A while back, Rosel wrote a fascinating post about getting pressured into carrying a counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbag. Her rather insistent aunts bought it for her, and essentially forced it on her. She did what I think most of us would’ve done in that situation: Succumbed to their wishes, carried the bag a couple of times to be polite, and then stashed it.
She then dropped me a note to ask for my thoughts on designer fakes and ask how women should react to social pressure to buy and wear/carry designer goods.
As a 10-year-old, I felt pressured to wear as much Esprit as possible to gain acceptance from my catty peers. But I’ve never felt pressure to purchase or display branded designer goods as an adult from my friends, peers, family, or anyone else. So I’m not really equipped to dish out advice, per se, but I’m happy to present my experiences and opinions.
On the pressure to buy and wear designer
Highly branded goods of any type make me suspicious. I am fiercely loyal to many clothing, shoe, and accessory brands but virtually never wear items that bear enormous logos, company names, or catchphrases. I know that branded items can convey cachet and/or broadcast information about the owner’s interests or skills, and many people feel perfectly comfortable wearing logo-ed garments. But in my opinion, anything with a big logo on worn by a human being immediately becomes a very valuable piece of walking, living advertising for the manufacturer. So I can’t help but feel that when I wear logo-laden items I am actually paying a company to become a champion of its brand. Not something I feel comfortable doing.
Furthermore, I feel that some people allow branded designer items to stand in for taste and personal preference: If it’s expensive and recognizable enough, you don’t have to love it and it doesn’t have to be pretty. It’s impressive, and that is sufficient. Obviously that isn’t always the case. Countless people buy designer goods because they love them, can afford them, and are proud to carry them. But, again, it’s just not something I feel comfortable doing myself. I will occasionally buy expensive things with my hard-earned dough, but I don’t like to display my choices and privileges through logos or branding.
Handbags are a particularly touchy issue for me. Despite their long and venerable history, Louis Vuitton logo handbags just make me cringe, and I can honestly say that if someone offered me one as a gift, I’d refuse it. I’d be too embarrassed to carry it. Don’t believe me? I bought a very simple, logo-free, leather Coach bag once, and I couldn’t even bear to have that telltale hang-tag on it. I removed it before I’d even left the store. To each her own, of course – as someone who has worked in marketing for more than 12 years, I understand the symbiotic relationship that branding plays with self-image. But I do hope that those who feel compelled to bear and wear branded goods have their own reasons for doing so.
On designer-inspired items and outright knockoffs
I’m definitely guilty of buying a couple of pairs of Steve Madden and Jeffrey Campbell shoes that were “inspired” by hot designer versions and have somehow been able to justify my actions. None of those shoes bore counterfeit logos and all of them include variations on the original design. Not entirely above board, but not entirely sketchy, either.
However, before I bought my Alexander McQueen skull scarf in New York, I bought a fake off eBay. I thought there was a chance I was getting the real deal for a bargain, but deep down I knew I’d thrown my $19 at a knockoff. It arrived, I opened it, and immediately I knew I would never wear it. It wasn’t “inspired,” it was just fake: A nasty polyester instead of silk, the print and logo almost identical but not quite, fraudulence coming off it in waves.
My feeling is that the world of fashion is brimming with trends, and when companies take an idea and tweak it slightly to make it their own they aren’t committing a terrible crime. But I believe that attempting to pass off a fake for a real is bad karma for manufacturer, vendor, and customer. Especially where logos and branding are involved. Buy vintage designer that you can afford or buy non-designer that you love. There are better ways to be stylish than to spend on outright knockoffs.
On dealing with designer-related peer pressure
Again, I’ve never run with a group of friends who implied that I should step up my game by carrying or wearing designer, and my family couldn’t care less about labels. So while I’d love to advise anyone dealing with a pushy peer group to just be strong and tell them all to mind their own business, I’m not sure I can. No one with your best interests at heart is going to pressure you to buy something you can’t afford, or, alternately, pressure you to buy a counterfeit item to “fit in.” But that can be hard to remember when it’s a valued friend or beloved relative doing the pushing. Having never been in a group who applied such pressure, I’m not sure how difficult it would be to resist.
What I can say is that, as with all things, try to trust your gut. If you aren’t comfortable carrying knock-offs, can’t afford the real thing, and are getting pressured to do either one or the other, it couldn’t hurt to try to explain your stance to those applying the pressure. They may not understand, and you may end up acceding in certain circumstances, but at least you’ve made your viewpoint clear.
Image via Purseblog
Originally posted 2011-09-21 06:07:11.
The controversy surrounding labels and luxury items has accompanied my entire adult (as in old enough to make my own wardrobe choices and carry the financial burden) life. I’ll admit flat out, my wardrobe is about 70% high end designer brands and the number is growing. With a but quickly inserted in: I don’t have a lot of clothes. I prefer high end brands because they fit better, the construction and materials are just incomparable to cheap mass fashion items. I also eschew logos and if at all possible I buy something where logos aren’t visible. Eyewear for example will always have visible logos and I’ve come to terms with that.
I have spent a lot of years, too many, trying to defend, justify and explain my choices. And I’m tired of keep explaining that the value per wear is almost often lower with say Bruno Magli shoes than some cheap (insert H&M, Target and other global chain store giants here).
I completely agree. Right now I have a bag of H&M clothes destined for goodwill because after a very few wearings the clothes have become warped, distorted, odd-fitting. It’s extra annoying because I never felt fabulous in them to begin with! Definitely did NOT save any money by buying “cheap” clothes.
I’ve bought shoes by brands like Boutique 9 and Pour la Victoire that I didn’t even know were YSL or Louboutin knock-offs until I saw the original style for sale on eBay or net-a-porter and thought, “Oh, THAT’S where they came from!” It’s like a tree falling in the woods: if you don’t KNOW it’s a designer-inspired style, is it still a knock-off? And does it matter? I don’t have a problem with less-expensive “inspired-by” versions, but carrying a plastic “Coach” purse with the C’s facing the wrong way would just feel… wrong.
Designer kock offs are also illegal. Trademark infringement I think? Not designer “inspired” but things like the knock offs they sell on the streets in NYC.
Many times they are covers-up for other activities like drug trafficking , sale orf illegal weapons and possibly even terrorism.
This I love. Love, love, love. I used to be friends with a woman who had her fair share of Coach, Kate, and Prada. They were stored in her closet in their respective dust covers, like little bunnies waiting their turn for show. Once at a concert someone nearly spilled beer on her bag and she squealed “No! Not on the Kate!” I bought into it lock, stock and barrel. Only problem was, I could not afford it. So I had one bag I toted everywhere when she was around. I listened to her fashion “advice” like it was god’s. But looking back, I just looked like a suburbian label clone. The labels, the bag, the accessories-it was all so, ugh. And so not me.
Needless to say we are not friends anymore (way bigger than her label obsession!). But I have moved on to other things in my wardrobe. I do still love labels-but not ones for show. I look for quality goods. I will pay for shoes that will last me through years of Ohio winters. Sweaters that won’t pill after one washing. My engagement and wedding ring are meant to be family heirlooms. But I also prefer handmade goods sans label. Ones that will only ever be mine. Ones that when asked “Wherever did you find that?” I can proudly reply “A friend/artist made it FOR me!” Labels do have their place in my life still…but tucked neatly into my shirt collar or waistband, never displayed prominately on my bag.
