I have been attached to many things and people in my life. My attachment to B is special. Who is B, you may ask yourself? B is my beloved coat. My soft, beautiful Burberry cashmere-wool coat. A hole in his linging meant a cosy few days for him at the Burberry store to get fixed. He was treated well, I am sure. But life just was not quite the same without him. Picking him up was like meeting him again for the firs time. Some may call me crazy. Crazy for loving a piece of clothing that much. B is not the only item of clothing that I love. He is up there with other pieces, pieces I have had for years and years and who still make me happy.
My fashion hero is my grandma. Not only has she got impeccable style and great taste but she has supported me in exploring my own style. She comes shopping with me and always gives me her honest opinion. She has let me make my own mistakes, not laughed at me when I looked ridiculous but instead gave me that knowing little smile. That is when I know that I need to look at myself in the mirror and re-evaluate.
My grandma is my role model in many more ways than just when it comes to style. She is kind, giving, incredibly smart and travelled and always looks effortlessly chic. She has always been there for me, supported me and I could not have asked for a better grandparent. She was the one who taught me to invest in timeless pieces. Pieces I love and will continue to love for many years to come. Pieces who will be versatile zet individual, and remain fashionable for season on season.
Fashion has become so wasteful. We buy cheap clothing that we throw out after a season, sometimes even less. It is so fast moving, exciting and always on the hunt for the next big thing. Fashion is continuously trying to reinvent itself and Fashion Week in London, Paris, New York and Milan have started to push the boundaries and blur the lines between Fashion and Art. All the while we forget about thinking long-term.
We need to start thinking about making fashion more sustainable. Less wasteful. Without having to sacrifice the excitement and joy it brings to so many of us. Can we have our cake and eat it? B is a long-term investment. If I look after him, care for him (and don’t lose him!) then he will continue to keep me warm for many, many years. Much like my beloved over-knee Belfstaff’s. My bobble hat of unknown origin. My Mulberry bag. I could tell you stories about all my favourite pieces of clothing, my most treasured accessories. We would be here all day and all night. And you would probably be very, very bored.
Not all pieces that I am attached to are of particularly high value. A dainty, silver ring from Shoreditch is one of my most treasured and prized possessions because of what he represents: Friendship. My best friend of (now) 9 years Ute and I bought matching rings when she came to see me in London in 2010. Again, it was love at first sight. When I thought I lost him the other day, I almost cried. It would have been impossible to replace him.
Sentimental attachment to things (and people) is a way of preserving memories. Of keeping ourselves grounded. Reminding ourselves of what is important and those we love. September 3rd was a great day. It was sunny, it was warm, there was a light breeze. I was surrounded by some of the most important people in my life: my family. Discovering B made it that little bit more special.
Every time I look at him I will remember that day. I will remember that feeling of first seeing him. Of trying him on. The way he made me feel. The smile on my grandma’s face when we looked at each other and we both knew. Her and me silently agreeing that B had to become mine, despite my family's protests.
This is not about a coat. Sure, B keeps me warm when the temperature drops. He protects me from rain, snow and the cold. In the end that is what he is meant to be doing. But this is not about a coat or a ring or a pair of boots. It is about so much more than that. Much like my silver ring, B represents something. He is a memory. When I look at him I think of my grandma, my family, the time we spend together in London. He is love. He is family.
