Monday, November 17, 2008

Exit the Bling

A few days ago, I mentioned the Wall Street Journal article that discussed how the very wealthy are turning away from conspicuous consumption. Now the New York Times joins in with an article by Alex Williams titled, In Hard Times, No More Fancy Pants. The theme is the same, the tone somewhat less sarcastic.

My favorite quote from the piece is this:

WHILE fashion is always headed in three directions, consumers are turning away from disposable style — the overdesigned “it” handbag, for example — toward high-quality pieces that will endure over multiple seasons, said David Wolfe, creative director of the Doneger Group, which forecasts fashion and retail trends.

And then there is this:

Julien Tornare, the United States president of the Swiss luxury watchmaker Vacheron Constantin, predicted that his industry would move toward a period of “subtle luxury.”
“I think people are going to go with more conservative, not ostentatious — something more discreet that only the connoisseur would know and appreciate, not the bling bling,” he said.


The really great news for everyone is that if "high-quality pieces that will endure over multiple seasons" and "conservative, not ostentatious" are fashion and retail trends at the luxury level, we can expect a trickle-down of this trend through all strata of the retail market. Or at least we can hope!

Having a Very Small Closet has always been the "secret" to having a chic and functional wardrobe. But in a society focused on consumerism and "more is better", the method seems quite counter-intuitive.

Now with renewed interest in downsizing and frugality, we of the small closets just may find ourselves going with the grain, rather than against. And we will be doing it oh-so-stylishly.

See you next time...same blog time...same blog channel....

(Please visit Jennifer's Website for more information on wardrobe planning, or to sign up for my free e-zine.)

10 comments:

Lisa M. McLellan said...

It sounds like their all on your side now Jenn! I like this idea much better that the bling that you wear a couple of times then fling!

Matthew Shields said...

Hi , Jenn
It would appear that your in a very timely niche right now. Two stories in the wall street journal with in a few days…
Happy Trails
Matthew Shields
Energy Expert
Anything Solar

Anonymous said...

Frugality rules!!!

Darryl Pace

Unknown said...

It seems that my frugality may now be in fashion!

Scott A Bell

The Road Warrior

www.scottalexanderbell.com

RobFromGa said...

Probably a lot of Bling for sale on eBay and Craig's List at the moment...

Seize the Day,
Rob
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Lena Milukh said...

It seems like little is more. It is really more up to person's creativity to look good. Having few clothes can always look beautiful. And some people will put everything the wrong way no metter how many clothes they have.
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Anonymous said...

Hey Jenn,

Isn't it amazing that by focusing on quality and style, instead of names and flash, you'd find yourself out in front of a trend?

Or maybe a smart lady like you just suspected this all along? ;-)

Craig

Robert Kaufer said...

Jennifer,

This was a great post.

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David J Parnell said...

I always look for things that I can get a whole heap of usage out of... Getting things that are really unique sometimes don't allow that...

David J. Parnell | Communication Expert
The Communication Expert Blog

Midlife Dating Expert, Singles Workshop Conference Speaker said...

Great clothes and Great Relationships should ALWAYS be of the utmost quality and enduring....

All the best,

April Braswell

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