The pressure to wear the right brand of jeans was pretty intense when I was in high school (in the early 80s), but I couldn’t fit my curvy body into Guess jeans to save my life. Other than that, I haven’t felt any pressure to purchase high-end pieces, but I have also never lived in a community where that is the mentality. I’m sure I have purchased knock-offs or “inspired by” things at Target or the mall simply because I liked the look of the item and had absolutely no idea they were knock-offs. I would never intentionally buy a fake brand name.
I dislike obvious designer logo displays (like Chanel-printed leather or what have you) and I would never carry anything like that. I think they look tacky no matter how much people spend on them and they represent what I like least about fashion.
My advice would be “if someone pressures you to wear designerwear, flip ’em the bird and do what you want” but I know that that’s not always possible if the issue is, say, a status group in your workplace that controls your employment or promotions. Science may make me pull my hair out, but unless I go through a midlife crisis career change I will never be peer pressured to wear obvious designerwear ever in my life. To which I say YAY.
I REFUSE TO BUY OR WEAR A FAKE. ANYTHING, except maybe a tan. I once bought a “Frada” on eBay, a handbag I thought was a genuine Prada but it was clearing a fake by its low qualtiy.. I tore the tags off and then donated it. It was a cute purse but I can’t justify encouraging the manufacture of fakes. And then add in the consideration that fakes are oftem made by nefarious organizations such as crime cartels, so not only is it unethical by supporting theft of ideas but supporting illegal drugs, slave labor etc etc. That for me is NOT luxury. I could never sport around a fake.
I am not a fan of wearing logos, either, and would feel like a fraud carrying a knock-off handbag. I simply I don’t look to the big names for my inspiration in fashion. I also don’t agree that big names always have better quality clothes or materials. I think that used to be the case with most labels and still is with some, but there are others that seem to rely on their cache to keep their prices high.
But, I think there is something interesting going on with stores like Target and H&M selling limited edition runs from a specific designer. The quality of the items that you will find in these lines will be Target or H&M quality, so what are you really getting? It’s almost like a knock-off. And yet people are going nuts over the whole Missoni line, which sold out almost immediately in some places.
i think SarahN has a good point — or at least i am in the same boat with her.
i dont know much about the high-end stuff: since i cant afford it anyway, i dont bother to know much about it. i simply buy things that appeal to me at my price-point. if i later find out that it is ripped off from a higher-end designer, whats a gal to do?
im much like you, sal — i dont like the logos and brand names emblazoned all over everything i own. i dont mind buying a brand name (again, if i LIKE it and its within my budget) but i dont care to advertise or announce it to the world.
I work in a consignment store in Minneapolis and just had a similar conversation the other day with a client/shopper.
My take away? Women have opinions. Strong opinions.
I love handbags. And I love owning nice handbags. I bought my first Coach handbag when I was in my 40s (!!!) and my hubs just bought me the Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM Damier. He overheard a conversation I was having with his niece!
I love everything I guess I’m trying to say. I love vintage. Love designer. Love everything.
But I love carrying my Louis Vuittons (I have another one in signature leather – it’s four years and counting). I also love carrying the awesome vintage clutch I picked up at a pop up store a month or so ago. I love it all.
My opinion? I think we put the pressure on ourselves. Say what you mean and mean what you say and all that right? When we’re young it is easy to fall into the pressure-trap, but as an adult woman? I do what I want.
I refuse to carry a knockoff. It’s like stealing. Designer inspired? I will if it’s awesome.
I guess I have an opinion! 🙂
Oh, good! I don’t need to comment other than to say: You’ve said it all for me!
I’m like you, Sally, in that I tend to avoid designer labels for the sake of toting around a designer label. I’m trying to think what I do own that is designer… A couple of vintage YSL and Dior pieces I’ve picked up at thrift shops, but nothing else that I can think of. I’m fairly cheap when it comes to my wardrobe purchases, so if it wasn’t in the clearance rack at DSW or a thrift shop, it’s usually not an option. 😉
It’s funny: when my girl friends were all over designer logos (whether real or fake) and snapping up all sorts of trendy pieces, I just never “got” the appeal. I don’t think I’ve ever worn a piece of clothing with a really prominant label on it (besides a tasteful, small nameplate on a handbag. But mine are usually Nine West, so we’re not talking a high end brand). My husband wants to eventually buy me a Coach bag, but I’ve insisted that if he ever does, I would be allowed to pick it out. Why? Because I can’t stand the ubiquitous label–it just looks cheap to me! I’d be buying the bag as an investment in the quality and something classic that I can use for decades to come; not because it is a “Coach” (I’d be happy with just about any other well made label too!). For me investment pieces like that are about the quality of materials and construction–not advertising my “worth” via a label!
I also don’t understand the obsession with Coach. I have been to one of their stores and the bags that appealed to me were leather and looked like they could last long. The ones with the logo look like they are made of a synthetic material? I often see women and girls in my town carrying these logo-emblazoned bags and I think it’s odd. Not because I think the bags are ugly, some look good but everyone seems to have the same one!! I feel it’s like saying to the world, “I will follow the herd, I won’t dare to try something different”.
Over here there are no coachstores, so there’s none of the bagage (<- pun for the win) involved with the logo. It just doesn't mean anything. So the first time I saw those logo-emblazed bags, I thought they looked pretty cute; they have a nice graphic touch and the finishing is great. Would I be willing to pay upward of $500,- for it? probably not.
I didn’t carry fakes, but I did go through a phase where I was slightly obsessed with Kate Spade and stalked all sale items and discounted items at local stores. I had quite a little collection of purses and shoes and now? I actually don’t like carrying them and only wear two of the pairs of shoes…
My MIL also gifted me two coach bags over two separate Christmases. Lucky, huh? But those, I also no longer want to carry.
I’m not sure what changed exactly, whether it was my desire to be myself and no longer be someone else externally or what.
I plan on saving the items for my (now 3 year old) daughter to use one day as awesome vintage.
But for now? I carry a great no-specific-brand-safari-inspired bag and wear clarks and tsubo for comfort and style. And they do not have any logos.
I hate logos and I hate fakes.
I feel the exact same way as you regarding the branding thing. I too removed the hang-tag from my Coach Leatherware bag.
There are brands that I love that make clothing and accessories that I love. Some of those brands are pricey, some of them aren’t. None of them are ultra-high-end designers. I’m okay with that.
I don’t mind if other people do enjoy the high fashion brands. I don’t think they’re necessarily superficial, vain, or the possessor of any specific bad quality. They just happen to like what they like. But, I do think anybody covered in logos just looks tacky. Maybe they suffer from low self-esteem as well. Nothing really screams “look at me” like somebody obviously dripping in Chanel or “Chanel”.
The branding and logos bothers me to the point where my kid doesn’t wear the stuff even. She’s not a walking billboard for Disney Princesses or whatever. Her clothes typically come from the same place mine do and they’re all just clothing.
