Pieces of me

Wear the good stuff.

I was at home last night doing some light cleaning/organising of my jewellery and my eye was caught by a $3 plastic bracelet that I bought at Diva. It’s a teal colour, large chain links and kind of ‘inspired’ by all the Marc Jacobs ones. I was thinking about how I haven’t worn it yet and it’s just sitting there collecting dust.

I have an actual Marc Jacobs bracelet that I bought in Bangkok as a treat. It’s a lovely tan leather with rose gold hardware and looks good with lots of outfits. While I was contemplating my plastic cheapo job, the thought stuck in my head that if I was wearing the rip off then I’d have less time or opportunity to wear the real one and people wouldn’t get to see how lovely it was. I wouldn’t be able to glance at my wrist and smile at the memory of the circumstances that led me to buying it. People would think I was a plastic bracelet kind of girl rather than someone who likes quality.

The funny thing is, I think (hope) that Marc Jacobs bracelet is a lot like my own style. Chic, classic, quality and with a slight twist. As well as really loving that bracelet I hope it projects a reflection of me, one that says I embody all the qualities I described. Same goes for much of my wardrobe – as well as loving pieces for their look or feel, I want them to say certain things about who I am.

So why do I buy plastic bracelets? What do I want those purchases to say about me? The Diva bracelet is very ‘now’ so I suppose I want that small section of the population who recognise that to see it. To think I am current, I’m fashionable. Same goes for a lot of things we buy really but in the end it just clutters and adds to the ‘stuff’ we keep around us. And I think that stuff then overwhelms us and stops us from wearing or using the things that best demonstrate our style or who we are.

A year or so ago I bought a bottle of Robert Piguet’s exquisite Visa fragrance. I had smelled it many times in David Jones, spritzing myself with that precious juice every time I went in there because it was so far out of my price range to actually buy. I’d never spray in company though because I didn’t want anyone else to realise how wonderful it was. When I went to New York the price was far more reasonable so I made sure to buy a bottle. It sits carefully still in its cardboard box, like some rare jewel that can only be worn on special occasions. That fragrance smells like the person I want to be. Meanwhile I’m wearing $15 Kate Moss perfume to work every day.

I’m not trying to make a point about spending money because there is a huge difference between something being cheap and being inexpensive. Quality doesn’t always come at a price. But I’m going to keep stopping to reconsider the irrelevant purchases, the ones that divert my attention from the things I love and dilute my style. I’m going to try and start using the things I love rather than save them for imaginary special occasions that never seem to come around. Just look for me in my Marc Jacobs bracelet.

About these ads