i just got a job that pays more than my old one and something i've been talking to friends a lot about lately, and i think that y'all have written about before, is basically the idea of "if you want smaller/slower stores and brands and lines to continue to exist, if you want people to be able to have their job be 'clothing maker' the way people's jobs can be 'painter' or 'sculptor' or 'furniture designer', and you have the means, then you need to pay into this stuff." and i think there's an element of noblesse oblige there: (after you've done a fair amount of charitable donation) if you can afford to be extravagant, i think you have an obligation to put that extravagance into your community and the greater (still p small) economy of Intentional Clothes, and not just go to lvmh kering whatever and blow a bag, and also not just hoard all your money either. like, if you can, pay into the world you want to live in!
Thank you for addressing this! It's easy to get locked into the black and white.
Something strikes me about the idea that extravagance isn't always immoral. I'll have to sit with that one. It's almost easier for me to think of it this way: extravagance will always come with a cost that ties to immorality, yet immorality is a normal part of everyday life, impossible to cut out. Instead of thinking extravagance (or fashion or whatever other thing that seems frivolous) isn't always immoral, it's easier for my brain to lump it in with the idea that immorality is, has always been, and will always be at least a sliver of humanity. At *least* a sliver of every life lived.
If I can accept that my decisions go against my values at least somewhat all the time, it kind of loosens the release valve and I'm freer to make better decisions, if that makes sense.
I appreciate your topic! Challenging balance to strike - going up the rough side of the mountain and wearing good threads while doing so. Yes, we are navigating grim times, and I feel we need to leave layers in the Dagwood sandwich that is our lives, for joy and beauty. From Jack Gilbert: 'We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure, but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.'
Great piece as always! I was introduced to Wodehouse in an undergraduate literature course with Right Ho, Jeeves. An exceptional book that served as a doorway to exploring other Wodehouse novels as well as the work of Evelyn Waugh and Brideshead Revisited.
After years and years of people knowing how much I love Wodehouse and recommending Waugh to me, I finally read Brideshead and then Vile Bodies over the summer - this isn't fair to Waugh, but given my entree to him I kept wanting Brideshead to be funny, where it's so wistful, so I had a better time with Vile Bodies, which is a crazy book
FWIW I studied English at the same Oxford college as Evelyn Waugh, but due to serious medical and family issues, struggled to hold down a ‘proper’ job afterwards unlike most of my contemporaries. First world problems obviously but it hurts to have missed out on so much.
Shut down from reading for a long time too - compounded by deteriorating eyesight - until Sally Rooney’s Normal People was televised. The class and relationship anxiety around Trinity Dublin chimed like a bell, awakening elements I’d pushed aside.
I guess that desire for art, learning, literature and indeed attire never really leaves you. Might fluctuate but once you have it, it’s always on your side. Enough midnight ramblings though, off to the Vile Bodies audiobook (tonight’s insomnia choice) so thanks for the heads up BBS.
Thank you for the kind reply, and a heads up for the UK television adaptation ‘Jeeves and Wooster’ starring comedy duo Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, which is available in its entirety on youtube.
Thank you for this excellent advice. Ultimately no single person can fix the world, but we can try to let our values guide how we participate in the market. One of the reasons I like Dana Lee so much is her commitment to local production and supply chain transparency. (I know local doesn’t always mean ethical, but most of North America has strong labour laws.) If we want to make the world a better place, we should reward the designers whose companies pay the growers, loomers, cutters and sellers fairly. If a boutique gorpcore designer and The North Face both use a factory with poor labour and pay standards, how am I walking the walk?
Also, just a great overall read. Been overwhelmed by everything going on… this was a wonderful way to consider frivolity & its proper place in our lives.
I dont know how deep or relevant this is but a statement thats been floating around in my head is "We are all born naked and the rest is drag"- Ru Paul
Thanks, as ever, for helping us see the middle way when there is a clamour for judgement (of the self or others). Your nod to Wodehouse led me to revisit his work a while ago. And a treat it was, too. I highly recommend you spend some time with John Finnemore, who writes this excellent Substack (and the most excellent Cabin Pressure / Double Acts / Souvenir Program radio comedies). His contribution to the recent ‘Jeeves Again’ tribute to Wodehouse is high on my list of things to read.
I’d totally second John Finnemore - obviously a very privileged guy, certainly going by the Souvenir Programme and Cabin Pressure - but his gentle sense of humour and general mental acuity always shines through, well worth a listen.
i just got a job that pays more than my old one and something i've been talking to friends a lot about lately, and i think that y'all have written about before, is basically the idea of "if you want smaller/slower stores and brands and lines to continue to exist, if you want people to be able to have their job be 'clothing maker' the way people's jobs can be 'painter' or 'sculptor' or 'furniture designer', and you have the means, then you need to pay into this stuff." and i think there's an element of noblesse oblige there: (after you've done a fair amount of charitable donation) if you can afford to be extravagant, i think you have an obligation to put that extravagance into your community and the greater (still p small) economy of Intentional Clothes, and not just go to lvmh kering whatever and blow a bag, and also not just hoard all your money either. like, if you can, pay into the world you want to live in!
