Reading Fashion

I used to thrive in reading fashion magazines. My month wouldn’t be complete if I hadn’t browsed through the latest trends of the season. Some people may have an expensive addicting vice like smoking, drinking, or gambling. Mine was smelling the newly printed glossy pages and drooling over the expensive clothes, shoes, and bags the models are donning.

Sure, I knew I couldn’t in any way swipe my Visa for an LV or a Prada, with the kakarampot sweldo that I was getting. Else, I would be kicked out of the house to smithereens by the Hubby. I also knew that I couldn’t afford to take a vacation to those wonderful locations in Paris, Milan, or New York like the backdrops of those waif-like mannequins. After all, these lifestyle magazines are there to put us in a dream state, in a ‘what-would-life-be-if’ delusion. Maybe that’s the reason why a lot of women read them, why I read them—to temporarily have an exodus from my ordinary, mundane life. At least until after I’m done with my PhP120++ mag.

Bayo knits
Guess jeans
Janilyn booties

Of course I gained insights on what’s hot, on what’s in and out. I was able to pick up hair, makeup, and fashion tips here and there. But it also deducted a portion of my retirement savings to give to the publishers of these glossies. It also made me always feel less satisfied, less beautiful, more wanting.

Now my three feet collection of magazines is in our bodega amassing dust. I don’t read them anymore, (syempre old season na e!), more importantly though, I don’t run to the suking magazine stand as soon as the calendar hits the first day of the month anymore. Have I turned my back from fashion? Not really. I got smart and turned to the fashion websites on the internet instead. What, a poor girl has to be creative!

Anyway, did you notice something familiar with the picture above? In that September 2008 issue of Preview Magazine, I was picked as the Letter of the Month. I emailed my letter to the editor, and luckily, it was chosen. I won that Burberry ‘The Beat’ Perfume featured on the left hand corner of that page. Can you read the letter? You can't? Okay, oldies. Let me get you a magnifying glass.

There…better?