The fine line between art and profit

Last Friday, I stumbled over one of the most outrageous fashion articles I have ever read. I was reading the Wall Street Journal and came across this article called "The T-shirt You Can't Get."\nThe article described the marketing tool used by high fashion names, now being used by lower scale retail stores: the wait list. The wait list is when a store purposely orders less than they plan to sell, to make a product seem in demand and more exclusive. \n"... It adds to the allure," Deborah Lloyd, Banana Republic's executive vice president for product design and development, said in the article.\nThe waitlist for a denim jacket at Banana Republic is three weeks long.The Von Dutch trucker cap that hip hop icon Pharell made so popular is selling for $85, and it's a two- to four-week wait.\nThe entire article poses the question: Is it about the art or about how much money a label can make? The art of design is being threatened by what will make the most money. Designers have to make money, but exploiting trends to gain profit is not artistic. The turn was predicted in February 2003 by "Women's Wear Daily" in the article "Who Can Save New York Fashion." \n"American designers are starting to question their own creativity and their chains to commercial conventions," the article said.\nWhen it comes to trucker caps and denim jackets, why buy something that everyone else has because of a name, or who was seen wearing it? \nI believe the fine line between art and profit was crossed a long time ago.\nIn an age where commercial rappers spit designer's names like Louis Vuitton, Frankie B., and Versace over and over again, many people think dripping in labels is what defines style. This couldn't be further from the truth. \nBeing stylish is about creativity and flair. Everyone should have a piece in their closet that fits his or her unique style. One way to achieve this, is to shop at places that don't cater to mass-marketed brands, like vintage shops or used clothing stores. Vintage shopping is fun, and eclectic clothes can add drama and boldness to a wardrobe. Some vintage stores don't look very welcoming, but if you look around you can land great items. Nicole Kidman is known for her collection of vintage clothing. In the October issue of "British Glamour," one of model Milla Jovovich's fashion rules was to never be a slave to fashion. She said her style is eclectic and festive. \nVintage stores are also good for ethnic prints and accessories. You can usually find beaded scarves, jewelry and hats. There are great vintage stores in Bloomington. On Kirkwood you can visit Cactus Flower and the Material Plane. Both stores are affordable and offer a wide range of items. There is also Salvation Army, Goodwill and garage sales. I found a corduroy matching skirt and jacket at a vintage shop. \nAnother source for finding free clothes is older relatives. Before our parents were parents, they had style. T I have never found a pair of jeans like the already broken-in jeans of my grandmother's from the '70s. They fit like they were made for me and they are cute. \nSearching through my mother's old clothes I've found items that she couldn't get back if she threatened my life. Plus, there is something special about strutting down the street in the same clothes your mom styled in. Often you have the same build as your mom or dad so its a great fit. \nWhat makes vintage clothing stores so cool is that they stand out. Have you ever seen someone walking down the street and you didn't know where they got their clothes? It didn't look like what was considered to be in now, but it looked good. Think vintage. \nIndividuality is important, but no one should ever wait four to six weeks to express themselves. Being able to recognize quality brands is a valuable skill, but looking like you came off of a runway conveyor belt is frightening and boring.