 15th, 2004 - 4:59 pm
I truly apreciate all your comments, but I guess we must go back to the topic, before Leyla spots us and gets upset .
Please tell me, how can little money and fashion mix?

oanadobre, i never get upset when offtopic... its just always a reminder...
you know i love you all

on topic;

i feel with you concerning the average wage in ur country.
its the same in my home country (in which i never lived btw) IRAN.
the avergae wage is a bit higher than in romania and its true that the avergae woman really cannot afford anything BUT food...
the fashionable ladies are unfortunately or fortunately the ones who have travelled abroad and made their money in the west.
those are the ones who live like kings and queens back home... and usually are the most sTYLISH people

but anyway, on a regulae basis... one doesnt need money to look stylish B)

 

[As You Like It]

Well, speaking as a working class woman (from the USA), I can tell you that high-fashion and designers aren't that important or influential to me. I mean, everyone knows what Gucci is, but in my neighborhood, shopping at a store like Jones or Macy's is being really posh. Most people wear stuff from Wal-Mart, Target, and Old-Navy, as well as from thrift-shops. Most of us like to follow the current fashions as much as is practical, but there is a certain amount of time-lag in adopting trends, and some trends are completely ignored if they are too impractical or expensive, even at discount level.

Some people, like me, wear a lot of vintage/second-hand, and some of us make our own clothes, to project a certain style and to save money.

When you're really hurting for cash, like you might get your lights cut off and you have to pay your bus fare with a fist full of pennies, then fashion and beauty go by the wayside. If you can keep clean and respectable, that is the most important thing. I'll keep polishing a pair of shoes, re-glueing the soles, bleaching and darning a pair of socks if I have to, but I don't let anyone see me looking particularly shabby. That's why I have grubbies for at home, then I have my good clothes for work or going out. If I destroy my good clothes, I can't just go out and buy something new. It takes an amount of budgetary maneuvering when I need something like a pair of shoes or a new coat.

Thanks be I haven't been in a real tight spot in a while, but I know what it is like and I know how to cope. Some poorer people do try to run with the big dogs too much--weekly hair appointments, maxed out credit cards, cars/SUVS that they think are ritzy...this happens and quite a lot more than it should. I think fashionablity expectations can be kind of cruel to people who are living paycheck to paycheck, and I know too many people who pay for a set of fills when they should be paying their phone bill, or who just have to buy that new Tommy jacket when they are already behind on the gas bill. Some people don't manage that balance between fashion wants and real-life necessities, and make life a lot harder on themselves than it really needs to be. Like it isn't hard enough already.

 

[twilight fairy]

well said, as always, as you like it!

i'm from kiev, ukraine. contrasts are high there. average wage is low. 100 - 150 dollars. but, recently, i've been noticing women saving up for high end make up, like christian dior mascara, estee lauder lipgloss, and so on. it makes them feel a bit more 'luxurious', so i agree, that is a good idea, to have designer brands make cosmetics etc.

i don't get much money cos my parents say that if they allow me to buy whatever i want, then i will not appreciate things, have no sense of value or respect towards expesnive items, and it will be hard for me later on in life. of course i grumble about this, but i agree with it.
so now i've been learning how to make 'do it yourself' belts, skirts...i find old jeans, cut them up, add funky beads or whatever, and i have a funky pair of summer shorts. it's not all about the money.
h&m has nicer stuff than some desigenr places. so there

 

[Spacemiu]

I udnerstand alto hwo you feel, there is sucha dilema in lfie for me, becuas I love fashion,art, food etc. allt hese wonderful ebatifult hings, btu also i hate the money system and the unfairness taht it cuases and hwo things work.

beauty for change

 

[ultramarine]

I know what you're talking about .. I live in Costa Rica .. this is a third world country ..though we aren't as bad as some other south-american countries ... my suggestion and the solution to your problems is going vintage ... it may become an scavenger hunt , but it just adds up as more fun ... if you need any other tips, feel free to post/PM me ...
Big hug, Marco

 

[Glamourina]

I come from a fairly affluent family so my entire childhood until age 18 I got whatever I wanted, no questions asked. Once I started college, though, I was basically cut off, being told "If you want clothes, get a job and buy them yourself." At first I was like "Huh? Work? " But anyway my point is, being a student I have to make my money stretch, which is frustrating, especially when I see some Daddy's Girl Jewish-American Princess prance by with her brand new designer bag of the month. Ok, what I'm saying is, I usually do my major shopping four times a year, at the start of each season, I'll save up a bit of money and go buy things that are cute, but not terribly trendy so they won't be tired in a month. This way, I have clothes, but I'm not broke. I'll hit up thrift stores, anywhere that I can find something cute. I got a beautiful Marilyn Monroe-esque Dior vintage rabbit fur coat at the Goodwill for 2 dollars. Then if I find I need something during the season, I let myself buy one or two things. Thrift stores can be really great, but don't be sucked in by cheap stores like Rave, because yeah you may get a shirt for 5 dollars, but it's very likely it will fall apart the first time you wash it. If it's possible, it's good to buy a few basic staples that are high quality, because they'll last forever. They'll cost more, but if you own that pair of pants for ten years, it's gonna pay for itself several times over. Oh yeah, it's also good to make a clothing budget. Okay, you make 100 bucks a month, so after all your bills are paid off, put a little bit aside in a bank account or something. After a few months, you should have a tidy sum saved up, and you can use that to go buy your fall/winter wardrobe. That's what I do . Hope that helped.

