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I Need A Thread of Fashion Wisdom
Evidently, I don’t spend enough money on my wardrobe to satisfy today’s fashionista, but I’m not sure I’ll ever change. My stylish power suits and dresses from the 90s were rejected recently by a consignment store clerk, and I’m trying hard not to take it personally. My gray suit with the shoulder pads, my white Easter dress with the lace collar, even a basic black suede skirt – all rejected.
“I don’t mean to insult your sense of style,” whispered the consignor, “but these clothes are outdated. We only accept current trends.”
Listen, honey. That gray suit used to be snappy in its day. Current fashion has never been one of my top priorities. I’m not willing to pay high prices or spend the night on the front lawn of a department store to get the early bird sale. I have some clothes in my closet that are twenty years old. But, secretly, I do take note of the snappy girls on television. 
So, according to at least one consignor, I need to nurture a more current style in my closet. But whenever I survey the fashion market, a manipulating message emerges that clothes define one’s identity. I wonder if I subconsciously believe this. The sales tag on one pair of women’s fashion jeans reads: “Embrace your independence. This is your life. Put all of your energy into it and show off your intelligence to the world!” I am not making this up. I bought and wear these jeans just about every other day. But why won’t I settle for the other five pairs of jeans that hang limp in my closet? Because the other pairs are just outdated.
Somewhere there must be a balance between staying fashionably current while still acting on the truth that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. I have yet to find that moral high road in a culture obsessed with appearances. I shop the clearance rack and catch bargains at yard sales, seeking stylish on the cheap. Once I found a perfect condition Bloomingdale’s blouse at a second-hand store for a few dollars. Style is possible and often reasonably priced in America. But to me, shopping is a chore, and the rapidly changing styles a nightmare.
The more fashion trends I outlive, the more I realize how much I crave a genuine identity that withstands the test of time. Clothes merely reflect the culture and lose relevance and radiance when taken out of context. A classy woman is so much more than her outward appearance. She “shows off her intelligence to the world” in the form of compassion, kindness, and gentleness. No consignor is going to cramp my style. In my eyes, every woman is a classic couture.
So, somebody help me walk this catwalk without hypocrisy. Where is the line between style and materialism? I wore my thrift store blouse to my husband’s work dinner, and a woman exclaimed, “What a beautiful blouse! Where did you get it?” I smiled and offered glibly, “It’s a Bloomingdale’s.”
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12
Copyright © 2008-2015 Julie Strohkorb
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