I want to be comfortable and look nice. I don’t want to look like I have tons of money by dressing designer. Nor do I want to look like I want to look like I have tons money by dressing in fake designer, kwim?
I’m with Sal on this one, I’ve never felt the pressure to wear designer. My group of friends are from the opposite spectrum, we congratulate each other on cute pieces that we found on sale, at a thrift shop, etc.
Yep. If those companies want me to walk around advertising their name, they can jolly well send me a residual check for every time I carry/wear something with their logo emblazoned across it. It is nearly impossible to find modest, well-fitting clothing in my size without labels or printing on the outside of the garments in retail. So I sew most of my clothes.
So, what’s the ethical thing to do if you have (mistakenly) acquired counterfeit designer goods? I picked up two counterfeit Kate Spade bags at a Salvation Army (in a part of town where it wouldn’t have shocked me to see real ones at the SA) in the hope that they would be real and I could sell them on eBay, and they’re super cute, but now I don’t know what to do with them – I mean, obviously I can’t sell them, but can I even carry them?
(Well, one has a label that will come off easily, but the other’s leather with a metal tag riveted in, and honestly, even if I get the tags off, is it still OK to use them?)
I’m not Sal, but I say yes. It’s like, I’m vegetarian. I do it to save animals’ lives and because it’s healthier for our planet (google vegetarian’s global footprint vs meateaters). I’d never order a steak at a restaurant. But I do wear leather shoes sometimes. I figure the cow is already dead, right? They kill it for the meat that other people eat. So I’m not contributing to it’s death by using the product.
If you really feel guilty, donate money to an organization that helps children or women in the amount of the bags. That way you have some good karma with the possible badness of the counterfeit.
I don’t mind labels, but I want brands that will last and have stood the test of time. I have a rather soft spot for Chanel, and actually came across a beautiful genuine Chanel bag in a thrift store for $25 (you bet I snapped that baby up). I’ve owned both Coach and Gucci bags, but I bought those at a Buffalo Exchange for around the same price. Labels are nice…but the prices? Not so much. I don’t need them to add credibility to my wardrobe.
I had a very close friend who 2 or 3 times a year would throw a “purse party” at her home where various knockoffs would be displayed for purchase — she got a commission for hosting the party. I bought a couple bags at such events, and I actually still use them, they are very nice and what I would have bought anyway, but I have the say that the pressure (indirect, but strong) to buy these things because my friend was hosting really made me mad. In fact, our years-long friendship ended shortly after I told her I wasn’t interested in her upcoming “shoe party”. Even though these invitations always said, “don’t feel you have to buy anything”, how can you NOT buy something in these situations knowing that your friend gets a commission??? I was really furious for having been put in this position, even though the merchandise itself was lovely and well-priced. It seemed like an abuse of our friendship. Then again, I’m the only one in our circle who felt that way, so maybe it’s just me.
I no longer attend “parties” like that, for the reasons you stated. I also don’t pass on chain mail or chain e-mails, or chain Facebook status postings. Has it cost me some friendships? No, but I’ve weeded some annoying I’m-barely-acquainted-with-you persons out of my busy life.
I have one Coach purse bought last year, I’m 41 but just because I liked the style and it was on sale, no obvious label or CC’s on it.
I can’t afford big designers and I guess I am kind of a hick, I don’t know many of the labels anyway. I like good quality things, don’t care who makes it but of course I have a few cheap things in my closet that is only stylish this year.
I hate big logos or obvious ones on people, it makes them look tacky, no matter how much it cost. There is group of women on my commuter train, they all have Guess or Coach bags, logos on their glasses, dress the same, I look at them and secretly giggle. They think they are the height of fashion when, really, they have no imagination or style, someone is stylish or creative when she can wear things that no one else is and look good.
The vast majority of my wardrobe is thrifted. Some of the stuff is designer but almost everything is purchased based on quality and relevance to my style, so the label becomes irrelevant.
I do have a couple “label” handbags, including a very hilarious LV that was handed down from a friend who just found it too ridiculous to carry–it’s from an old limited edition collection, made of transparent vinyl with a clunky faux-tortoise chain strap. It’s so patently absurd that I love it, and carry it all the time in the summer, most often to the beach. I am not sure I could carry it if it seemed to take itself at all seriously, or if its appearance implied that I took myself that seriously.
Beyond the designer question— I think it’s pretty hilarious (okay, completely obnoxious) that her aunts felt compelled to buy her a designer bag because “You’re an adult now so you should be carrying some label stuff.” So THEY pronounced her an adult and then proceeded to step in and make a very personal choice for her! They did not want input about what Rosel would like or appreciate, it was really all about them. I would have done as Rosel did— seeing no way out, accept the gift that’s being foisted upon you and then ditch it later. As an ADULT you have the luxury to make that choice. That was not a thoughtful gift. Labels do not make the adult!
I think I’m in the same boat as you Sal… I’ve never felt pressured to wear logos (well, yeah, since middle school)… I don’t like them. I don’t want to feel like an ad. I can spot counterfeit bags like crazy (oh hi waxy pleather and terrible stitching, you aren’t fooling ANYONE) and would waaaaay rather carry a bag whose shape/design I liked than be the girl with the fake Louis V… I might carry a classic Chanel bag with the the interlocking C logos, but only because they are so classic and only if it was real… otherwise, I’ll stick to smaller labels and thrifted things. As for the “inspired by” stuff? Don’t even get me started. Jeffery Campbell and F21 and their blatant knock-off make me so angry, both as a consumer and as a (albeit very tiny) designer. Gross.
Its funny but I have found that when I feel pressure to buy a designer purse, watch or whatever, usally becasue I have friends that have these things, I go look at the items in the store and just can’t “do it”…that is spend that kind of money on them. I just don’t LOVE them. Years ago a fairly good friend had an expensive watch (she was into all designer stuff). I looked at the watches and really just didnt get it, I didn’t love any of the styles and they were quite expensive. I am much happier with my Chicos $50 watches, I can buy many different styles and have fun with them. I am not knocking folks that really enjoy spending their money that way, its just not me. Same with Coach or Dooney and Burke. It the bag doesnt hold all my stuff and meet my criteria for commuting I dont care who the designer is. I have an outlet mall near my house and the women wait in line to get itno the Coach store. I much prefer a nice leather bag than one with C’s all over it. Thats my two cents!
This isn’t quite what you’re talking about, but a friend of mine brought me back a Prada bag from her trip. I hadn’t asked for one, and it wasn’t a color or style I liked, but I appreciated her generosity. But some time later when a wardrobe consultant was inventorying my closet, she insisted that it was a knockoff. “But my friend bought it in Rome!” She didn’t care.
I admit to being conflicted. I didn’t know whether I should still be thankful for my friend’s gift, or feel somehow…hoodwinked?…by her? Friend was extremely savvy about fashion, and surely knew what she was buying, and the kicker is that it seems she was passing on the bag as designer rather than, “This isn’t an honest-to-god Prada, but it’s cute and I was thinking of you!”
