The January issue of Vogue, in its back-of-the-book Index section, lists 10 “inspired ideas” for the new year, “all in tune with environment- and recession-minded resolutions.”
No. 9 on the list is a sewing kit. That seems pretty practical. “Missing button?” reads the text. “Torn pocket? Take matters into your own hands (and keep tailoring bills in line) with Smythson’s ostrich-print calf-leather sewing kit.”
The price? Just $975.
It would take a lot of missing buttons for this baby to pay for itself. There are a few other not-very-cheap items on the list: a Derringer Cycles’ 1915 Limited Edition hybrid bicycle-motorbike ($4,800) and an Hermes alligator pocket watch ($1,950).
The cover girl on this issue is Anne Hathaway, who starred in The Devil Wears Prada as the assistant to a fashion magazine editor almost universally acknowledged to be based on Anna Wintour, of Vogue. The movie did not portray the editor in a remotely flattering light — which led me to wonder what sort of conversations were held over at Conde Nast to award Hathaway the cover. Perhaps Wintour has a greater sense of humor than is generally thought; in that case, perhaps the $975 sewing kit is just another joke?
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A woman (would be scientist) discovered the importance of home economics. I say $975 for a sewing kit is cheap.
We need to get back to basics.
I wrote a post about this $975 sewing kit yesterday on my web site, LindsayTSews.com. It’s generating a lot of heated talk in the home sewing community because we all know you can buy a really fantastic sewing machine for that kind of money. One reader said she’d plunk down $975 for the kit if it contained a tiny seamstress who’d do all your mending for you.
If you have diamond studded or genuine pearl buttons, you may not want your maid to touch them with anything less expensive.
That made me laugh so hard Lindsay 2 (comment#2)
Does anything practical really belong in a “fashion” magazine?
Everyone should have to learn the skill of sewing on buttons BY HAND. It’s a great skill to have (we lose buttons all the time) and takes literally minutes to learn. Using a machine to sew buttons is foolish and actually takes longer than doing it by hand.
The editor at vogue makes too much money.
This is similar to how half the “lifestyle” articles in the NYtimes are about how hard it is to keep your second home tastefully decorated, or how the recession makes you give less than 6 figures to charity every year.