things just aren’t the way they used to be

I’ve spoken extensively about my stylish Parisian grandmother Gigi, who gets an adoring shoutout anytime I wear one of her vintage sweaters or beautifully pleated skirts. But I want to talk about another fashion inspiration of mine: my grandmother Belle.

grandma at her wedding in 1954

As her only granddaughter, I naturally bonded with her over shopping. She was always a fashionista who loved leopard print and dressing me up in the pretty pieces we found at the Galleria. She had a purse in every color except black, because “if you’re going to wear a handbag it might as well be in a fun color.”

Since her dementia diagnosis, it’s been difficult to take her to the department stores she once loved walking through.

This week, after making the difficult decision to move her into memory care so she could receive round the clock support, we began clearing out her apartment and collecting her things. From the fine china she and my grandfather received as a wedding gift, to the unique art pieces they collected during their worldly travels, grandma’s apartment was filled with objects representing a life well lived.

What struck me most during the search was the number of items I found that simply wouldn’t be created today. From a vintage metal Ronson lighter/cigarette case, to the detailed metal compact mirrors with blush from who-knows-how-long ago (pictured above, left), her things served as a reminder that planned obsolescence is a relatively recent phenomenon.

ICYMI, planned obsolescence is a corporate practice of creating lower quality products that limit their lifespan - forcing us to continue buying more low quality products.

Prior to our economy being dependent on overconsumption, things were often made with intention. Unregulated capitalism has nearly wiped out the practice of craftsmanship. Hand stitching, delicately detailed jewelry, and well made, sturdy clothing have fallen by the wayside in favor of low-cost (and usually lower quality) creations. It’s no wonder today’s vintage is becoming more and more valuable: in a world full of planned obsolescence, objects that were created during a time when they were meant to last feels like a novelty.

We know that climate catastrophe is upon us. Between the deadly Kantamanto fire and the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, 2025 is already showing us that the earth desperately needs our help.

But how do we fix this? It’s more important than ever that we move away from obsolescence as a ‘norm’ and towards a production model that promotes longevity. Where possible, we can opt to invest in small businesses that prioritize craftsmanship and choose quality over quantity. We can repair items when they break down, learn how to mend, and find a good tailor/cobbler. Finally, we can advocate for and support legislation that holds corporations accountable for their planned obsolescence practices. And we’ve already seen success with it: in 2023, Apple was sued in a class action lawsuit for intentionally slowing down the performance of older iPhones. They lost the case, setting a huge precedent for big brands trying to dupe us going forward.

There’s so much beauty in being able to pass down treasures to your children or grandchildren. Taking action against both overconsumption and planned obsolescence is one way we can keep stories of our loved ones alive, so that we too can pass on keepsakes reflecting a life well lived.