In spring of 2005 I purchased my very first iPod. I was in college at the time and the school year was coming to a close. I had a meal plan that worked like a credit card — basically you had a certain amount of money to spend on food every single semester. At the end of the year, if you had any money remaining on your card you could either request a refund (for a fee) or spend the money at the bookstore. Well, guess what was in stock at the bookstore? A pink iPod mini. So, for the last week of school I did not use any of the money on my meal plan card. Instead, I borrowed from other people, begged for food from friends and ate any leftovers in my dorm room. And, at the end of the week, right before my parents came to pick me up, I purchased my very first iPod! All summer long I walked around to the beats of my music with my cool white headphones and my state of the art iPod. Well, when school started up in September I was still walking around feeling super cool until I ran into a friend in the lunchroom. SHE had the first generation iPod nano. It had a color screen and was basically 1/4th of the thickness of my Mini — and just like that my shiny new iPod was out of date.
This is the same thing that happens to each of us when we buy fast fashion. That shiny new dress, shirt, skirt, etc. has a shelf life of a couple months before it is old fashion that you will likely throw out before the next season. Now, I realize that some might argue that shopping on trend is equivalent to fast fashion. Well, let me be clear, it really is not. I have clothes I bought two, three, five, ten years ago that I still wear AND have come back “on trend” at least two or three times. Plus, I also try to avoid purchasing anything that is too trendy as way to minimize the risk I cannot wear an outfit the next year. With a little investment in the right pieces, you can purchase quality clothes, for a reasonable price that will last the test of time and fashion’s many trends