A pair of worn blue jeans, a pair of Calvin Klein white briefs, and a basic white t-shirt: the standard uniform of a classic gay that runs back to the 80’s and beyond, and a reminder that what is simple is often what will last. Withstanding the test of time is important to those of us approaching the half-century mark of life on this earth, and as the world reels from the events of the past few months, I retreat to what is simple and true.
It started with the otherwise-drab and dull notion of cutting back on spending. Yawn, yawn, yawn, I know – but the opportunity for something exciting is there if you allow your perspective to shift the slightest bit. In my case, that means embracing the idea of being creative in the re-using and repurposing of clothing, one of my main expenditures. For all of my life, I’ve been highly susceptible to advertising and shopping traps – even when I didn’t need something, if I wanted it in the slightest way, I’d find a way to get it.
At this point, I really don’t need another coat or bag or bottle of cologne, but the temptation is always there. With every online pop-up ad comes a visage that is perfectly curated by any basic algorithm to speak directly to my heart’s desire. Lately, however, with the intent to curb spending and realign priorities, I’ve been saying no. In my case, it is a willful and intentional change of direction, one that takes some thought.
Every time I see something I want, I rack my brain and sometimes my closets to determine whether I have anything remotely like it. 98% of the time, there is something that is extremely similar, as my closets run deep, and when I find that item in my home, I delete it from my online cart and push it out of my head.
(There has only been one instance where I’ve regretted not getting something: an ombre coat from Louis Vuitton circa 2005/2006, which had shades of deep fuchsia and transitioned through gold into an exquisite shade of deep blue, and which I called the New York flagship store to inquire about – they told me they had it in stock in my size and could hold it, but after a week I said not to bother as it was $2300 or something. To this day, that coat haunts me, but it’s the only instance where not buying something has led to regret; all the more common is the regret I get from purchasing something I never really needed.)
These days, I find myself recycling old clothing (assuming it still fits, but that’s another post for another time) and returning to the basic classics of jeans and a t-shirt.
