Notes on Commodification
Whether for personal or moralistic reasons, holidays notoriously bring up strong emotions. Millenials have taken a stab at retribution by inventing a holiday to consecrate any given day of the year, complete with quippy meme and hashtag #trending. Whether my dog’s quality of life has improved since he started celebrating on the national level in addition to his birthday, I’m uncertain; but I love a good party so we go with it.
My birthday is a few days before Christmas, so as an adult, I’ve taken celebrations into my own hands. I love the festive music, the twinkling lights, the party dresses, and extra occasions to get glitzy. During other months of the year, most would caution restraint with make-up (choose a lip or an eye!), but in December I do both. It’s maximal elegance, especially post-quarantine.
Over a decade ago, I found my perfect red lipstick (Chanel, of course), and shortly thereafter learned it was going out of production. The color is a seasonless shade of strawberry red that brightens my complexion and whitens my teeth, with a silky texture that glides over my lips - concentrated color, with hydration. It was immediately indispensable, so when I heard my color was getting yanked, I bought 2 extra tubes and prayed for relief.
Funny thing that’s happened in the years since - a new shade of red found me. It’s cheaper and matte but not drying and the color STAYS all the night long. She’s like a very best friend, taking secrets to the grave. I still pull Chanel out as a juicy topper from time to time (admittedly, I found a new favorite from Her, too), but one of those 2 back-stock tubes of original red remains collecting dust in my cabinet.
About cleaning the closets - I only had a few in my postage-stamp apartment when moving out of Austin a few weeks ago, but doing so was like a material audit, realizing these needs versus wants. As much as I’ve tried to become mindful of purchases (moreso since starting a business and needing to keep my cash fluid), I still had a lot of shit sitting around. Things that became really weighty when deciding what to pack, what to store, what to sell at a loss, and what to give away.
The takeaway? Red lipstick is 100% a commodity - GRATEFUL FOR it every month of the year. Did I need 3 tubes of the same color when I learned my fave was going out of production? Absolutely not. I think we get into trouble when aspects of culture become commodified - a moral negotiation that starts within our own hearts, and how we choose to create and consume.
“Buy less, choose well: That’s the maxim. Quality not quantity. That’s the most environmentally friendly thing you can do.”
-Vivienne Westwood
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