on the defense.

Yesterday, I decided to mention on Facebook how my husband was not on the same page as me in regards to fashion and the extremely extravagant prices of designers such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Missoni, etc. The overwhelming response of people stating that they agreed and that these brands are "ridiculous", got me fired up. So here is my rebuttal. I don't care to hear responses in argument, I am simply stating why I believe what I do, this is my rhetorical rant...

 

In regards to people who say that these brands are so expensive and you could put your money towards helping people instead of buying material items, please. I am one of the first people to help. I have gone above and beyond to defend injustices against humans, the earth, and animals. If I do my fair share of helping to better the world, why can I not also spend my money on what I want? Furthermore, most couture level designers employ skilled craftsmen (and women) instead of a sweatshop situation staffed by adolescents. The cost to pay skilled workers as opposed to the practical enslavement of children adds to the higher costs of the items. How do you think places like Walmart, Forever 21 and Wet Seal can afford to do crazy deals like "buy one pair of jeans at $15 and get one for a PENNY!"? Duh, they don't do this out of the kindness of their hearts. At the end of every day they still need to make a profit and a pair of jeans that profits off a consumer sale price of a penny, isn't one made in a just and fair work facility.

In regards to people who say "it is just clothes", well you can continue being ignorant. Most of these brands are major fashion labels because they are based off of the designs and imaginations of extraordinary artists. No one scoffs at you if you buy an amazing painting or piece of art for your home, so why turn your nose up at people who buy art in the form of fabric? It is simply usable art!

And finally, to people who think that it is just "silly" when you could spend less on a jacket from another store, or shoes for $30, etc., please believe that you are throwing your money away most times. For example, there was a jacket that I saw yesterday. This jacket was an indigo, Missoni, wool coat. The price of the jacket was $1,100. Missoni is timeless, an iconic style and design house who's products can truly be an heirloom. So if I were to purchase this coat and wear it every year for the rest of my life, lets say 60 years, it would break down to $39 dollars a year, or about 22 cents a day (if you are in the Minnesota season of winter, around 6 months, or 180 days of cold) to wear an amazingly constructed and well designed garment that you will no doubt have forever. When at the same time, you could buy a new winter coat every few years at somewhere around $100 and be paying the same, if not more over time. What is the point of that?

I could drag on, but I won't. This is my two cents. And basically I am saying that 22 cents a day, is well worth it.