Love this so much!! Such great perspective in here! This is why we love Driving Shoes!!! Also, can relate so much to the "did I get the right piece and the right price" spiral.
I resonated so much with the constant pressure to keep up with the industry—it’s relentless, and after years in the field, I’ve realised it’s just impossible. Stepping back and building some detachment allowed me to rediscover what I truly love about this industry. Buying more responsibly and with intention made me fall in love with it all over again.
All this to say, that it's amazing to read pieces like this. And I think you are doing it amazingly xx
I struggle with this daily in such a saturated shopping market, so thank you for putting it into such eloquent words! Nobody really NEEDS anything, but that’s also not the most realistic approach, so I truly appreciate everyone on here championing a more sustainable method of consumption and supporting small and emerging designers who don’t have the capital of these massive conglomerates
I do! I speak to this a little in the post. This is another great part about investing in quality pieces; they hold their value well. When it’s time to part with something, I can usually resell it for at least 80% of what I originally paid, sometimes more :)
Thank you for sharing this. The conversation about over-consumption, curation of the self, reverence for beauty, and material culture (in a historical sense) is always in my head. Sometimes it’s more like an argument. I fall completely in love with an well-designed object, then judge my obsession with wanting to posses it. It is a tension worth exploring. I completely agree that a shopping Substack can also be introspective. Look forward to hearing more from you! I don’t work in fashion, so I love hearing your perspective as someone who does
Taylor, thank you for sharing and I loved Maria’s comment too!! I often have to remind myself that I can admire something without owning it. Honestly loving clothes makes that hard because the ability to own something is more achievable than, say, art. You sent this at a really good time for me and I’m grateful.
You took the words right out of my head! I don’t think people talk enough about how hard it is to love fashion and not have a financially toxic relationship with it. I love the saying (that I repeatedly say to myself) “just because I think it’s beautiful doesn’t mean I need to own it.” And then the influencer haul and endless brand deal freebie culture has really warped how much we really even need to own in the first place!
thank you for sharing <3 yeah, having worked in influencer marketing, once you realize how much is gifted and undisclosed, it really shifts your perception.
a great example of an influencer ethically working through this is Christie Tyler... I watch her YouTube vlogs, and in nearly every video where she is getting dressed/organizing her closet on camera, she very clearly provides a disclaimer that X piece was gifted and she's going to consign X piece to make room for the new one in her closet. the transparency takes two seconds but goes so far with audiences
We are here for all of it friend!!! ❤️
Love this so much!! Such great perspective in here! This is why we love Driving Shoes!!! Also, can relate so much to the "did I get the right piece and the right price" spiral.
🥲❤️🫂
I resonated so much with the constant pressure to keep up with the industry—it’s relentless, and after years in the field, I’ve realised it’s just impossible. Stepping back and building some detachment allowed me to rediscover what I truly love about this industry. Buying more responsibly and with intention made me fall in love with it all over again.
All this to say, that it's amazing to read pieces like this. And I think you are doing it amazingly xx
love you!!
I struggle with this daily in such a saturated shopping market, so thank you for putting it into such eloquent words! Nobody really NEEDS anything, but that’s also not the most realistic approach, so I truly appreciate everyone on here championing a more sustainable method of consumption and supporting small and emerging designers who don’t have the capital of these massive conglomerates
thanks for being here kendall <3
❤️❤️❤️
hey queen just some fun ideas: sell some old books or clothes to then buy yourself a capsule wardrobe piece <3 not related to this but a fun idea
I do! I speak to this a little in the post. This is another great part about investing in quality pieces; they hold their value well. When it’s time to part with something, I can usually resell it for at least 80% of what I originally paid, sometimes more :)
Thank you for sharing this. The conversation about over-consumption, curation of the self, reverence for beauty, and material culture (in a historical sense) is always in my head. Sometimes it’s more like an argument. I fall completely in love with an well-designed object, then judge my obsession with wanting to posses it. It is a tension worth exploring. I completely agree that a shopping Substack can also be introspective. Look forward to hearing more from you! I don’t work in fashion, so I love hearing your perspective as someone who does
we see each other! glad you're here
Taylor, thank you for sharing and I loved Maria’s comment too!! I often have to remind myself that I can admire something without owning it. Honestly loving clothes makes that hard because the ability to own something is more achievable than, say, art. You sent this at a really good time for me and I’m grateful.
thank you for being here <3
You took the words right out of my head! I don’t think people talk enough about how hard it is to love fashion and not have a financially toxic relationship with it. I love the saying (that I repeatedly say to myself) “just because I think it’s beautiful doesn’t mean I need to own it.” And then the influencer haul and endless brand deal freebie culture has really warped how much we really even need to own in the first place!
thank you for sharing <3 yeah, having worked in influencer marketing, once you realize how much is gifted and undisclosed, it really shifts your perception.
a great example of an influencer ethically working through this is Christie Tyler... I watch her YouTube vlogs, and in nearly every video where she is getting dressed/organizing her closet on camera, she very clearly provides a disclaimer that X piece was gifted and she's going to consign X piece to make room for the new one in her closet. the transparency takes two seconds but goes so far with audiences
Love that I will def check her out! The one in one out rule is a good one