“Don’t Clean Out That Closet!”

By

Gerry Niskern

Have you read all those articles that come out this time of year instructing you how to clean out and organize your closets? Don’t believe a word of it.

It’s all a conspiracy of the fashion industry to force you to go out and buy new clothes. You’ve heard the old saying, “What goes around, comes around.” Well, if you wait long enough, any fashion will come around again.

Anytime that you go online, read the newspaper or watch TV you will get the latest fashion forecast. According to the breathless commentators, the exciting new color this year was an earthen burgandy. Well, I have sweaters, tees and turtlenecks in every shade of burgandy in my closet, and guess what; I didn’t buy them this year.

Every other year, bell bottom jeans are in, and then they are out; as are jean jackets, except when they’re in. The same is true of wide legs or skinny legs on pants. Wide belts with huge buckles for jeans for women are in, as they were twenty-some years ago. I have some really neat ones in my closet.

Ever since the l800’s, ready-to-wear manufacturers have enabled middle class to dress well. Before that everything was made at home or by a local seamstress. When Mr. Buttrick started the Buttrick pattern company he streamlined dressmaking for the average family in this country. Clothing was very affordable for everyone and of course, as years went by the fashion industry found it more and more profitable to declare styles and colors out of date.

Soon the car industry jumped in. In the l920’s General Motors was first to systemize the process of slightly altering cars each year to grab the buyers attention. Soon all the companies followed suit. After all, what was the point of buying a new car if the body style didn’t shout “new model?”

Years ago you could redecorate your home safely knowing that your choice of colors would be “in” for a few years. Not anymore. If an artist publishes a print in the trendy colors and it doesn’t sell out in six months, forget it.

After all, creating desire for the latest trend, whether it is a new car, redecorating your home or a new set of duds, is what has built the huge global market that exists today. On second thought, maybe you all better clean out those closets and go buy something new!