Over break I was in an interview for a summer internship, and one of the questions asked was “If you were given $5000 to go on a shopping spree, would you spend it on a few items at Louis Vuitton, or hundreds of items at Forever 21?”
Of course, I immediately answered with Louis Vuitton.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the obvious response to me was not necessarily the popular response of my peers. A lot of the clothing marketed to people our age is ”Fast Fashion,” brands that are based on giving the public the latest trends from the runway at an affordable price.
At first glance, this seems like the most reasonable option for broke college students — get a closet full of the “it” clothes of right now on the cheap. The truth is that we all fall into the commercial sentiment that more is more when shopping, even me. I can hypothetically say that if someone gave me five thousand dollars, I would only shop luxury brands. As someone who has never had a magical five thousand dollars appear out of thin air only to be used for shopping, I still shop at Forever 21, Zara and Charlotte Russe. I am always disappointed by the feel of the fabric, the quality of the stitching, and the ease in which the clothes shrink or fall apart after a few washes. That is why I am emploring myself and encouraging you to start picking pieces that speak to you, and sticking to shopping the basics at these fast fashion retailers.
Fast fashion makes it so that you don’t even have to think when buying your clothes. If it’s on the mannequin, it’s in vogue. These big retailers tell you what your style is by only offering up the latest trends. It’s time to take control over your own sense of style by creating looks instead of copying them. Especially since we are all college students who will be out in the real world sooner than you might think, it is important to have some “big girl” brands in your closet. Maybe start with a nicer handbag, or a pair of heels that won’t kill your feet.
“Trendy is the last stage before tacky,” Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel said. Don’t be trendy – be you.
Zoe Stitzer is a freshman studying journalism news and information at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you think you agree? Let Zoe know by tweeting her @zoe_stitzer.
