At first I thought this would be an anti-consumerism manifesto, but it wasn't that - it was more a sensible consuming charmingly drawn book. The reader will breeze through the well-drawn, really, painted, pages, and enjoy the script style. As an art work, it's refreshing and well-executed.



The book examines the author's development as a consumer, from childhood on, and what consuming really means. It's an unending development of finding an identity, perhaps - as expressed through style, home dec

At first I thought this would be an anti-consumerism manifesto, but it wasn't that - it was more a sensible consuming charmingly drawn book. The reader will breeze through the well-drawn, really, painted, pages, and enjoy the script style. As an art work, it's refreshing and well-executed.



The book examines the author's development as a consumer, from childhood on, and what consuming really means. It's an unending development of finding an identity, perhaps - as expressed through style, home decor and such. The world of school in Florida, with various fashion/style trends, the intense competition among kids with respect to clothes, or "pegging" of types by the clothes they wear, is examined. Finally, the author goes to college - goes through the period of buying insta-furniture at Ikea, and later marries and has kids of her own. The journey that started in childhood, when she had much less, continues even though she's reached adulthood.



The gist or message of the highly entertaining and wise book is to think carefully before snapping up purchases; to consider quality, to not just buy if something's on sale, to stop window shopping on the internet, to consider if you don't already have a garment or item that's very much like the thing you crave, and so forth. It's a wish that we slow down and not simply buy, buy, buy because clothing is so cheap (a dress can be as cheap as 4.99, the price of a latte). She recommends borrowing, and taking a sewing class so that the reader can remodel/tweak what they already have. She mentions the conditions of the sweatshops overseas - but this isn't a book decrying cheap mass-market things (clothing etc) - the sustainability she calls for is achieved through buying carefully, slowly, and first considering if you really need something. She invents a "Buyerarchy of Needs:" At the bottom of the pyramid is "Use what you have", next "Borrow," then "Swap" followed by "Thrift" (i.e. buy @ thrift shops) then "Make" and finally, "Buy." Thus, buy new at a regular store is the "last resort" only after all the other possibilities have been exhausted.



The book was of interest to me because I largely stopped shopping impulsively/consistently, a little over 5 years ago, when I was laid off and it was no longer possible to buy anything other than necessities (nor was a " work wardrobe" really needed anymore).



Once, shopping was practically my only amusement or spare time activity. I would say I shopped daily - even for clothes. The accumulation of clothing actually has "paid off" now that I can't afford to shop all the time - I have enough styles/clothes to probably last me for many years, and I even have been discarding things as they no longer fit (following my weight loss). Of course, there are some things I would want to buy and I should be in a position to buy them at some point, but the random almost compulsive bargain hunting - for no reason other than to get a bargain, shopping for the heck of it, or as an entertainment, not because I actually needed anything - that has ended. Taking a sewing class would be great but it's a moot point since I don't own a sewing machine. Still, necessity is the mother of invention: I think back to my late mom, who was so skilled and inventive as a seamstress and could turn remnants into fashion. The whole idea is to not only look good, but also look like the outfit cost some money. Fashion is about projecting the idea of having money, money at least to buy the outfit. On the other hand, the rise of the "proletarian" or "egalitarian" jeans uniform, since at least the 60s, means not that much fashion is really needed. The difference between now and prior eras is startling with respect to clothing: Where once there was a "social point" of dressing, today dressing down is the default mode; somehow the apparent social leveling effect of everyone being in a jeans/casual wear uniform though hasn't led to actual socioeconomic leveling.



On the other hand, fashion is fun, and can be an art form. At least this is how I view outfits - accessorizing, etc. I must have inherited this liking of putting together outfits to convey an attractive, if not luxe impression, from my mom - who invariably but together an attractive look, complete with hairstyle, makeup, jewelry, even to go food shopping, and always looked good when my dad would get home from work. She presided over the "social life" of the family and I suppose must have felt it important to convey a sophisticated, somehow "moneyed" image via jewelry and so forth (even though we were only middle-class). She was a striver - she never suffered from low self-esteem - also entertaining, making up jokes, constantly singing. Possibly the entire effort (of putting together outfits, sewing, altering clothing, etc) was seen as part of the entire "package" a social message, she was her own "scene" that people actually sought out, she was always very popular, but she also made an effort to be in touch and care about people. Anyway, I am not like her - none of her kids really became like her - she was flamboyant, outrageous in some ways - but in my own way, putting together an outfit effectively, or attractively, I think I've always cared about it and probably always will. So the issue now is, how to continue to have clothes, or some "staple" outfits, now that I'm no longer working etc. I thought this book would be a condemnation of consumerism, and maybe in that way, a "consolation" since I'm no longer much of a consumer (in the past 5 years, I've gone years without buying a single item of clothing or shoes). Actually, the book seems to recognize or acknowledge that people are not going to give up shopping, but that they can think first before they buy (as outlined above). They can consider the quality of a garment (she has a section on evaluating clothing - fabric, seams, buttons, button-holes, lace, trim, size of pockets, and so forth). If an item seems to be a quality garment, and you need it, then you might buy it. A garment should last about 10 years she says - so check and see if buttons are sewn on properly, if seams seem tight and so forth.



The author no longer shops the way she used to - and the book is about her journey from "mindless consumerism" - of having been a mall rat, to buying only things she needs, and thinking before buying. Also, buy things that last (quality). It's a struggle to not buy, she says, but we should think about what we're doing, since the world is filling up with so much cheap junk.







