Understanding the Collector's Mind

I have never been a "collector."

Goodwill Find o' the Week: Christian Laboutin red satin heels

Most things that "collectors" fancy--trading cards, figurines of varying cuteness or expensiveness, art of particular eras, war paraphernalia, or whatever (--has never held my interest long enough for me to shell out actual money to obtain in critical mass worthy of being called a "collection."
Also, I never had actual money, either.
But even stuff you can pick up: shells, birds' nests, animal skulls, heart-shaped things, interestingly shaped poo--meh.
Okay--I always thought I wasn't really a collector, until I referred to cleaning my shoe shelves as "curating."
Several pairs of Prada, one pair of Jimmy Choo slides, Manolo Blahnik pumps, Lanvin sandals, Tod's driving mocs, Gucci boots, Frye boots, Ralph Lauren boots, Hunter boots, Red Wing Boots, Coach heeled loafers, Guiseppe Zanotti pumps, Chanel captoe two-tones, Miu Miu brocade heels.
All found at consignment and thrift stores for under $100. Those are the rules of my collection.
I would like to find a pair of Tory Burch boots, new Salvatore Ferragamo boots, Louis Vuitton boots. Something by Thakoon. Celine. Linda McCartney. Alexander McQueen.
This week, I found these sexy little red satin LaBoutin numbers--Goodwill $4.99. I could keep them--though I already have a pair of LaBoutin espadrilles, these seem more representative of the designer's style.
But I'd rather sell them.

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The Lost Designer of the 80's

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Show Up, Shut Up, Wear Beige

Instructions to mothers of the groom. The reason why groomsmen all wear the same suit to a wedding--so if the groom doesn't show up, everyone can just take a step to the left. The people on that side of the church are just props, baby. Your role, as mother of the groom, is to provide a groom. And maybe a brother for a spare. The extent of your input is limited to saying how lovely everything is. The bride's strapless ballgown in the church? Why, it's lovely, of course. The mother of the bride's equally revealing gown to show off her boob job? Lovely. The new wife of the bride's father who describes herself as a "cougar" (in the latter part of her nine lives) (meow!)? Nope! Nope! She's so lovely. The "blending" ceremony in which all the members of the bridal party dance around and fill a vase with pink and blue vials of sand to symbolize the "blending" of two souls into one purple-ish vase of sand...or something? Lovely, lovely, love...

Second Hand, Second Thoughts

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