It's Called Fashion, Look It Up!

For most young men, shopping is not typically an enjoyable activity. And as for fashion, in my high school, that was limited to North Face fleeces, Jordan sweats, and Nike slides. I of course had none of those things. As the child of a working single mom, my exposure to fashion was limited to what I could buy with Kohl's cash and coupons. However, while my clothes did not display the popular logos, I managed to develop into a rare bread of young man that truly enjoyed shopping. Surely my mom and sister had an influence on me, and after years of back-to-school shopping, I learned how to do wonders from the clearance rack.

Now that I am older, and responsible for buying my own clothes, I have maintained my interests in fashion to the dismay of my bank account... While my preferences favor streetwear, I cannot deny that I still enjoy a good pair of Lucky jeans or Lululemon joggers. Who doesn't in all honesty? My early exposure to sneaker culture has lead me to many days on the SNKRS app patiently waiting for an inevitable L... I've been focused on Low Dunks since they took off over the last couple of years. Throughout the 2010's high tops were in the drivers seat but with the rising popularity of office casual attire, low tops are on the come-up. I'm looking to get myself a pair of Pandas on the next drop, so please wish me luck.

Aside from sneakers I am slowly adding new "pieces" to my collection. If you are unfamiliar, with the term "pieces", as I was not long ago, they are articles of clothing that are particularly special. A.K.A. EXPENSIVE! It's good stuff, and I wouldn't buy something if I didn't absolutely love it, but sometimes the cost of fashionable clothing is hard to justify. I recently bought a fleece as part of Kith's Fall 2022 drop. I LOVE Kith designs and have been following for quite some time. Usually I just browse, never actually intending to buy, torturing myself for a bit with the idea of "what could be". This time was different. If you didn't see it yourself, Jerry Seinfeld was the primary model for this particular release and as a loyal fan I simply had to have something. These days, trying to buy from a popular designer means sitting on an app or website refreshing the page as soon as the drop time hits. You then add items to your cart as fast as possible and buy immediately, hoping you selected the correct size and color. You risk a heavy amount of buyers remorse, but in some cases, as is with me and my AMAZING new fleece, the result can be an incredibly designed piece of new clothing in your closet. Better yet, you will have something that you feel genuinely good in when you wear it, maybe gives you a little confidence, and hopefully will draw up a few more favorable glances.

So, if you are like me and enjoy hitting the checkout button be prepared, the fashion world is not cheap. It can cause stress and disappointment, and regretful purchases may result in bankruptcy and ugliness. Remember, the only thing worse than missing a drop is not being able to pay your rent because you didn't miss it. Try out your local thrift store or sign up for Poshmark if you are looking for a brand name on a budget. And if you really want something nice, pick "The One", and make sure you take care of it once you own it.

Good luck my fellow fashionistas!