Quality v. quantity

Leaving aside the issue of blog posts (according to my new resolve to post more haphazardly if it means actually posting what's on my mind instead of letting the little gems slip into oblivion because I never got around to fleshing them out thoroughly enough), I would have thought I fell decidedly into the quality camp, preferring the few worthwhile whatevers to the masses of cheap shoddy whatevers. But I fell to mulling over this a few days ago, and decided that there are some categories where it actually makes sense - for me - to go for the cheap short-term quick fix. I came up with a few examples of each:

Quality - Jewelry. This is one where, for me, it makes sense to invest in the quality and have only a few very nice pieces. I started building my jewelry wardrobe over ten years ago, and I still wear the gold hoops I got when I was sixteen. A few classic pieces (gold hoops, garnet studs, sapphire studs, opal studs, black pearls, and white pearls) pretty much cover every look I need, and the lack of choices makes accessorizing so much easier. Not allowing my jewelry box to become cluttered with costume jewelry saves space, saves time, and perhaps helps me avoid problems with allergic reactions to cheap knock-off metals. Plus I don't ever have to buy new jewelry, unless I decide someday that I like diamonds, after all. (I'm thinking this might happen after I turn forty.)

Quantity - Sunglasses. This is one where I'll gladly buy cheap sunglasses from Wal-mart or even the Dollar Store, even if it means replacing them every year or whenever they break. I am far too hard on my sunglasses to invest in a really expensive pair; one might argue that a better quality pair would last longer and thus be a better investment, but no pair can resist getting scratched when tossed into the wrong pocket in my purse or avoid serious damage when accidentally sat upon. Plus, do I really want to be wearing the same pair of sunglasses for the next ten years? Having cheap sunglasses that will routinely break gives me a chance to update my look every summer.

Quantity - Hair accessories. This is probably rather a moot point, since the days of mother-of-pearl hairclasps and real pearl combs are long gone and pretty much everything is plastic, wood, or metal these days. But I'm sure there are still sliding scales of quality, and I'm happy to shop at the bottom rung of the ladder, with the cheap plastic barrettes and hair claws whose springs wear out and snap off within a year or so. Once again, do I really want to be putting the same things in my hair for the next ten years?

There were more, but I can't think of them right off, and rather than mull and ponder and strain to recollect I shall simply post, walk downstairs, brew myself a cup of tea, and try to take a nap. Happy Friday!