...... of Y S ' leather belt.

S
One strange thing about men when it comes to fashion is that most of us really do not care. Of course, there is a sizable fast lane and cool male homosapiens who move with fashion. The majority, Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) thinks , does not bother about the changing trends in clothes, shoes , hair-styles and other accessories like watches, glasses, belts, wallets etc. ( Besides, cars, of course) If they are caught with the latest fashion, it is because their favorites are already out of production ! One good example is glasses frames. You have to move on. The opticians do not stock old models.

This morning Y S took a hard look at his aging leather belt, a "Mustang" which gave way due to leather fatigue. It is about 18 years old !!! ( Y S pities the factory that makes good belts like this and wonders how it could survive, making such long lasting good quality product!!! ) It was bought in 1990s when Y S looked good in blue faded jeans but not now. The belt stays on with Y S' other pants because it simply refused to "break down" so that was no good reason why it should be discarded. Moreover, as the years rolled by it gathered lots of sentimental value. It had gone on globe trotting with Y S and its metal buckle had triggered many a security censor at the various airports Y S passed through and was ogled at by many an immigration offer.

A strange about fashion is that to the male homo sapiens, we are proud and we show off our long lasting things. Shirts that last a decade. Pants that are still wearable after 10 years. Shoes that do not seem to wear off, 5 solid years and are still good. Wallets that seem to last an eternity.

I don't think the fairer sex would parade such possessions. More often than not, their desire is to make known that whatever they adorn and use are the latest. The more sophisticated would not even shop at sales, fearing to be seen in their duplicates. For this reason, owners of boutiques are laughing their way to the bank.

Even to be seen in the same dress for another function is a disaster ! Not even in the same dress as their fellow colleague. There was an occasion when a collegue rushed home to change her clothes because another colleague adorned the same fashion of dress and in the same colour. She swore not to buy at sales anymore. It is a taboo !!!

Coming back to Y S' belt, Y S thinks it needs to be taken to the cobbler to be given some stitches here and there and a new lease of life.

They don't make things to last anymore these days.