Shoedazzle quiz

Inspired by RuthieK, who took the Shoedazzle quiz yesterday, I thought I would have a go and the result is quite interesting.

I came out the exact same as Ruthie, a refined, cultured classic, yet our styles are very different. In particular, I am reasonably sure that Ruthie won't have chosen the highest and most sparkly shoe as a matter of course, since she is more sensible than I am in that regard.
I found the shoe questions relatively easy to do.

The questions on fashion started me on a train of thought that isn't particularly related to the quiz. More that it created a jumping off point for my thoughts.

For me, classic style has five key elements;
Impeccable cut
Superb Fit
Excellent Finish
Discreet and attractive detailing, often related to the cut and fit.
Style which can be worn year after year and still look "right", current rather than cutting edge.

It seems to me that increasingly in RTW, even expensive RTW, fit, cut and finish are becoming less important than the label, and that is a pity. Increasingly it seems to be about the price or the label that is sewn into the garment, and not about the style, fit, comfort or skill involved in the design and creation of the item. Even worse, I suspect that some manufacturers are trading on their previous reputation for good quality classics by creating items which are cheaply made, with poor finish quality and then pricing them at a premium level. I know it makes economic sense, of course it does. But they can only do it because as a society we've lost the ability to be discerning about quality and are taken in by the name; assuming a level of quality that is no longer present. And that seems sneaky and dishonest. I prefer the honesty of the Primark's and George's of this world who don't claim to have made a masterpiece or don't price it as though it was. Sometimes, the quality of their items, and the items at four or five times the cost are the same, sometimes, the cheaper brands last better.

The other week I was asked why I bothered to make socks when I can buy five pairs for £2. That seemed to encapsulate the whole issue for me. Although I explained why I chose to do this, you could see the person's face close up and that weird look people get on their face when they are trying to be polite and just think you are totally mad. An appreciation of quality and the work involved in creating something special, something that is completely worth the money you pay because you will wear it for years, and it will still look good, and reasonably current, seems to be being lost. And that is quite sad. An appreciation of the value of making something yourself, the achievement you feel, the love that is sewn or knitted into each item, seems to be being lost too. Also quite sad. Is all this related to an idea that everything is throwaway, replaceable and ultimately of little value once the latest replacement comes out.

Well, I refuse to buy into that. My wardrobe does have throwaway items in it. But it also has some very elderly and much loved items still in there. It has some current things, and a lot of classic things, and some things with stories attached too. Because, style and one's wardrobe, are more than the sum of the items in it. And clothes have stories too. But only if they are loved and worn and cherished. Not when they are worn once and thrown away to make way for the next transient fashion fad.