*103 Claire

Does cheap always look cheap? When I say ‘cheap’ I am not talking about fleamarket or second hand store finds, those precious pieces you buy for next to nothing, which make you so happy because they use to be so much more expensive. What I am talking about is cheap cheap, new cheap bling-stuff that usually comes with a lot of zippers, studs and fake leather. I was sure that I could always spot those particular fake leather handbags/shoes/jackets from a mile away, especially if they come in combination – until I met Claire today. When I saw her from a distance – strolling along the sidewalk with a certain nonchalance – my first thought was: ‘Bloody hell, she must have won the lottery, this jacket looks quite Burberry to me and that never comes cheap even when you buy it second hand’. Imagine my surprise when she told me later on that her coat, her handbag and her shoes were exactly those mentioned-above-no-name products from some random Paris/H+M/whatever store. What did I learn from this experience? I am not without fail and a beautiful person with a good aura and personality can make anything look a million dollars.

Claire wears a jacket from a cheap store in Paris, pants from her friend’s grandmother, a T-shirt by Monki, shoes by H+M, a collar by Gina Tricot and a no name bag.