I could never really enjoy the bag, and it wasn’t my taste anyway, so ultimately I gave it away. This incident wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it was a strike against a woman with whom I already had an up-and-down friendship (and not because of that, but we’re no longer friends). I felt patronized.
So awkward, Nancy! I would have felt the same way.
Sally – you look great in gray! I have a funny logo story – I can’t see without glasses, so when I purchase a new pair, I look for a shape I know works and ask the sales associate to give me honest feedback. Last year I found a great looking pair of sunglasses, they fit perfectly and I love them. I didn’t know until I had worn them for about six months they have a big Celine Dion logo on both sides. I briefly considered magic marker…
Lol, been there. You might ask your eye doctor for a trial pair of contacts the next time you’re there. (Unless, like me, your prescription is so strong they special order your contacts instead of have them in stock.) Then use them only when you’re going to try on glasses.
Every time my family goes back to the motherland, they usually stop by the gigantic malls in the big city, which are littered – and I mean littered by the dump truck full – of fakes. My mom bought me a fake LV purse once…I liked it, but I could tell it was fake. The leather was rigid, the zippers cut me a few times when I opened a side pocket…I threw it in my closet and didn’t take it with me when I moved out. My sister bought a fake pair of Converse low-tops…in 3 months of every day usage they had all frayed and worn down.
In my family (in my culture, really), if you wear designer clothes, they think people will think you have money. When rhinestone-encrusted “bebe” logos on baby doll t-shirts used to be famous, I saw a lot of people wearing them, and yes I totally felt pressured. “Don’t look poor, wear this. People like this.” Ugh, but I don’t! 😛
But even as a high-school student, I knew the stories behind these designers and how they treated their workforce, what kinds of people wore those kinds of clothes. Yes, I admit, I probably stereotyped a little as a young child, but I refused to support those companies by becoming a walking advertisement.
I couldn’t care less about designer labels. Actually, when I think about it that’s not quite true. I dislike them more than I like them, so I’m not quite balanced out on the “whatever” scale. I honestly prefer clothing from Target or H&M or even GoodWill. Designer clothes are top mainstream for me, I’d rather be a little on the weird, different, totally unique side. 🙂
Maybe I’m hanging with the wrong crowd. I’ve never felt any pressure to wear designer anything. The only ‘name’ things I own are Fluevogs and that’s because I love how they look and they’re comfortable and better for my feet than any other shoes I’ve worn. (Seriously. My knee pain? Gone.) I just don’t see the point of name for name’s sake. If you like something, wear it. If you don’t, don’t. What does it matter if it’s from a thrift store or a designer?
this is a topic dear to my heart; I have a bit of an obsession about fakes.
sally, as you know I own a high-end resale shop that doesn’t scream logos.
Expensive clothing, usually, is made better, fits better and lasts longer. Those five H&M tops that lasted a season could have been one great solidly constructed piece that will last years. High-end isn’t only major known labels covered in logos. Look at pieces such as Ivan Grundahl, Gryphon, Isabel Marant. These pieces have style and no logos.
Plus, some people just like expensive brands and if they can afford them, well it’s their money, right? Jacyln has a good point: “I don’t mind if other people do enjoy the high fashion brands. I don’t think they’re necessarily superficial, vain, or the possessor of any specific bad quality. They just happen to like what they like.”
Selling fakes is illegal and does indeed fund illegal activity. The argument I hear in defense of buying fakes is that if the company didn’t charge so much, people wouldn’t have to buy fakes. For me here’s where the logo issue comes in – you just want the logo. There are plenty of well-made leather bags at affordable price-points [Kooba for one]; you don’t have to buy a $1,500 bag nor do you have to buy a $45 fake. Copying a designer’s item is like stealing a co-worker’s idea and passing it off as your own.
Scouring resale shops for vintage designer pieces can sometimes yield a lucky find. If you’re looking for a specific piece, educate yourself on the brand, the font, the construction, serial numbers and mostly, if that company ever even made such a piece.
As for peer-pressure, if someone judges you on what you wear, carry, buy, I’d guess there’s more going on in that relationship than a $1,500 bag in the first place!
Great topic!!
I’m so glad you stopped by to weigh in Daune!
Daune, do you own June? If so, I love your store – especially your shoe selection!
I will sneakily say, yes, that’s our Daune! (In case she doesn’t swing by the comments again.) Isn’t June AMAZING?
I love June too! Got some great low-priced DESIGNER things a few months ago.
More size 11 footwear?
thanks all! appreciate it it tons! no 11s right now but i search them out so check in!
Great input! You bring up high-end quality pieces from labels I haven’t heard about, and this leads to a question I’ve had for a while (Sal, maybe you can comment too?). I’ve recently adjusted my clothing purchase philosophy, and am moving towards a small well-edited quality wardrobe. This means I wear the same items very frequently, and I get frustrated by my typically low-end purchases falling apart or looking ragged after the first few washes or wears. I’d ideally save up money and purchase high-end stylish quality pieces, but am overwhelmed and not sure how to find info about them – I just used to walk into Target or H&M (or JCrew and Anthro sale) and picked what I liked. I am put off by major designer brand prominent logos and don’t want to wear or carry anything like that, but like you point out, there are lots of high-end labels there that are just not necessarily household names. Should I read specific magazines? Make it a habit of occasionally popping into a high-end department store to look around? (If the latter, I need to somehow get over my fear of looking way too cheap and poor for the store to even enter) How do I educate myself? I don’t want to just pop into Nordstrom and buy the first super expensive sweater I find – I feel like I should do a lot more research before these high-end purchases than I’m used to, but I am not sure where to start.
Mar, if it helps, I found that picking up stuff in thrift shops or at consignment shops was a great way to try out new brands. This way, I found, for example, I like Jaeger for cut and quality (but only buy it at outlets as it is still too expensive for me), Hobbs (and then when. Went in the full price shops I found a spin off label, NW3 that is even better, and Camper for shoes (after I found some in a thrift shop). To me, if these clothes are still looking really good in a thrift shop, and I got tons of wear from them, it meant I would then know my money would be well spent on quality items (I still also thrift a lot, of course).
That’s a great tip,thank you!
I could echo just about every point you’ve brought up here! I’d like to buy quality clothing but I just don’t know where to start.
I’m glad I am not the only one. 🙂
no one should feel intimidated walking into any store! you’re a potential customer and there’s no indication whether you have millions or hundreds! pop into those stores and look at what strikes you, feel it, try it on; really. you may not buy then, or for awhile, but you might someday.
reading blogs is a the best way to find out about different labels. it’s like anything you want to learn – immerse yourself. it does take a little bit of time. ask when you’re in a store if you see something interesting but don’t know anything about it. they should know about the labels they’re selling. or ask them for suggestions.
some good blogs – besides sally’s which hits on many great, affordable, well-made labels everyday – are http://www.manrepeller.com, http://www.atlantishome.com, thecoveteur.com.
excellent suggestion about trying out brands in thrift, etc shops. it’s a great way to become familiar with a brand without putting out a lot and then you can focus on searching out those pieces. if you feel more comfortable starting in resale shops ask the person working – tell us you’re unsure about where to start. you will find we’ll give you more info than you probably need! and, don’t feel obligated to buy anything anywhere until you know what you want.
also, i’ve been known to embarrass my daughter many times by stopping people on the street and asking them what they’re wearing because i just liked what they had on.
thanks sally!
