Comments for Empty Emptor

Comment on Blogs – drivers of consumption? by jacqueline | the hourglass files

jacqueline | the hourglass files — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:51:50 +0000

I have many thoughts on this topic. Like many have already said, I read style blogs for wardrobe and ensemble-building inspiration and to get informed reviews on particular products and brands.

Far too often though, I’ll see an outfit that is made up of similar items to things already in my wardrobe, but there will be one or two pieces in which I have nothing like. Suddenly I need that missing product, even though I was previously unaware that a gap in my wardrobe existed.

Also, repeatedly seeing similar garments on multiple bloggers can either have a positive affect on my purchasing desire or a repulsion. I guess it depends on the particular bloggers I see and/or how many I see wearing something. There’s a fine balance between, “oh look, this cute bootie keeps popping up and it would look great in my wardrobe” to “oh look, everyone has that boring bootie and I don’t want to look like everyone else.”

I’m pretty conscious of the fact that I shop more when I’m looking at style blogs frequently. Reading style blogs causes me to think more often and more critically about my clothing. So I tend to buy better pieces when I’m actively thinking/reading style blogs, which is good, but bad because when I’m actively thinking, I have a constant itch to buy. When I’m not actively thinking, I make worse purchasing decisions but those purchases are less frequent.

Comment on Blogs – drivers of consumption? by jesse.anne.o

jesse.anne.o — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:13:57 +0000

I’m coming to this one late but…

My intent in “reading” outfit blogs was to help me figure out how to best put things together (or so I thought). However, I definitely find myself seeing something I like, scanning the blog post for a source store and 9 times out of 10 swearing when I find out it’s F21 or something like that. (Less so if it’s thrift store/vintage because I can mostly get behind that.)

I suppose I’m looking for there to be more “sustainable” brands mentioned and less F21/H&M stuff…but if I’m *really* just looking at things to see how people put them together to recreate the outfit from what I HAVE, why does that matter? I catch myself being a future-consumer all the time.

I do like reading blogs that have some conversation about consumption/mfg going on. I feel like that keeps me on the straight and narrow, the way personal finance blog-reading also keeps me on the wallet straight and narrow.

Comment on Blogs – drivers of consumption? by Clara

Clara — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:17:56 +0000

Hello everyone !
my blog “consumption” (eugh, terrible word) has changed a lot with time. After the gullible fascination for glossy images at the start, I got progressively drawn to the whole “minimalist” aesthetic and got obsessed with culling, dressing in “classics” etc. Only now do i realize it’s just another way of not being myself, but i owe so much to blogs (including this one hehe) for helping me become conscious about consuming, frinding my style and *trying* to buy ethical things. Thanks to my favorite blogs i am now finding my own way, and this makes me pretty much imune to temptation, as i don’t know any blogger which has a style close to mine now. And now i can again enjoy the blog experience in a way i would enjoy the company of friends who are very different from me : i like their tastes, but i’m not tempted to make them my own. Besides the things i buy now are often quite expensive, so there’s not much left for “why not try this” or “maybe that will suit me”… Also having a different bodyshape from most bloggers, i simply wouldn’t look as good as they do in the same outfit, so there’s not much point

On another topic : i would like to discuss the general assumption that the less you buy, the richer you inner life gets, and the whole “experience rather than objects” prejudice. I’ve come to the opinion that there’s a lot of bullshit in this ^^. Of course it’s always good to not be the slave of marketing teams, but isn’t there a hint of elitism, or even condescension in that assumption ? Does having less things really make your life richer ? Does dressing in classic pieces automatically classify you as an sexy French nouvelle-vague intellectual ? :p

Comment on Blogs – drivers of consumption? by Clara

Clara — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:45:09 +0000

ps : one day it clicked and i looked at a magazine with a critical eye : it’s litterally ALL about 20-something blonde thin white women. The rest is almost systematically either the “token ‘curvy’ woman” (that adjective, GRRRRR), the “look pretty (even) at 40″ etc. I thought magazines had changed, but really not so much. Popular blogs are often pretty much the same.
And then i walk down the street, see all these different people, and i think : where the hell do these fashion people see if they don’t see the reality of this diversity ?! How dare they implicitely, yet constantly present this model as a norm ?

Comment on Blogs – drivers of consumption? by Clara

Clara — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:37:17 +0000

Hello Jess !
i would love a post on this topic… people often say fashion is “racist” or “encourages anorexia”, but somehow i don’t find this explanation fully satisfactory, and i’m longing for an in-depth discussion on the topic with all your lovely readers !