 

[Lena]

Originally posted by strawberry daiquiri+Apr 15th, 2004 - 10:06 pm--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(strawberry daiquiri @ Apr 15th, 2004 - 10:06 pm)</div><div class='quotemain'> <!--QuoteBegin-tott@Apr 15th, 2004 - 9:44 pm
But... If we're talking about Romania, which I think is THE poorest country in Europe

I think it's actually thought to be Moldova, but yah it's in the same area.. [/b][/quote]
i think its actually Bulgaria

anyway, one needs to invest a very small amount of money and can still be completly fashionable.
i agree with softgrey, its not what you wear is how you wear it.
try having a look at your mother's or even grandmother's wardrobe and mix and match with flair, throw in your own jeans and just spent a bit of money on shoes.
this will do your trick, no need for flashy logos much more when one makes 100$ per month.

one cannot buy style, take a good look at most of the so called 'celebrities'

with all the money to spent and they still look totally unstylish

it doesnt take money, it only takes culture, personality, taste and a natural 'love' for things beautiful.

you can make it onadobre

 

[strawberry daiquiri]

Yah, I can only agree with each of your sentiments.. we all know just how unfair the distribution of wealth is, and that the attitude of the first world makes few exceptions for the third. That's why when I see the bottom of Europe's earning pyramid I feel all material pleasures are guilty.

Europe's 10 lowest incomes per capita: (the second number their earnings relative to Denmark, the richest, and representing 100)

1. Moldova : 1
2. Belarus : 1
3. Ukraine : 1
4. Albania : 2
5. Serbia : 3
6. Bulgaria: 3
7. Russian Federation: 4
8. Romania : 4
9. Latvia : 5
10. Macedonia : 6

Denmark pays 87x the median pay of the poorest country (Moldova), yet the people there must pay roughly the same prices?

 

[Lena]

very interesting.. i had no clue , thanks strawberry

 

[twilight fairy]

Originally posted by strawberry daiquiri@Apr 16th, 2004 - 4:49 am
Yah, I can only agree with each of your sentiments.. we all know just how unfair the distribution of wealth is, and that the attitude of the first world makes few exceptions for the third. That's why when I see the bottom of Europe's earning pyramid I feel all material pleasures are guilty.

Europe's 10 lowest incomes per capita: (the second number their earnings relative to Denmark, the richest, and representing 100)

1. Moldova : 1
2. Belarus : 1
3. Ukraine : 1
4. Albania : 2
5. Serbia : 3
6. Bulgaria: 3
7. Russian Federation: 4
8. Romania : 4
9. Latvia : 5
10. Macedonia : 6

Denmark pays 87x the median pay of the poorest country (Moldova), yet the people there must pay roughly the same prices?

aww..ukraine.. see..it's horrible..when i go to ukraine.., i see these people who struggle with feeding their family and paying for education..then i see the extremely wealthy ones, who stroll around in dior, gucci, chanel..it's just ahh.

 

[strawberry daiquiri]

Originally posted by Lena@Apr 16th, 2004 - 11:02 am
very interesting.. i had no clue , thanks strawberry

You're very welcome..

I know crystalized, it's enough to melt your heart

 

[oanadobre]

Guys, I have the impression that you thought the money problem is mine. Fortunately, it isn't. I make quite a good wage and I can basically afford almost everything I set my eyes on. However, I am a journalist, so noticing people is part of my job. I was referring to the majority of women, whose lack of money makes them think of everything but clothes. I don't want to be mean, but it's quite disturbing to see that poverty leads them to throwing on whatever clothes they can find, whatever the shape and colour. Therefore, you can see them completely missmatched. Really, instead of a $3 brown shirt and blue pants, they can buy a 3$ white shirt, which would suit better those pants. But they have a sort of indifference, forgetting that part of feeling good is looking good. They don't even consider themselves women anymore, but some sort of working animals, who must work their soul out, to make end meet. Hence my sadness.

 

[vintage_princess]

To be quite honest, if i had to work hard every day for not much at all, in one of the poorest countries, i wouldnt even care if what i was wearing was fashionable or not.

 

[oanadobre]

Let alone fashionable. How about clean, matched and put toghether?