Thank you for a great reply, and all the tips/links! this is very helpful!
I own a few LV bags that are vintage pieces from the 70s given to me by my aunt and mother, who both apparently were crazed for them at the time. Every time I wear one I feel like such a fake rich bitch, almost like it’s a costume, which is sometimes amusing.
In Boston where I went to college a lot of students came from upper middle class families where a $200-400 bag was a common birthday or Christmas gift. My roommate at one point had about 7 Dooney and Bourke bags which all sat on a shelf like porcelain figurines or something. Girls like her would wear their fancy bags to class with sweat suits tucked into dilapidated Ugg boots, unbrushed hair and no makeup. I always thought it was ridiculous because they were basically advertising their parents’ status and money instead of their own. Also having a fancy bag does not negate looking like a slob. These experiences have pretty much colored my view of “status bags” and how they function in society.
I like this:
Also having a fancy bag does not negate looking like a slob.
College is a time of discovery. I’ll just say that those girls you describe are yet to discover their own personal style. They are also yet to realise that just because something is expensive does not mean that when you wear or carry it you will look good!
I like bags and I occasionally flip through magazines look at websites admiring various creations. But over time I have learned that it’s not the price tag that matters, you just have to identify the looks/designs you like and buy them at your price point. I also think that if you can afford it going for more durable materials like leather and looking at construction e.g. stitching works. This is better than blindly chasing down a label
I think these matters can be complex. I do not like items with logos all over (coach, LV)–but at the same time I like other designers and do take pride when I am able to get the watered down (think Macy’s) versions of their items on sale.
For instance I really love Ralph Lauren and I like the signature jackets and shirts with the leather details and details which obviously shout Lauren– but I guess it’s more just the equestrian feel that I like.
I do know that after I read about Steve Madden actually stealing photos from Louboutin and having them on his site as a picture of his item that I will not buy or even try on anything by Steve Madden or any of their subsidiaries. But at the same time I buy things from Boutique 9 that may be somewhat stolen designs but I don’t know it–nor do I hear as much controversy around brands like that (as you do Madden and Campbell)…
I’ve been lusting after a pair of the Campbell Ad Longs (the platform brogue Prada knock off’s) but I think I would rather get a more obviously inspired (as in not as copied) piece from ASOS rather than support his empire of stealing…it’s a fine line I guess…
I agree with you on all points. I think people wear recognizable designer brands in lieu of spending time and effort on putting together a look, heck, I’ve even done this. It’s just easy to pick up a designer handbag with some jeans and a t-shirt and feel presentable, so we all do it. At the same time I don’t begrudge people for doing this, a lot of people use clothing to belong to a certain group and to identify themselves, not everyone wants to look “unique” all the time, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Also, personally, I’d be so embarrassed to carry a fake LV but again, it’s hard to judge people who do. I have no problem with designer-inspired goods, I mean, come on, no one is going to mistake my F21 leopard ankle boots for Louboutins. And the Louboutin customer is so far removed from the F21 customer, it’s just not even an issue. Anyways I could write a book on this topic so I’ll just leave it there, great topic 🙂
I have never been pressured to buy designer goods, though I have had a little bit of pressure to carry them- my mother-in-law bought me a Coach bag with the C all over it, and I did carry it for a while, but I mostly did it to make her happy. I just don’t like the look of a logo repeated all over.
My boyfriend in highschool was big on name brands, and I think to some extent that turned me off to the whole idea. He worked at McDonalds after classes, and he would use most of his money to buy super expensive shirts and jeans with logos- it just seemed like a waste of his time and money to me.
As for the other questions, I do have a problem with knockoffs, but I don’t have any issues with “inspired by” pieces. Sometimes the small difference is what makes a piece good!
I have at times felt pressured to buy designer goods that did not interest me purely for the supposed cachet of the label, and I have also been pressured to buy knockoffs when a relative took me to Mexico to buy fake Chanel and Vuitton handbags. I thought it was strange at the time because this is a relative who otherwise buys top of the line — Neiman’s and such and wears jewelry that is real and costs more than most people make in a year. Maybe she justifies the jewelry to herself by scrimping on the bags, I don’t know.
I don’t give in to that anymore. I like high end stuff, it often fits me better and it is definitely better made. The things I have had that have stood the test of time the best are the ones with the best provenance. Sometimes they are identifiable by the style, but not always, and never by a visible label. I don’t like big labels on things screaming out a designer name. I think true luxury is much more discrete. Even when I could only afford less expensive things, I felt, and still do, that it was more honest, and in fact said more for one’s character, to buy the best one could afford and carry it with pride rather than a fake that was obviously out of one’s price range.
Oh, and that trip to Mexico. I bought a bag. It never left my closet once I got home and I eventually threw it away. I couldn’t even take it to Goodwill so deep was my shame. I’ll never let myself be pressured into something like that again.
I have never felt any pressure to own designer items. I don’t like a lot of them because I just plain think they’re ugly (I cannot for the life of me get down with the LV). Plus, I find they’re too expensive for me, and not always well-made enough to justify part of the cost. How well something is made and how long it will last is really important to me, and if it doesn’t pass the test, it doesn’t come home with me. This is also how I approach aesthetics: if I like how it looks, I will think about buying it, but if I don’t, forget it. I find I tend to favor indie designers for my more expensive items, because I genuinely like the style and because the cost comes from having part or all of the garment hand-sewn, and from having at least the labor done here in the States. That’s worth it to me in ways that a logo simply isn’t.
All that said, I know quite a few people who are into brands. I’m never really sure if they like the things they have, or if they just have them because they want people to see them a certain way. This seems to me a terrible way to interact with your clothes and accessories, and like it comes at the expense of truly expressing yourself (To be clear: I’m not saying people who like brands are not creative, I’m saying that people who buy brands on auto-pilot are probably shortchanging themselves). My mother is always trying to push me toward designer brands because STATUS and IT WAS ON TV and EXPENSIVE IS THE SAME AS BETTER and I keep resisting because that’s really not what I’m about. I notice that she buys things all the time and doesn’t seem to really enjoy them, while I buy less but really savor the pieces I get. That’s just us, I can’t speak for anyone else, but it’s the foundation of why I don’t think branding alone is enough– I’ve seen it fail to be satisfying too many times.
This is probably why I don’t have a real problem with “inspired by” pieces. They let people try trends casually, and they let people who really like a style have it on a budget. I love anything that makes fashion more accessible. Knockoffs I don’t love, for a variety of reasons, but “inspired by” is okay by me.
The only lux branded item I ever wanted was a pair of red-soled Louboutin shoes. I managed to snag a pair on ebay, that are legit. And while I love them and know they’ll last more seasons than my walmart flats – they’re still just shoes. I actually like my fluevogs better. I’d still love to own a piece by McQueen or Vivienne Westwood, but I know it’s unlikely unless I got a ridiculous (and likely fake) deal on ebay. So I’m sticking with my thrifting, because it has turned up designer goods for ridiculously good deals. It’s not stuff I would have bought just for the tag, it’s stuff I picked up because they were cute and just happened to turn out to be designer brand.
