I have never been bothered about fashion. I just feel I'm bad at it. I don't know what's in and what's out. I don't know what cool and what's hot. Well, at least, I used to be like that.
Until I learned the importance of presentation. That too through food photography - almost always you choose a food that has a picture on a menu and we often go for the one that looks most pleasing to the eye. Presentation is important. Translated to our human clothing terms, it's called fashion.
Indeed, fashion comes with a price. As I was walking along the mall last Friday (decided not get caught with the balik kampung jam), I stepped into GAP store obviously being attracted by the signboard "New Collection."
Skimmed through the stuff they had and I got the shock of my life when I saw the pair of jeans that I bought just a month back suddenly costs 50 bucks more than what I paid last time! It was just the same thing! And almost all their pants (short or long) cost just the same and obviously it were so darned expensive.
I continued walking and stepped into MANGO store. They certainly have brought in some new collections. But I don't understand how a shirt that is as thin as a paper could cost RM99? Fashion - yes that's right. It's the fashion. Wait till the end of season and the same shirt would only set you back RM39. Even that is still expensive for a product that probably won't last through 10 cycles of machine wash.
So most of the time when we buy clothes, a big chunk of money is actually being paid for the fashion and the brand - not the quality of material. However, there are some brands that do charge their products in accordance to the quality of the material being used. You will see this apparent in products such as luxury handbags, shoes and writing instruments. When you see these products, you will also see how beautifully the design, the quality and the brand blend together to create an exclusive feel which makes you, the buyer, feel elated to actually own one.
That is why, I do not mind spending my hard earned money on products that really stand up for their price. I do hear people commenting my purchases as "she is rich, of course she can spend." Although the fact I am rich is not true, but I do see my purchases on good quality products as a form of investment. If I spent RM500 for a genuine leather bag and it serves me for at least two years, I have received my ROI (return on investment). Generally, these bags lasts longer than that - if it is well taken care of. I don't have to be rich to invest in a bag - I just need to manage my finances well in order to save enough money to buy something that actually doesn't require a repair or replace! In the long run, I am putting my money in something that is worth it.
Which means, that nice shirt I saw in Mango - it's not the time to buy yet. :P
Which means, that nice shirt I saw in Mango - it's not the time to buy yet. :P