Thank you for addressing this! It's easy to get locked into the black and white.
Something strikes me about the idea that extravagance isn't always immoral. I'll have to sit with that one. It's almost easier for me to think of it this way: extravagance will always come with a cost that ties to immorality, yet immorality is a normal part of everyday life, impossible to cut out. Instead of thinking extravagance (or fashion or whatever other thing that seems frivolous) isn't always immoral, it's easier for my brain to lump it in with the idea that immorality is, has always been, and will always be at least a sliver of humanity. At *least* a sliver of every life lived.
If I can accept that my decisions go against my values at least somewhat all the time, it kind of loosens the release valve and I'm freer to make better decisions, if that makes sense.
I appreciate your topic! Challenging balance to strike - going up the rough side of the mountain and wearing good threads while doing so. Yes, we are navigating grim times, and I feel we need to leave layers in the Dagwood sandwich that is our lives, for joy and beauty. From Jack Gilbert: 'We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure, but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.'
Gotta have joy and beauty in the sandwich
Great piece as always! I was introduced to Wodehouse in an undergraduate literature course with Right Ho, Jeeves. An exceptional book that served as a doorway to exploring other Wodehouse novels as well as the work of Evelyn Waugh and Brideshead Revisited.
After years and years of people knowing how much I love Wodehouse and recommending Waugh to me, I finally read Brideshead and then Vile Bodies over the summer - this isn't fair to Waugh, but given my entree to him I kept wanting Brideshead to be funny, where it's so wistful, so I had a better time with Vile Bodies, which is a crazy book
FWIW I studied English at the same Oxford college as Evelyn Waugh, but due to serious medical and family issues, struggled to hold down a ‘proper’ job afterwards unlike most of my contemporaries. First world problems obviously but it hurts to have missed out on so much.
Shut down from reading for a long time too - compounded by deteriorating eyesight - until Sally Rooney’s Normal People was televised. The class and relationship anxiety around Trinity Dublin chimed like a bell, awakening elements I’d pushed aside.
I guess that desire for art, learning, literature and indeed attire never really leaves you. Might fluctuate but once you have it, it’s always on your side. Enough midnight ramblings though, off to the Vile Bodies audiobook (tonight’s insomnia choice) so thanks for the heads up BBS.
Damn, we’re sorry to hear about these hardships, but this is beautifully put — let’s see if you get a kick out of Vile Bodies.
And to bring it back to Wodehouse, he never fails to put me and Erin in good moods
Thank you for the kind reply, and a heads up for the UK television adaptation ‘Jeeves and Wooster’ starring comedy duo Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, which is available in its entirety on youtube.
Thank you for this excellent advice. Ultimately no single person can fix the world, but we can try to let our values guide how we participate in the market. One of the reasons I like Dana Lee so much is her commitment to local production and supply chain transparency. (I know local doesn’t always mean ethical, but most of North America has strong labour laws.) If we want to make the world a better place, we should reward the designers whose companies pay the growers, loomers, cutters and sellers fairly. If a boutique gorpcore designer and The North Face both use a factory with poor labour and pay standards, how am I walking the walk?
Goosebumps! Thanks, J&E for another wonderful read
Thank you for this.
Loved the brief comp/contrast between fashion and finance. Lots to unpack in that thought alone.
Also, just a great overall read. Been overwhelmed by everything going on… this was a wonderful way to consider frivolity & its proper place in our lives.
Thanks Nathan
If I’m going out I’m going out fly
can't argue with that
I dont know how deep or relevant this is but a statement thats been floating around in my head is "We are all born naked and the rest is drag"- Ru Paul
Ru Paul has a point
Thanks, as ever, for helping us see the middle way when there is a clamour for judgement (of the self or others). Your nod to Wodehouse led me to revisit his work a while ago. And a treat it was, too. I highly recommend you spend some time with John Finnemore, who writes this excellent Substack (and the most excellent Cabin Pressure / Double Acts / Souvenir Program radio comedies). His contribution to the recent ‘Jeeves Again’ tribute to Wodehouse is high on my list of things to read.
https://open.substack.com/pub/johnfinnemore/p/welcome-to-zacharyberg-population?r=jotig&utm_medium=ios
I'm not familiar, thank you
I’d totally second John Finnemore - obviously a very privileged guy, certainly going by the Souvenir Programme and Cabin Pressure - but his gentle sense of humour and general mental acuity always shines through, well worth a listen.
Good looking Dorpers
great squad