I don’t like logo’d items whether it’s Prada or Coach or LV. I considered an All Saints branded tee, but no matter how ~fancy~, colorful or decorative, it was still a logo tee.
As for knock-offs, I don’t mind inspired by or outfits put together by inspiration – but I don’t condone wearing something that is labeled as a brand that it isn’t legitimately made. Save that money that you’d spend on the knock-offs, and maybe you can buy and support actual designers if you feel that’s what you want to do.
My initial thought about this subject was, “No, I’m not into labels.” Sadly, it just isn’t true. I’ve been aware of clothing brands and their social importance since I was ten. That is when my family moved to the “O.C.” and I was ostracized for not wearing dittos (can anyone remember those?) I have been aware of the popular labels and clothing brands ever since. Until the last five years or so, I’d never really paid them much attention. Since then my youngest boy hit grade school full time and I had a little more time and money to invest in what I wear. One of my shopping strategies is to look for the more expensive/ investment pieces in my wardrobe at consignment shops. That is where I learned that many designer/premium label brands have earned their reputations in terms of quality and tailoring. I will admit that the lure of a label (on the inside) got me once or twice, but I think it had more to to with the perceived bargain that the actual label.
My goal clothing wise is took look hip, but appropriate; current, but timeless; and not to see myself coming and going. It is hard to achieve that if you are too much of a label slave.
I will say, in my neighborhood, and I’m guessing more than a few of your reader’s, there is a reverse snobism concerning premium labels and brands. I have heard on many occasions comments such as, “Who does she think she is wearing X jeans.” “I can’t believe she paid X to have those.” and the popular, “I would never pay that much for a purse, she should be spending that on her family.” These comments make me angry. While I don’t personally ascribe to covering myself in specific brands and labels, I think everyone has the right to dress how they choose.
Ugh, Anne, that reverse psych on branded goods is insidious stuff. So judgmental and assumptive. How do you react when you hear your neighbors saying such things?
My classic reply for all things judgmental is, “Well, everyone has their thing (indulgence/idiosyncrasies) …this is hers.” I also repeat one of your lines: “you deserve good things.”
I get several people a year asking me how much I spend on clothing. My standard answer is, “Less than you think, but more than I probably should.”
Coach bags are VERY popular here in my Houston suburb, and I play a little game when I am so unfortunate as to find myself grocery shopping on crowded Saturday afternoons: I call it “Count the Coaches.” I mentally add up the number of Coach bags I see while traipsing through the store; my record is 32.
For my 40th birthday this year my mom gave me the money for a Michael Kors bag. It’s the first designer bag I’ve ever owned, and I bought it not for the label but because I wanted a nice, quality leather purse and the shape of this one appealed to me. The rest of my bags are $30-or-less cheapies from Target or Charming Charlie’s and I used to carry a different purse 2 or 3 times a week, but I love my new bag so much I’ve carried it almost every day since January.
I couldn’t agree more! I would not feel comfortable carrying something that was an obvious knockoff. While I get ecstatic at finding something branded at a thrift store in perfect condition, I’m not a sucker for them in the first place. I think it’s the allure for finding something that was once so expensive and also well made for just a few dollars.
I have lived in places where I felt pressure to have the ‘it’ bag or shoes or jeans. The pressure is real, especially for people like me that don’t like to challenge the status quo. I did end up buying a coach bag (on clearance at the outlet), but it was leather and very well made and I still love it.
When I moved to a place where labels are not important, no one even knew what a Coach bag was, much less why I would spend money on it. I stopped carrying the bag every day, and it made me realize that I did like it, but I had bought it to fit in.
While I still think it is crazy, I totally understand that the pressure can be there to have all the right things. I’m not sure what I would do if I moved back, but I hope that I would have the fortitude to resist the label craze and only buy what I love.
I wouldn’t recognize a label if it bit me. A friend once brought me a rather ugly scarf from Paris with a signature on it, saying she had to choose between a prettier one and one with a signature, so she picked the signature. I have yet to understand her reasoning. If I like it, if it’s good quality, I’ll buy it; generally, I don’t like the feeling that I am advertising the brand (and cost) of the item I am wearing, so I don’t do that. Some of us just plain don’t care – a purse is a purse is a purse, and it’s either attractive and well made or it isn’t.
The hard thing is that labels are so subjective! Growing up, I was very much a “march to your own drummer” kind of kid and teen, but part of that was because we never had much money. A few years ago, I stalked a Coach bag for months until it got down to a reasonable price, and I have been carrying it almost exclusively for two years. To me, it represents that I have come a long way and worked really hard to be able to own it, and it is almost like art work. Looking at it just makes me smile. But it’s pretty much the only designer, logo-ed thing I own.
You know, this is the totally valid point of view that I think everyone needs to understand. For many, men and women alike, a “label” says, “I have worked my way up; I earned this sucker.” Maybe a woman just lost 20 pounds and promised herself a pair of sevens/ or survived cancer, or a painful divorce? Is it really any different than men and their cars, and gadgets? I’m not a fan of putting yourself in the poor house to follow a fad, but you never really know what someone else’s motivation is.
I don’t generally love branded items because I don’t like advertising for the designer. However, one of my favorite purses (a gift) is a Fendi. It’s black on black, so the signature “F”s all over the bag just look like a design. I’ve had it for 4 years, and it’s AWESOME. It’s been extremely durable, holds a TON of crap…I love it. If it were brighter, with contrasting “F”s, I probably wouldn’t. My other favorite purse is a Coach (also a gift) and it’s very, very plain. No frills at all. I’ve had it for maybe 12 years and it too is very durable and is classic enough that I don’t feel it’s out of style.
I don’t think I’d be comfortable displaying knock-off stuff. I’d rather have the real thing with no real outward sign that it is-what-it-is other than it looks great. Does that make sense?
This is how I feel about fakes: http://www.harpersbazaar.com/magazine/feature-articles/the-fight-against-fakes-0109_
(And for the record, I’m not really into logos as a rule).
Thanks for sharing that link, Sara. I, like many of the people described in the opening grafs, had no idea about the depth and horror of the labor practices behind many fakes.
At this point in my life I don’t have much choice in the provenance of my clothes. I have to buy cheap, so I end up with a lot of things that are made with sweatshop labor or are thrifted. Don’t let the steep price tags on designer items fool you – many of them are made by underpaid and mistreated labor as well.
To be honest, if I were able to spend that kind of money on clothing and bags I’d rather give the money to a local/regional craftsperson. That way I know the person who made the item is actually getting to keep the money. I like a well-made item that will stand the test of time just as well as the next person, but I can’t justify the steep prices for designer labels when the clothes are made in similar conditions to the crap Walmart sells.
I haven’t felt pressure to wear “labels” since grade school and I refuse to conform to that sort of ridiculous behavior now.
