Elegant Simplicity

Elegance and Simplicity. Not two concepts that people would naturally group together. Most people see elegant as superfluous luxury and overly concerned with image. Meanwhile, we envision the Amish, Mahatma Gandhi or farmers when we think of living simply. However, I have always believed than a simple, but elegant way of living would bring the most long term value. Minimalism, with just a small handful or possessions or living out of a backpack, though a dream and viewed with admiration by some like me, is not always attainable in the jobs that we hold or the life situations that we are in. However, as I have witnessed myself, having too many things or wanting more things leaves one with a sense of lacking and even results in frustration in having to worry for and care for so many things. I have one two many stories of trying to find things in my small apartment, which should have been a breeze, but I had too much clutter. It is also frustrating when in trying to live a simpler life, I have had to repurchase many items because I was being frugal and purchased a lesser quality. So, trying to live a simpler life seems best aided by buying the best quality and most durable items so that what you have is the best and don't have to purchase replacements often, but that you keep only things that you use regularly. I am not talking about just buying name brand items, as I have seen one too many people buy items made of inferior items just because it is of a certain brand.

For instance, a friend/acquaintance who is brand obsessed showed me two dress that she purchased at Nordstrom for over $200 each made of polyester. We have very different values and don't see eye to eye on may things, so I knew lecturing her about her choice wouldn't make a difference, so I refrained. However, I knew that I could easily get a silk or cotton no-name dress for the same price or less, which would last longer and will actually decompose in the environment more naturally than the polyester one would. Not to mention, in the production of synthetics, workers risk respiratory illness due to the fumes of making and working with synthetics. I know that silkworms are harmed in producing silk, unless you have the budget to buy organic silk, but we do have to choose our battles as our life permits.

In any case, were I in her place, I would have chosen to buy a silk or cotton dress at the same or lesser price. Even if she was hell bent on getting a brand because she felt that it is constructed better as some brands are (in her case, though she is not a bad person, she is misguided by being very ego/image centric because she often judges her & others' worth/status on the brands they wear or how expensive the items are), there are better alternatives for that price if you look, and it would add more value in terms of durability and the impact on the environment. An alternative choice like that would be a choice in line with elegant simplicity.

Check out this great article on planet green that explores Elegant Simplicity and also this article called The Tyranny of Trends in the Resurgence magazine that explores how harmful the obsession with fashion and consumerism is for the environment.