(photo from oprah.com)
I caught Oprah's show today and I must say it is one of my favorites. Fab Without A Fortune is a collection of stories of people who are effecting change in our shopping culture. Sarah Jessica Parker's manifesto said it all, "It is wrong to spend more than your grocery bill for a sweater." She will launch her Bitten line of casual wear on June 7. Check out her pretty collections--each less than $20--even for a sweater, coats, flats, and espadrilles here.
Meanwhile, NBA superstar New York Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury sees a problem with expensive sneakers. High-priced athletic shoes worn by basketball's biggest names are status symbols for many consumers. But because of their price tags, kids wearing them can become the targets of robbers who want to make a profit from the expensive kicks. A boy in the Bronx was stabbed for his branded sneakers.
So Marbury manufactured his own line of sneakers/rubber shoes--making sure that people could enjoy quality sneakers without paying top dollar. Head-on with hundred-dollar Nike, Reeboks, and Adidas shoes, is the $14.98 a pair Starbury brand.
Stephon understands what it's like growing up and not being able to afford expensive sneakers. "My mother always said, 'That's grocery money.'" he says. "So for me, allowing kids now to be able to go to the store and spend their money on sneakers and to be able to buy it themselves, it's a movement. We've created something that everyone across the world is benefiting from."
Through the release of Starburys, Stephon says he wanted to create change by eliminating the view of sneakers as a fashion statement. "It's moving people in the right direction, and we say it's revolutionary," he says. "It's changed their lives."
How wonderful that the tipping points have changed. Fashion is an expression of self. It should leave you room to live without giving up on anything, without guilty feelings, without keeping up with the so-called Joneses. How wonderful that we can be fashionable yet frugal, when these two adjectives couldn't get along earlier.
Bitten and Starbury products will be available in Steve & Barry's stores nationwide. Find out more at www.starbury.com.
3 comments:
I agree with what she is saying. But isnt the real issue what the people are being paid who make the clothing for us...pennies or pounds ( dollars or cents)And there should be transparency over issues like child labour and clothing production. Cheap clothing can sometimes be as "unethical" as expensive outfits....
Interesting blog !
i forgot to indicate that SJP and Starbury are committed to fair wage rates and assure the public that they are made in USA and not in sweatshops abroad.
a good deal, right?
((emailed from R)))
and would forward your blogs
(especially the article of sarah jessica parker - when
clothes shouldnt cost more than one's groceries!) when
its applicable to me. I'm just too lazy to correspond
but you're articles are really very
interesting--sometimes sugarcoated and funny but your
points can touch one's heart. oh well, maybe if i can
write as good as you do, i wont be indulging in retail
therapy when the day is not so good :) i'll just be
typing my thoughts away.
R
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