A Fendi Bag And A Bad Attitude

The other day, I watched a Netflix documentary called, "Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf's." It was a historical/political/social commentary on the iconic New York department store, and what it means to be a client, and/or, a designer for the retail giant. I found it fascinating, which is not surprising considering my love for "Sex and The City," "Gossip Girl," and all things NYC fashionista. But as much as I love the idea of 6 inch Loubitin's, I wouldn't be caught dead in them. In fact, I have a love-hate relationship with the entire fashion industry.

The documentary featured many well-known designers like the Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs, as well as the original ice princess, Anna Wintour. 

Although, if we gave Princess Elsa a bob...

But it was someone unknown, at least to me, who made the statement that I just can't forget. She said, and I'm paraphrasing, that the reason that we need stores like Bergdorf's in this country is because we need people to keep striving to be better. That striving is part of the American dream. On the contrary, I think that always trying to be, and do, more is what ails our country, and causes so much depression among it's residents.

I'll admit, that fashion, and consumerism in general can be fun, exciting, creative, and possibly even empowering. But when we use words like retail therapy, I think we cross over to the dark side, because nothing external can ever solve anything internal. Ever.

Until the age of 32, I bought into this paradigm. I got excellent grades in high school, so that I could go to college. I did wonderfully in college, in order to be accepted to graduate school. I excelled in graduate school to get an internship, a post doc, my license, a practice, and so on, until I realized that I was on a wheel that would never stop turning. That's when my husband and I moved to North Carolina to slow things down a bit. But even here, in our beautiful mountain home, I can still fell the pull to do more, be more, achieve more. When will it stop?

That's why I say we all need to make a conscious decision to stop striving and start being. There is no better time than right here and right now. As Dave Matthews sings, "wash out this tired notion that the best is yet to come." Enjoy the moment. Today. Regardless of what, or who, you are wearing.

 

Yours freely,

Hayley