So, I got caught up in this whole “burch of fashion” thing a while back. Saw some stuff, you know, the kind with that distinct logo, and thought, “Okay, that looks sharp. Need some of that.” Mostly it was a bag I saw someone carrying. Looked classy, put-together.
First thing I did, naturally, was look it up online. Big mistake. The price tag nearly gave me a heart attack. Seriously, for a bag? I just couldn’t justify it. But the image stuck in my head. That polished look. So, I thought, maybe I can find something similar, you know, get the vibe without emptying my wallet.
I started digging around. Went through countless websites, scrolled endlessly through second-hand apps, even braved a few chaotic thrift stores on my weekends. It became a bit of an obsession, this hunt. Found some things that were kind of similar, but they always felt… off. The quality wasn’t there, or the design was just a cheap copy. You could tell from a mile away it wasn’t the real deal. It just felt flimsy.
Spent way too much time on this, honestly. Hours searching, comparing, driving to stores. It started feeling less like finding a style and more like a chore. A frustrating one. It reminded me of when I first started working, years ago. Fresh out of school, barely making rent, but felt this immense pressure to look successful. Bought clothes I couldn’t really afford on a credit card, trying to fit in with the senior guys. Ended up with a pile of debt and clothes I didn’t even truly like that much after a few wears.
That whole experience was stupid. Took me ages to climb out of that hole. Paying off that card felt like forever. And looking back, did anyone really care about my fancy-but-cheap suit? Probably not. They were more concerned about whether I got my reports done on time. It’s funny how you forget those lessons.
So, standing there in that third thrift store, staring at another knock-off bag with a wonky seam, it hit me. Why was I doing this again? Chasing some logo, some idea of “class” defined by a brand name? It felt exactly like that younger, dumber version of me buying stuff I couldn’t afford.
I just stopped. Walked out of the store. Went home. Dug out an old leather satchel I’d had for years. It was dusty, a bit scratched up. Spent the afternoon cleaning it, conditioning the leather, polishing the buckles. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t have any big-name logo. But it’s solid, it’s mine, and honestly, it looks pretty damn good now. Holds everything I need it to.
So, yeah. My whole “burch of fashion” project ended with me appreciating something I already owned. Guess the real practice wasn’t about finding a specific brand, but about figuring out what actually works for me, without needing a fancy label to feel good about it. Saved myself a load of cash and stress too. Much better.
