MS:USE explores the area of clothing USE to see how we could change our user behaviour towards a more environmentally responsible alternative.
Mel at Footpath Zeitgeist describes a paper by New Zealand based Miriam Silvester of MS:USE:
Silvester sketched a useful model of clothing rhythms (the speed at which garments are replaced) and what she called “fashion levels” (the degree to which people respond to trends). People with low levels of fashionability, who buy purely for utility, and those with high fashionability, who can make current trends work with the minimum of new purchases, both have sustainable consuming practices. It’s those with medium fashionability who are the worst consumers, because they buy and quickly discard garments in order to stay ‘in fashion’. (And, I’d add, the pre-distressed garments are largely targeted to this segment.)
I find this topic fascinating! (Found the post quite a while ago, via Final Fashion.) Here’s a riveting question: is consumerism a moral issue?
Make it personal: to what level of fashionability to you aspire?
I’m low-ish, I think. But I do go through a lot of clothes, so maybe I’m going to have to rethink where I fall on that spectrum. Interesting post!
Hmm, I think I *aspire* to be high, but suspect I only manage to come across as weird. 🙂
Weird? Weird can be okay, if you are comfortable with it. lol
And based on your comment here, which gives me a clue to your personality, and your previous comment, which gives me a clue to your figure type, I am going to suggest you look for some wide-ish pants.
I think I’m low on the scale also…which is good financially, but keeps me from being a fashionista!
I’m definitely not a medium, as I have a very hard time parting with favorites!
I think it is easier in this case to have someone else classify you!
I know I’m not a medium. I’d like to think I am fashionable, but not driven by trends, and generally seek out quality pieces that will last me for years. I do have some distressed jeans, and I love them, but I think it’s fair to have a couple of new pairs of jeans a year. Denim is definitely part of my uniform.
I was at a child’s birthday party last weekend, and a gentleman I had never met said, “You’re the type of person who has glasses to match every outfit!!” The curious thing is that this is most decidedly not true.
I was wearing (FW05 distressed) jeans, white shirt, lightweight tailored grey blazer with these accessories: blue topaz drop earrings (25 years old), a Swarovski school of fish brooch in shades of blue, freshwater pearl bracelet, one ring on each hand and my watch. My glasses are, however, decidedly avant-garde — blue with dark brown accents.
“high fashionability: those who can make current trends work with the minimum of new purchases”
Wendy, I classify you in this group. But your glasses must just be particularly suited to you. 🙂
everyone is ignoring the important question- is consumerism a moral issue?
and the answer is definitely yes. well, it’s definitely yes for Christians. the new testament tells us over and over to not be concerned with having a lot of things, and to give away what we can.
erin, you are right. I had hoped that someone would be willing to answer that question. And, of course, I agree with you.
Glad to know you read your Bible. 🙂
Rebecca. 🙂 Thanks.