October 23, 2026

"The thing that you learn as an older person too, is that you really don’t love that many things. You think you do, but you don’t."

"You find that out when it’s too late. By that point you have passed up so many of the great things that you wish you had and you accumulated all this stuff that is absolutely worthless."

Said Isaac Mizrahi, quoted in "A New Guide on the Endless Quest for Personal Style/A new book from the RealReal, the secondhand designer retailer, has ideas for how to develop taste that is your own" (NYT).

13 comments:

gadfly said...

Ego brings on wothless endeavors such as wishing for what might have been.

Peachy+2 said...

High Fashion for rich celebrates is a joke.
Hunger Games.

bagoh20 said...

I have zero brain cells working on the concept of fashion, and I have none available to take on the work. I do wonder what a "personal style" would be, since it seems to revolve around impressing others, so how personal can it be? It's more about who you care about impressing.
I'm a filthy person who ruins everything I wear. Trying to be fashionable would be hopeless and expensive. I'm just a big 8-year old boy, and I dress like one.

tcrosse said...

A common problem among us old folks is being overwhelmed by all the shit we have collected over the years. There is a decluttering-industrial complex giving out advice on how to get rid of it all.

bagoh20 said...

I'd have a lot less junk around if it wasn't for Jeff Bezos needing more money for big tits.

rehajm said...

…my mom’s parents silently taught me that. They were never wealthy, a barber and an order puller but they sought out things they valued and by the had accumulated- curated really an interesting collection of things. We had to throw out almost nothing…

Rustygrommet said...

After my older brother died, the inconsiderate bastard, I discovered that the things you treasure only mean anything to you. I found his kids were tossing his complete set of "Greys Sporting Journal". I rescued it and gave to one of his fly fishing friends.
Consequently I've taken to getting rid of a lot of my treasures so that my daughters won't have to rent a dumpster.

Josephbleau said...

The best thing to learn is to buy very few things of exceptional quality rather than buying large amounts of consumer junk. The cost is the same.

BarrySanders20 said...

Purging stuff is cathartic. Decent stuff to St Vincent de Paul thrift store, other stuff in the truck to the dump. Last time when donating old furniture a lady was checking out the goods as we were unloading and said "Hey! That's a Henredon!" Yup, aka an old sofa. Hardest items to give up in our house are books. Hundreds down, thousands (it seems) to go.

Political Junkie said...

Must learn to love "nothing".
For example, walking the neighborhood without headphones, phone, etc.
Experience the sounds of life. Safer as you hear upcoming traffic and potential attackers.

Lazarus said...

What if what "sparks joy" in you is acquiring junk?

boatbuilder said...

I believe I ended my endless quest for personal style when I was in my teens.
So not endless.

Mason G said...

I never started mine.

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