it's my experience that hoarding is totally connected to scarcity/fatness/class. i used to be surprised when i'd see some of my favourite (thin) wardrobe-remixers swapping or selling off amazing vintage, but i realized that it was easier for them to let pieces go since they can usually count on sourcing more vintage in their size. i've been solidly thrifting and building a certain style for three years now, and i can count on my hands the amount of good quality vintage dresses i've been able to find.
oh yeah, i still have THE GUILT. it starts as soon as somthing hits double digits. my execrable cafeteria lunch cost me almost $10 today and felt physically ill. (it is a rip-off for what it is, but $10 isn't, objectively speaking an extortionate price of chicken fingers).
i also feel THE GUILT for not being a consummate sewer (Person Who Sews, not the system of pipes used to transport human waste... though on a bad enough day, i'm sure i could feel guilty about not doing that TOO). the fact that i'm not craftier given my humble beginnings tends to be a source of shame for me sometimes.
"Another interesting thing about having grown up poor (I feel that hardcore, man) is that even when you are in a situation where you can afford a more upscale wardrobe, you feel really guilty and ridiculously decadent buying things you like and that look good on you."
I totally feel this too. On the flip side of that, when I'm in places, like work, that require a dress code, where most of the people I work with make more than I do, the fact that I do ALWAYS wear thrifted/discounted clothing makes me feel like I stand out even more and yet I can't justify spending more money on clothing.
See, the way the "growing up poor" mechanism works for me is that I wind up buying things because they are a "good bargain" ($14 jeans! a blouse that might fit and might look good for $7!) evem when they nearly duplicate things I already have, don't fit into my existing wardrobe needs, don't actually work that for me, etc. (the duplication is the worst.) Because if you pass up a bargain, you'll be sorry later when you can't afford the full-price option.
(I can still barely handle jeans over about $30, even though I own a couple of pairs at the absurd price point of $59).
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(& i've emailed you about my FEELINGS, because i have too many to fit in an lj comment.)
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it's my experience that hoarding is totally connected to scarcity/fatness/class. i used to be surprised when i'd see some of my favourite (thin) wardrobe-remixers swapping or selling off amazing vintage, but i realized that it was easier for them to let pieces go since they can usually count on sourcing more vintage in their size. i've been solidly thrifting and building a certain style for three years now, and i can count on my hands the amount of good quality vintage dresses i've been able to find.
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i also feel THE GUILT for not being a consummate sewer (Person Who Sews, not the system of pipes used to transport human waste... though on a bad enough day, i'm sure i could feel guilty about not doing that TOO). the fact that i'm not craftier given my humble beginnings tends to be a source of shame for me sometimes.
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I totally feel this too. On the flip side of that, when I'm in places, like work, that require a dress code, where most of the people I work with make more than I do, the fact that I do ALWAYS wear thrifted/discounted clothing makes me feel like I stand out even more and yet I can't justify spending more money on clothing.
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(I can still barely handle jeans over about $30, even though I own a couple of pairs at the absurd price point of $59).
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