Due to the Occupy movement and the nationwide protests taking place (of which Jen and I are proud participants), I’ve been thinking a lot about my job not just as a “fashion blogger,” but as a fashion blogger who – by definition – looks for the cheapest way to get gorgeous clothes and how that fits into the things that the Occupy movement stands for. Am I a hypocrite? Am I contributing to the very thing I’m protesting against?

I read a ton (a ton) of budget fashion blogs, most of which I totally and unabashedly adore. That being said, I often come across posts that feature perfect-for-the-niche articles about the latest “[Designer] For Target” collection, or the newest, adorable dress from Forever 21, or where to get the latest Prada knockoffs and I feel a pang of discomfort.

Why?

Because I can’t post about them. I can’t won’t post about Target, Forever21, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie or feature a knockoff designer shoe as a plausible option for purchasing. My ethics are too deeply-rooted.

Forever21 uses sweatshop labor and is a frequent design thief, using their company size to bully everyone from indie designers to bloggers.

Target is two-faced about their support of gay/civil rights.

Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People are part of a company who donates money to anti-gay Rick Santorum – my mortal nemesis.

Unfortunately, the list goes on…

While I’ve been on the fence about knockoffs for the last three years, I am defining my position on it, and refuse to post about direct, less-than-30%-difference knockoffs because I know too much about the replica industry and the condition under which these knockoffs are made.

So seeing this great, definitely budget fashion content makes me, honestly… a little nervous. We haven’t branded Broke & Beautiful as any kind of ethical budget fashion blog, but being that, well, I created it and I have these values… that means that some of the most appealing, applicable budget fashion content will never see the light of day on Broke & Beautiful.

Will we/have we lost readers because of our “lack of current news” in the field of accessible fashion? Probably. And who knows – this post might make us lose a few more! But, you know… That’s something that I think I need to be okay with.

I coax myself into comfort by dreaming that there are other people out there like Jen and me who don’t want to support these icky industry tactics, but still want accessible, beautiful fashion. We like to believe that there are socially-aware, thrifty guys and gals who pride themselves on supporting causes that benefit the economy, the human condition, and the customers who buy their products. There has to be… Right? …Right?

This site will never be Awakened Aesthetic, whose moral, ethical, social and environmental positions on fashion & design thwart Broke & Beautiful’s well-intended political and social stances, but I do get pangs of heartbreak whenever I think about what you, the readers – our beautiful community – are getting elsewhere that you wish you could get here. The cheaper-than-cheap fashion options and high-style replicas of French designer shoes…

We just can’t back that up.

Five years ago (!!), I created Broke & Beautiful to help people find the beauty that exists in runway and high-fashion at a price that wouldn’t attach them to a status, class, or collection agency. If you start at the very beginning – from the very first post, you will see things from Forever 21 and Target. You will see things from Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. This blog is not only a record of my love of fashion, and it’s not just a history of my belief that beautiful style can be achieved at any budget….

It’s also a running record of my awareness, personal growth and devotion to fashion through ethics.

And when I look at it that way, it isn’t so bad. A “blog” is a “web log” after all, right?

I’d love to know how you feel about Broke & Beautiful’s choice to omit these unethical companies from our shopping suggestions.

Do you wish that we had more of an open position on these budget fashion megastores? Or do you [maybe, hopefully, pretty please?] value the idea that the options that B&B shows you are socially conscious as well as budget-friendly?

My apologies for the non-shoe-inclusion in this wall-o-text… It’s just been wearing on me lately, and I’m dying for your perspective.

xo,

Lindsay

You know. Because “stiletto nails” are something I could type with. Or do anything with.

Huh?

Don’t they?

They’re called “Flannel,” which is obvious, but Basset…that’s just truth.

Flannel Basset Hounds.

Yep.

You know, first world problems?

Well. Prepare for tragedy.

Have you ever had Did Not Buyers Remorse?