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In May of 1964, the New York Times wrote an article about Mrs. Robert L. Walter, a shop sitter on Manhattan’s East Side. “There are baby sitters, dog sitters and even parakeet sitters,” and like a baby sitter, Mrs. Walter “comes in to mind the store when the owner has to be away.” The idea came to her out of frustration, when the shops in Pennsylvania (where the Walters spent weekends on their farm) sometimes posted signs on the door, saying, “back in two hours.” So Mrs. Walter decided to do something about it. When her services became popular, she formalized the business.
I have more retail experience than I care to admit, from chain stores in malls to high-end boutiques in major cities. And for years, I've helped friends when they needed an extra hand (or two) at their small businesses. So when Red’s Mercantile needed someone to fill in for the holiday season, I jumped at the chance to be a shop sitter.
In January, a woman came in and we talked about the well-made clothing: carefully curated, made by small designers in the USA. She remarked that there were so many great pieces nowadays. “Forever pieces,” is how I like to think of them; seasonless pieces. Like a linen tunic made of sturdy fabric, meant to be layered in the winter and worn on its own in the summer. Or a sleeveless jumpsuit that’s ultra-chic and comfortable in hot weather, and equally stylish when paired with a turtleneck in cold weather.
But then we wondered aloud about how many "forever pieces" was too many forever pieces? The whole point is to “invest” in pieces and take care of them so they last, right? Well, what happens when designers come out with new collections every six months (or every week) and you want to keep buying them?
I should say: I want to keep buying them.
Last winter I decided to wear more white, so I sold off pieces of “forever” clothing and reinvested in new-to-me pieces. Instead of buying new items, I sourced garments through secondhand retailers online. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall I added handmade pieces to my wardrobe. And when winter hit, I found the perfect pair of vintage Levi’s, and decided that I needed five pairs.
My philosophy is to buy less, buy well, and to take care of what I own. But every time I think “I’m done,” I find another thing to add to my wardrobe. Or another item to lust over. And after a while, I feel overwhelmed by the amount of garments in my closet and the familiar urge to prune back what I own.
I don’t think I’m unique in this pattern, and that conversation reminded me that I’m not the only one with these lingering questions. But are there answers?
As Mrs. Walter formalized her shop sitting business (well before the so-called ‘gig economy’ took off), I’m formalizing my questions and questing with a newsletter, 'the cedeling.' Not quite knowing where we'll end up, but it's the journey, not the destination, right?
This ongoing dispatch from the depths of my mind may not provide concise answers but it will be full of inquiries. Each month (maybe even twice a month), I’ll write about texts, textiles and travel. Wearables, writing and workshops. About the things I want to buy but don’t (or maybe sometimes do) and these big, messy questions around consumerism, tackled through my personal lens. I’ll continue to post articles on my website (here), but I've decided to mainly communicate through a newsletter.
Why a newsletter, you ask?
Have you ever noticed that people who write about style and consumerism online are often linking to products to get you to buy them? And if you click the link to purchase, they might even get a percentage of the sale?
It's called "affiliate marketing" or "influencer marketing," and as a clothing designer and writer, I'm not comfortable with it, particularly with the lack of a clear code of conduct (which journalists adhere to but bloggers usually don't care to define, or define too vaguely). But selling advertisements and linking to products are two ways to monetize a blog, and these content creators need to make a living.
Like Mrs. Walter was irritated by the absence of shop keepers, I’m frustrated with the current condition: namely, the proliferation of style bloggers touting conscious consumerism while also linking to products to buy, thereby benefitting when we readers buy more. So far my frustrations have remained private, internal. I started switching to more conscious methods of consumption in 2015, and though I’ve learned tools to navigate the ever-shifting fashion landscape, I’m still learning and I’m still trying to figure out how to communicate what I’ve learned.
Especially in a climate where those who tend to control the conversation capitalize on our continued, unchecked consumption.
So, no affiliate links here. At some point I'll open this up to subscriptions in case you'd like to support my work.
Until then: thank you! Thanks for reading to the end of this long dispatch, and for joining me on this journey into a rabbit hole of my obsessions and preoccupations. Until next time, here are some non-affiliate links for you to peruse.
Upcoming Events or Workshops:
Learn how to mend those "forever pieces" with Japanese sashiko techniques!
Sunday, February 17th at 9am. Register online at Red's Mercantile.
A Partial List of Temptations I Didn't Buy:
The Crossbody Purse by Linjer
Cashmere Ballet Wrap Sweater by Beklina
Tartt Shimmer Mary Jane Pumps from SJP Collection
yet another pair of vintage Levi’s
A Partial List of Temptations I Did Buy:
A purse that looks like that Linjer one, except secondhand, grey, and 80% of the price
Two (okay, three) dresses at a secondhand shop in Denver
A vintage Dior blazer for $30 (thanks, internet)
A Partial List of Articles that Captivated Me:
“The so-called influencer economy is built by women like Calloway, those in the upper echelons of societal and financial privilege who create unfeasible fantasies of capitalism under the guise of being ‘real’, all to shill it to the highest bidder.” | Kayleigh Donaldson
“I wanted more growth, more success, more traveling, more money. I, from a distance, saw how others were living their lives and I could see and feel like I could live a big life too but could never quite get there. It was like there was a glass wall between me and my success.” | Desiree Pais
“The movie is about all the things above, but mostly it’s about the way that commerce interferes with art — how people who aren’t artists pretend to know what art is, and how an artist has to protect himself from what the machine asks of him.” | Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you! Hit reply or visit: https://cedecreative.com/about/
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