Frighteningly Valuable

According to a recent article in The Telegraph (brought to my attention by the inimitable Bag Snob), the oddest items in your jumbled mosh pit of a wardrobe could infact become lucrative money-makers in the future.

Vintage clothing is highly sought after now, if only for their ironic, cheap chic style kudos. However there is a market created by museums and (I imagine rather eccentric) collectors for clothing of bygone eras, which happen to rack up impressive sums. Apparently, if one were to invest in fashion heirlooms for future loaded couture freaks, then ...

"Tame and tasteful never make big returns" says [Anne Hamlyn]. "Go for major statement pieces: big names, preferably couture, and mad."

"And prints: there's something quintessentially 'of its time' about print. These are highly collectable and will be worth alot of money."

She also recommends holding on to 1980's fashion. "It was such an extreme period, but the museums want those designers now: Thierry Mugler, Jean Paul Gaultier - they were very cutting edge. There will be a revival."

I happen to be in possession of alot of 80's shit: mainly 50-cent kitschy, neon-coloured dresses, as well as some red elf boots that manage to inspire either gushing compliments from many girls or alarmed disgust from the majority of ordinary men.

However, I recently discovered these Yves Saint Laurent boots on eBay Australia, presumably from the 80's or thereabouts. Hideous as they are, the combination of curved spike stiletto heels, Victorian costume shape, and ridiculous spot-patterned leather attract me intensely, and seem to be consistent with the quoted expert's advice on such things. A wise investment, or comical monstrosity, do you think? I'm hardly going to be wearing them anywhere, what with my Bambi ankles and inability to function in heels.