Many years ago when I got my first professional job I found myself wearing black shoes about every day. When the soles got worn I would get them replaced but eventually then the sides would give out and it would be time for another pair. One day I got caught in the rain and my black shoes totally stretched and became unwearable. I realized I had gone black-shoe shopping three times in a year and a half, and it felt too inefficient for me. So I splashed out for a pair of Ferragamos, and ..... problem solved! The soles lasted much longer, the sides didn't give out, and no stretch problem. Basically I was sold on the idea of quality as a means to free up time for more meaningful pursuits.
At about the same time I bought my first car, and had a similar experience when realizing how much time goes into buying gasoline, oil changes, windshield wiper replacement, new tires, etc. Of course those things are not optional, but I have often thought: If I could pay an extra $10K when I buy it and never have to stop for gas, I would. Similarly, I would today happily plunk down $5K in order to always have the perfect pair of black pants in my closet. I don't like re-creating the wheel, and that's why I like Hermes. Even so, I would not wear Hermes if it said "Hermes" on it in a visible place, having always felt that if I am to wear a branded object then they can jolly well pay me to do so. Which hasn't happened yet, as I am neither famous nor influential.
Happily I live in a fashion wasteland where my bags are frequently complemented but rarely identified. An amusing exception occurred a few months ago. A colleague introduced me to a friend of his and suggested that I partner with her on a particular project which seemed curious as I had never expressed the desire for a partner, but whatever. Unfortunately I took an instant dislike to the friend for a variety of reasons. Nonetheless I put on my happy face and things were going along swimmingly until she noticed my CDC Kelly like a drug dog alerting on a mule and said "Wow that's a nice bag. I mean that's really a nice bag" complete with histrionic inflection and eye-rolling. A bit of a death-knell considering that this was akin to a job interview on her part.
That night my husband asked how the meeting went, and I told him that I didn't particularly like her but it was OK although she made a snarky remark about my bag. Causing him to roll his eyes in turn and softly moan: Oh no. Oh no no no no ..........
At about the same time I bought my first car, and had a similar experience when realizing how much time goes into buying gasoline, oil changes, windshield wiper replacement, new tires, etc. Of course those things are not optional, but I have often thought: If I could pay an extra $10K when I buy it and never have to stop for gas, I would. Similarly, I would today happily plunk down $5K in order to always have the perfect pair of black pants in my closet. I don't like re-creating the wheel, and that's why I like Hermes. Even so, I would not wear Hermes if it said "Hermes" on it in a visible place, having always felt that if I am to wear a branded object then they can jolly well pay me to do so. Which hasn't happened yet, as I am neither famous nor influential.
Happily I live in a fashion wasteland where my bags are frequently complemented but rarely identified. An amusing exception occurred a few months ago. A colleague introduced me to a friend of his and suggested that I partner with her on a particular project which seemed curious as I had never expressed the desire for a partner, but whatever. Unfortunately I took an instant dislike to the friend for a variety of reasons. Nonetheless I put on my happy face and things were going along swimmingly until she noticed my CDC Kelly like a drug dog alerting on a mule and said "Wow that's a nice bag. I mean that's really a nice bag" complete with histrionic inflection and eye-rolling. A bit of a death-knell considering that this was akin to a job interview on her part.
That night my husband asked how the meeting went, and I told him that I didn't particularly like her but it was OK although she made a snarky remark about my bag. Causing him to roll his eyes in turn and softly moan: Oh no. Oh no no no no ..........