I’ve never been crazy about visible labels..I feel like huge labels and logos are superficial and they scream “Hey, look at me” to the average passerby. However, I will never pass up a nice ‘inspired’ pair of Nine West or Steve Maddens.
http://thriftyandshameless.blogspot.com
To begin with, am I the only woman on earth who thinks the Louis Vuitton logo pattern is ugly as all hell? I mean, I don’t like most shades of brown and gold, but the two shades on that bag are just atrocious. Mud and urine, is what it looks like. Gah.
As for logos, hate them. I will allow one discreet logo on a leather bag, but some logos are just too in-your-face even when they appear only once (this has kept me from buying anything from Tory Burch, for example). And repeated logos? Or logos on clothing? No.
That much said, why would you carry fake anything? Carrying a fake designer bag doesn’t seem to conform to any sane message to the world. If you have money and you want to show it off, buy the real thing and bling away. If you have money and you don’t want to show it off but you really love nice handbags, buy designer stuff that’s not festooned with logos (this is why I am addicted to Kate Spade and Michael Kors bags). If you think designer bags are silly and a waste of money, buy something else. If you’re artsy, make your own bag. Buying a fake designer bag is saying, “I really don’t have the thing I want the world to think I have,” which for me is right up there with wearing falsies. At some point, don’t you have to come clean? 🙂
As a thrifter, i really enjoy getting high end things for nothing (Cole Haan men’s driving mocs for $1?) But last week, was sucked into the calm and quiet of NeimanMarcus and tried on a pair of glossy rubber knee-high quilted wellies that looked like Chanel. And paid full price. But was tickled to death to see a photo in Vogue of Kate Moss wearing the same brand (Hunter) tromping in the mud with Hamish Bowles before her wedding. The tiny tag at the top of the boot was the giveaway.
I’ll admit to being a shoe snob…but my tastes run more toward Frye boots than Prada. I refuse to wear overt logos and pay exorbitant to do so Want me to advertise for you? Price your apparel appropriately and make it attractive and versatile. End of story.
As far as knock offs go, I wouldn’t advertise the real thing, why would I bother with an equally obnoxious fake?
“Furthermore, I feel that some people allow branded designer items to stand in for taste and personal preference: If it’s expensive and recognizable enough, you don’t have to love it and it doesn’t have to be pretty. It’s impressive, and that is sufficient.” So true.
I’m going through a quandry right now over a Marc Jacobs bag in a store that I love love love. It’s $375, and I’ve never spent that much on a bag. but it’s so pretty! But…it also has the gold plate thing that says “Marc Jacobs”, which I don’t like, because yeah it’s advertizing for someone else. I’m also worried that someone might want to steal my handbag if it’s too fancy, and while that would be bad, I’d just really hate to lose my wallet with my id/credit cards etc. But the biggest reason I haven’t purchased it is a moral one. I’m a Christian and I just wonder how I can justify spending that much on a bag??! The less I spend, the more I’m tangibly able to give to worthy causes like persecuted people in Burma. People who are seriously starving! Thinking about carrying an expensive handbag makes me feel like a hypocrite. Especially carrying it around younger girls who may get the idea that wearing brands makes a person worthy. Yet, I want good quality for sure. Maybe it’ll just be Nine West quality instead of Marc Jacobs quality…??? It’s a struggle, for sure. One of these “First World” issues.
It’s a good point, and an issue I haven’t yet been able to fully resolve in my own head.
That being said, if you are going to purchase a bag in the near future, better to get the pricier one that you’re completely in love with. My personal experience has been that I sometimes have buyers remorse with reasonably priced items I purchase, but have never regretted the few big ticket items I’ve purchased and I still absolutely love them years later. If you buy fewer, nicer things that will last a long time that helps.
You can also often get discounts. For example, I don’t know if Bloomingdales has your particular Marc Jacobs bag, but they have a friends and family event coming up at the end of next week where they offer 20% off (I got something with the promo code in the mail, but you can usually find those on retailmenot.com once the promotion starts). They also sometimes let you stack codes, so you can get another 10% off for signing up for their e-mail list. If the bag were $262.50 instead of $375 that might make a difference right? 🙂
I love this conversation. I have the bag you pictured. It is a fake and I bought it full well knowing it was a fake. It is also a really really good fake. I have 4 children so to buy it real may happen one day but right now these kids want to go to college.
I worked for 7 years for MFields and Daytons so I dealt with people who were gifted fake items and then were crushed when I said to them this is a fake I am sorry I cannot offer you anything for it. That to me is the worst kind of fakery.
Anyone who says to me “I love your Louis.”, I say right back “So do I and it’s a Louisa, I only paid $100 for it.” I love the reactions. But the people who wear the fake and then act like it’s real? Those are the people I worry about.
The only brand stuff I care about is the following – and only for practical considerations..
– Clarks and Merrells fit my feet like a dream.
– Banana Republic Outlet pants fit me right off the rack
– Brooks Brothers No-Iron shirts make my life so much simpler
Other than that – I couldn’t care less about brands. My mother wears a number of brands but rarely anything with a visible logo.
I do note the brands that tend to make clothes of good quality. This is pretty obvious while thrifting. I’ll pick up a dress and feel that it’s well constructed and look at the tab and inevitably it’ll be Rafaella or Jones of New York or Ann Taylor. But do I care if others know it’s brand name? Not at all. I actually brag about my thrift store bargains. “Oh, you like this dress? I got it for $3.”
The most brand-conscious place I’ve ever been is Beijing. Holy cow. Capitalism is taking off there like a rocket and they are super eager to show off their new wealth with every branded luxury item they could find. The office manager at my husband’s office had an SUV done up inside completely in Louis Vuitton (or something like that) interiors. It was actually pretty hilarious. I had to stifle the urge to laugh out loud.
Agree with you on brands like Clarks, something that fits you well and is comfortable is worth it.
I am cheap to the core, so I have very few recognizable “labels” in my wardrobe. The ones I do have are mostly bought secondhand. My mother taught me quantity over quality, and unless I need comfy shoes, I stick to that. I don’t mind a zipper or a little metal detail on a handbag with the label, but not the whole thing covered in labels. Ewwww. I’d be curious to know how you feel about wearing recognizable items without huge labels . . . for example how red soles are synonomous with Louboutin, patriotic colors with Tommy Hilfiger, the quilted handbags with Vera Bradley. I have no problem with these, but I feel the product is so recognizable people can tell what the label is anyway. (And as I’m starting a small business, I recognize the genius in this branding of your product.)
I highly recommend the book ‘Deluxe: How Luxury lost its Luster’. It talks about fakes, the horrid labor practices (a bag can be 95% made in China & if they attach the straps in Italy they can say its made in Italy) & other issues. For these reasons I’d never buy a fake that’s made to look like the real thing. I might buy an ‘inspired by’ piece but not one that is suppose to look real.
There are some times the designer brand is better because its higher quality or its available in unique sizes. My DS14 wears Diesel, Lucky & Seven brand jeans. Not because he wants these high-end brands but because he’s very skinny & tall and most stores don’t carry his size, even online. Luckily I can find them used on eBay for $20-$25 but if not, he might end up with 2 pairs of jeans because at $150-$200 a pop I’m not buying several pairs.