 

[faust]

Originally posted by oanadobre@Apr 16th, 2004 - 7:37 am
Guys, I have the impression that you thought the money problem is mine. Fortunately, it isn't. I make quite a good wage and I can basically afford almost everything I set my eyes on. However, I am a journalist, so noticing people is part of my job. I was referring to the majority of women, whose lack of money makes them think of everything but clothes. I don't want to be mean, but it's quite disturbing to see that poverty leads them to throwing on whatever clothes they can find, whatever the shape and colour. Therefore, you can see them completely missmatched. Really, instead of a $3 brown shirt and blue pants, they can buy a 3$ white shirt, which would suit better those pants. But they have a sort of indifference, forgetting that part of feeling good is looking good. They don't even consider themselves women anymore, but some sort of working animals, who must work their soul out, to make end meet. Hence my sadness.

Bah! You should visit USA. People that make a $100,000 dress like that

On a serious note, I know exactly what you are talking about. I'm from Belarus originally, and although I left at 15, I remember things vividly. I've been back to Russia, but honestly I don't have a slightest desire to go back to my hometown - I don't want to do anything with a countrie that let's a fascist govern it and promote such inequality. It is truly said. I just hope that with time things will get better

 

[Lena]

Originally posted by oanadobre@Apr 16th, 2004 - 4:08 pm
Let alone fashionable. How about clean, matched and put toghether?

clean ? absolutely yes
matching together? ..hmmm its quite a fashion mistake
better not match well, but still keep some personal touch?

if i was too poor to buy things I could re-work on old clothes and make something fresh. some women in villages still work their old sewing machine, i think people were more creative when they used to do their own clothes.

i can see reasons to flee from a poor country still..
there are always some 'dark patches' in our 'modern' and 'comforted' western societies

 

[softgrey]

Originally posted by oanadobre@Apr 16th, 2004 - 7:37 am
Guys, I have the impression that you thought the money problem is mine. Fortunately, it isn't. I make quite a good wage and I can basically afford almost everything I set my eyes on. However, I am a journalist, so noticing people is part of my job. I was referring to the majority of women, whose lack of money makes them think of everything but clothes. I don't want to be mean, but it's quite disturbing to see that poverty leads them to throwing on whatever clothes they can find, whatever the shape and colour. Therefore, you can see them completely missmatched. Really, instead of a $3 brown shirt and blue pants, they can buy a 3$ white shirt, which would suit better those pants. But they have a sort of indifference, forgetting that part of feeling good is looking good. They don't even consider themselves women anymore, but some sort of working animals, who must work their soul out, to make end meet. Hence my sadness.

these people sound depressed...i guess the whole country is depressed...i understand why you are sad oanadobre...it's hard to see people who have so little hope and so little light in their lives...i know exactly what you mean...

can you write about it, since you are a journalist and shed some light on these unfortunate women's lives?... it seems you might have the power to do some good?... your heart is certainly in the right place...

 

[oanadobre]

Originally posted by softgrey@Apr 16th, 2004 - 11:10 am
can you write about it, since you are a journalist and shed some light on these unfortunate women's lives?...

I have written, believe me. A drop in a ocean, but still a drop.

 

[Lena]

Originally posted by softgrey+Apr 16th, 2004 - 5:10 pm--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(softgrey @ Apr 16th, 2004 - 5:10 pm)</div><div class='quotemain'> <!--QuoteBegin-oanadobre@Apr 16th, 2004 - 7:37 am
.... throwing on whatever clothes they can find, whatever the shape and colour. Therefore, you can see them completely missmatched. Really, instead of a $3 brown shirt and blue pants, they can buy a 3$ white shirt, which would suit better those pants. But they have a sort of indifference, forgetting that part of feeling good is looking good.

They don't even consider themselves women anymore, but some sort of working animals, who must work their soul out, to make end meet. Hence my sadness.

can you write about it, since you are a journalist and shed some light on these unfortunate women's lives?... it seems you might have the power to do some good?... your heart is certainly in the right place... [/b][/quote]
great idea softgrey

you also touched so well on the effect of depression,
looking 'groomed' is not a matter of money, its a matter of mood.
saddest thing i've ever seen is a depressed woman
in the middle of designer packet wardrobes, which is even more scary.

on the other hand, i've met poor people who have that ' joy of life'
and do put on fake jewlery & lipstick, regardless that they live under
unbelivable conditions (experience from roman-gypsies)

taking care of ourselves is more a matter of mood than money,
i so agree that the example of the women you mentioned seem
that they have given up to depression and this is only partially a result
of their poverty. It's more on the psychological level, its a give up.

 

[softgrey]

Originally posted by oanadobre+Apr 16th, 2004 - 11:28 am--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(oanadobre @ Apr 16th, 2004 - 11:28 am)</div><div class='quotemain'> <!--QuoteBegin-softgrey@Apr 16th, 2004 - 11:10 am
can you write about it, since you are a journalist and shed some light on these unfortunate women's lives?...

I have written, believe me. A drop in a ocean, but still a drop. [/b][/quote]
one drop at a time, i guess...