First, a super secret admission.
Although I watch very little regular TV, I make it a point to stop everything and watch episodes of Project Runway.
There can never be enough Heidi - and the fashion designers, of course.
Heidi Klum is reason enough to watch the show, but I truly like all aspects of fashion. I’m not sure why (I’d like to think I have a few “artsy” elements inside me), but I’ve always thought fashion was cool and I’ve enjoyed how it completely defines a period in time.
But it’s always been cool at a distance – because I really can’t pull it off much myself. Looking through my closet, I’ve realized that most of the clothes I own have been purchased by someone else and have little reflection on my own real tastes. About the only thing that is really me are these great, solid color, button-up cotton shirts from Express that I continue to acquire. Yeah, I’ve also got a few items from Banana Republic that I wear haphazardly, but I realize that I have way too much stuff from Target or Kohls (often picked out from the 50% off rack).
This lack of stylish wardrobe is likely more due to my frugality than my ability to put together a decent outfit. When it comes to clothes, I am horrifically cheap. Paralyzingly cheap. Embarrassingly cheap.
I’m not sure why, because I don’t do this with other things that are important to me. For so many other purchases, I will often spend a little extra for an item – not going for the cheapest version – while knowing that buying a quality product will have much more sustaining power than the cheapest one that does the basic job. This is true for my cars, bikes, furniture, food, beer – I’ll generally spend a little more to buy into the higher quality range.
But I can’t seem to get there with clothes.
There is something about clothing prices that don’t make sense to me. When I go into a store like Banana Republic and see pants for $195, I just cannot look at myself and say that I need to be wearing $200 pants. I can find similar (although not really the same style/quality) for $30 at other stores. Putting on a set of clothing that would cost in excess of $300 is totally unfathomable to me. I can’t get my brain around it.
Which all led me to this past weekend when I convinced myself that I needed some new jeans. Looking through my drawer of old jeans, I realized that I had way too many thin, cheap jeans that quickly wore out within the year’s purchase. I needed to break my old habit and move to quality over price.
Well – within limits.
It was Thanksgiving weekend after all and most stores were offering really good deals on some of the basic items. A quick journey in the car and I was at the Mega-Mall and inside the Levi’s store staring at a wall of jeans.
High School Play with monologues - me with a huge mullet and classic, ripped Levi's
Now, recall that I am a child of the 80′s and grew up in the Decade Of Denim™. Jeans – in particular Levi’s and Guess – ruled the scene for both guys and gals and extended far beyond just pants. It wasn’t just about any old denim either, as the grade of denim was just as important. Wranglers? – no way. JC Penney knock-offs? – please. Not only was it Levi’s, but it was 501s. Red tag. Button Fly. They were a must.
Thus, inside the Levi’s store at the Mall, I was immediately drawn to the 501s section. They still represent Levi’s premium line of jeans (although no where near Rock and Republic prices). They still offer the same, tight fit around my thighs (can I truly give some credit to my biking habits for bigger thighs?). They still need to be “broken-in” like a stiff pair of leather shoes. They still wear low around the waist.
Only this time – instead of buying the “stone-washed” faded blue of the 80′s – I stuck to the classic, untouched, cardboard-stiff, indigo denim (one pair in classic blue, while another in a slightly blacker color). Their material is so stiff, it’s hard to walk in them for the first twenty wearings.
But, I’ll know that I’ve purchased quality over cheap, basic function. Fortunately, the untreated denim look may even fit the fashion scene of today and break me away from my lame wardrobe.
Of course – I still bought them on sale and got a really good deal without paying full price.
