Monday 17 September 2007

It's not who you wear, it's how you wear it

We're in the midst of Fashion Week frenzy and so my thoughts have turned to fashion labels and those who covet them. Because me? Not so much. I am firmly of the belief that an item of clothing's only value is the way you put it together with other items.

Primark's okay for Mr Pugh

Seeing as I'm not particularly rich (I'm working on it Ma!) I like stuff to be wallet friendly. I buy cheap shoes. I shop at Primark. The high street is my friend. I tend to pick things up that catch my eye and that I can afford. I don't care who's selling them.

My main concerns when it comes to shopping are: "ooh shiny!" or "ooh red!" or, if they're shoes, "ooh high!" and what sorts of outfits I could make of them. Afterall, they are items of clothing. They are not religion.

Now don't get me wrong, I still drool over clothes and shoes in the magazines like any other fashion obsessed girl (Miu Miu heels... to die for y'all) and I almost peed myself with joy when I bought a pair of Vivienne Westwood heels that I had been coveting for half my life (they were in the sales and about £50. I could not believe my luck). What I don't get is when people start to value one particular item of clothing above another simply because it has a designer label attached.

Mischa Barton gets fugged. Pic via Go Fug Yourself


Surely it's not so much about who made the clothes you wear as the way you wear them? Am I being naive in thinking that wearing head to toe high street in an interesting and stylish way trumps wearing head to toe designer and turning out like something from Go Fug Yourself?

I found it heartening reading a recent interview in the Independent on Sunday with fashionista-favourite du jour, Gareth Pugh, about what he wears: "Primark jeans, Uniqlo hoodie and a pair of £5 trainers from a shop on Brick Lane". I can only hope that he keeps that down to earth as his fashion star rises.

In the meantime, I'll be rocking my £10, sky blue, mock patent, Primark peeptoe wedgies with style and pride (and that cool vintage milk frau dress that I got from Brick Lane), while I dream sweet dreams of those Dries Van Noten shoes that may someday be mine (they would just look so good with my American Apparel black lame leggings and a leather dress).

See all the shoes I own

See more good stuff

Outfits of the week

About me

I like pretty dresses, high heels, the colour red and good writing.