<thematic: what to be seen reading on the economic downturn>

The credit crunch means readers, like consumers in general, may become partly motivated by the need to save on spending.  But this needn’t mean a trip to the nearest bargain book basement.  Austerity and decadence follow each other around and appear to be binary opposites.  In fact, during periods of abundance, minimalist aesthetics and urges to declutter are at their most acute.  And when times are hard, glamour is at its most defined and desired.  Fashion is a great barometer of the economy for this reason.

Second hand clothes are like second hand books: there’s vintage and then there’s vintage gold. The latter are both more valuable and more satisfying when found at a snip.  Shabby chic is worth its weight in gold for another reason. Wearing a fashion one-off means mega-bucks, money wasted once it’s become ‘trendy’.  Vintage classic shows off your personality and style, without comment about what’s in your purse.  

Mark Twain once defined a classic as something everyone wants to own but no one wants to read.  It’s true that you cannot judge a book by its cover, but it’s also true that that cover can speak volumes about you.  Especially if you manage to prove the American satirist wrong, and read the darned thing.