“You come first, the clothes later. Reinvent new combinations of what you already own. Be creative.”
– Karl Lagerfeld
Early spring this year, I was happy to help two amazing people. Just in time before the lock-downs one of my friends got read of a smocking that was taking space in her wardrobe without a purpose and another friend was happy to become its new owner. This smocking was quite a traveler – from London to Zurich, Zurich to Saint-Petersburg, and finally from Saint-Petersburg to Moscow. That was love at a first sight – the fit, the lining in deep purple silk, the buttons… Then we started thinking about what to match it with. And ended up with a few ideas. For example, to wear it with silky palazzo trousers or something pajama-like underneath.
I was happy to share this idea with a smocking’s previous owner to her great surprise. “I’ve never thought of it! But that really sounds interesting” – she said.
This made me think of a strange and sad phenomenon of our time. We are often encouraged to be brave and try new, but trying new means literary “new”. In the past decade, we have got used to the experience of “newness” – checking a new exotic cuisine, learning to dance, or jumping with a parachute. Unlike the above-listed experiences buying a new dress or a pair of shoes is less challenging, it’s often cheaper and doesn’t demand much effort. But it has hidden costs. Not to mention environmental damages caused by overconsumption, it damages us. It often distracts from our style because such purchases are often impulsive, filling our wardrobes with things that often stay there with the price tag on. But worst of all, “new for the sake of new” slowly but steadily erode our creativity.
How can I fit some old things in the most current trend? How can I alternate the items that I already have? Can I put them on in a new unusual way? How can I choose things that will serve me for years and won’t lose the potential of making a new experience? How can I get something new without buying new? If reinventing was good enough for Karl Lagerfeld, maybe it is worth trying.