I have few prized possessions in the material sense. A classic white quilted Chanel flap bag that has seen the light of day less than 10 times. My Jeff Koons Balloon Dog sculpture. A vintage 1960s beige faux fur coat that I bought for $4 in a thrift store when I was 19. My antique ruby engagement ring and rose gold wedding band. I have very little attachment to most everything else I own.
But when the recession hit, I felt guilty about any kind of shopping or even caring about fashion. I had a similar feeling after returning from a trip to Tanzania and Kenya. There were bigger problems in the world. Who cared about labels? But time goes on, the economy needs action and I reconciled that it was okay to enjoy designer goods once in awhile, especially if they are treasures that I would keep for a lifetime.
My dream purchase for about 10 years has been a Rick Owens leather jacket. I almost pulled the trigger and bought one this season, but quickly changed my mind, telling myself I would find a great alternative at a fraction of the cost. But we own our condo, don’t have debt and don’t have kids. And I’ve been working since age 16, mostly for myself. Could this be the only chance in life to get one? These are indeed first world problems.