There are many ways we tell people what brands we wear/use, such as logos, our answers when people ask “where’d you get that?”, and writing about what we wear/use online. Anyone drive a car without a logo? Ever write a product review? I understand Sally and many commenters dislike (or hate) logos, and I regard their opinions the same way I regard my coworker Rachel’s hatred of mayonnaise, but I read about brand names on this blog … often. I use and enjoy authentic logo handbags, accessories, and/or jewelry every day. Most people I see day to day do not recognize the logos, and I never volunteer the info, but when they often say, “Love your bag/earrings/watch”, I reply, “Thanks!”
It’s true, brands are discussed frequently on this blog. As I state in this post, I am a brand-loyal shopper and believe in the superiority of certain tried-and-tested brands over others, which is why I wear, write about, and recommend them. And you’re absolutely right, we all associate ourselves with brand names intentionally and publicly on a daily basis. To me, though, there’s a difference between purchasing and loving a brand, and making that love more visible and public through marked/logo’ed goods. Personally, I’m comfortable with the former and not so much the latter.
There are many reasons to buy and wear recognizably designer items, as I’ve acknowledged here and as many other commenters have highlighted. And, as in all things, to each her own.
Thank you for bringing up an interesting and complex issue. I live in the land of “la pirata,” or bootleg everything, and it does not deeply bother me. Perhaps this is because I’ve done a bit of fashion journalism and have researched designers’ unethical business practices. Knockoff or not, the manufacturing and distribution sides of the fashion industry do not tend to have high moral standards.
I’ve got one for ya Sal…how about loving and responsibly purchasing designer items, but then feeling as if you’re being to “showy” when wearing/carrying them in certain crowds? I love the designer items I own, but there are certain cliques I won’t wear/carry them around for fear of those people seeing me as pretentious. Am I projecting? Do people even notice these things? And if they do notice, do they care?
I can definitely see that side, too. Even non-logoed designer items or dressy non-designer items can feel “showy” when you’re among certain groups. The feeling of being “too fancy” is a tough one to stomach and it can be hard to navigate those emotions and continue to dress exactly how you want.
If possible, I think it’s best to open a conversation about it with the folks in question. Not as a group, but on a one-on-one basis. See if you can carefully investigate their feelings, and explain your own motivations so that you know what’s really going on and aren’t just guessing. Maybe they don’t care and you ARE projecting. Maybe they care deeply, but will be more understanding if you open up a discussion. Of course, that’s the best case scenario and not always feasible. I’ll admit to de-fancifying myself at times to avoid this very conundrum.
It definitely depends on the people you’re with. Several of my close friends are neck-deep in designer stuff, even though most others in our circles can’t afford it. But they rarely if ever talk about it or even tell us about their shopping (they usually do luxury shopping with moms or sisters, and normal budget shopping with friends). It’s actually only made me respect them more for not being showy about it but still being able to appreciate luxury. I think they’ve struck a great balance, and I’m sure you do, too.
Thanks for linking to my post, Sal!
It’s odd how brand mentalities are ingrained in us. Like I stated in my post, I’m not big into brands, but there have been a few times where I’d find a designer label piece at a thrift store and have my heart skip a beat. I once even bought a DKNY dress I found for $6.99 at Value Village even though it’s totally not my style and I rarely wear it because I thought it was so cool that I scored it for so cheaply.
I found a silk Hermes scarf at Value Village a few months ago, gasped and immediately bought it even though it was kind of hideous. (Aren’t all Hermes scarves a little bit hideous? Is that part of the appeal?)
When I got it home I realized quickly that it was a knock-off – the Hermes logo was stamped on, rather than part of the integral print. But I didn’t care – it was still quite a nice, large silk twill scarf even for being a knock-off, and I’ve worn it several times. I don’t even go to great lengths to hide the logo – I’d happily share with anyone who asked that it was a fake. I kind of find it a little funny and whimsical that I own this slightly bizarre piece, and it takes on a bit of a costumey quality in the outfits I wear it with. (I’m personally A-OK with costumey much of the time.) I’d never have bought it at full price thinking I could fool anyone, but I guess nabbing it while thrifting assuaged any guilt I’d have normally felt.
Hi Sal,
I typically enjoy reading your blog but this time I’m a little disappointed…you see, I really like Louis Vuitton and I own a couple bags. In my eyes, L.V logo bags are not gaudy or ugly, I don’t carry them because they are “expensive and recognizable” and thus a “sufficient stand in for good taste”. I think they so pretty to look at, they are neutral and go with everything, the leather trim ages beautifully. While they are indeed $$$, unlike other brands (coach comes to mind), L.V. does not roll out new styles every 3 months that compell one to change handbags each season as to not be in “L.Y” (many many years ago I worked for a clothing company that shall remain nameless, we were not wear last years clothing on the sales floor…), thus you may carry your bag for many years and look as chic as Audrey Hepburn with her speedy bag (as opposed to having a seemingly endless collection of bags as many do these days). I think your comment about “cringing” when you see a L.V. logo bag is what got to me. Becase if you saw me on the street, I guess you would cringe.
As I stated in the post, I am well aware that LV bags have a long and venerable history and that some women adore them. Many more women than dislike them, I’d wager. A good friend of mine has told me many times that the logo print is hundreds of years old and considered by many stylish women to be an absolute classic. I get that, and again, have acknowledged that each consumer has her own, personal reasons for buying and/or carrying designer. It doesn’t change my personal dislike for the LV logo style/print, and my cringing has more to do with the fact that said print has been used in recent years to represent conspicuous consumerism in many contexts outside the bags themselves.
I lived in a small town in the 70’s and 80’s and the status bag to carry was an Aigner with the huge “A” on the front. The small town queens who carried the bags were definitely proud of them and I would guess the dynamics have not changed much. The older ladies who live in my mother-in-law’s condo complex love their Vera Bradleys. Personally I am a no-logo gal, which is why I prefer to shop vintage, consignment and thrift stores. Paying big bucks for a handbag with advertising all over it reminds me of the way car dealers plaster their name on your car. If a company wishes to advertise, pay for it! Sal, you really struck a nerve with this topic. I loved reading all the comments.
But Vera Bradley’s for older ladies are eminently practical. They’re so lightweight. When my granny was too frail to carry a leather purse she carried a Vera Bradley. I carry it now in her honor. Not really my style but I love my Granny!
Hadn’t thought of the weight issue, but you are right, although my MIL carries luggage at 82.
So … I’m not into high end brands, on the one hand because many of the very expensive things really don’t have to do anything with my taste, on the other hand because I will never, ever be able to afford them. But I have to admit that I love certain not-so-expensive brands because of the quality and style, expecially for bags, shoes and jeans. Handbags by Kipling, for example, are lightweight and so wellmade that they can be worn for years without looking shabby. Still I detest labels so much that I take off the sewn-on label.
In many of the stories I’ve read here, there’s seems to be one scene that is quite common: the older relative (mother, mother-in-law, aunt) trying to convince a younger woman to buy a (fake) piece of a certain brand in order to show her status. I cannot even imagine this, because my relatives couldn’t care less about clothes. But it seems to me that these women do not want their nieces, daughters etc. to look good or rich – they want themselves to look good or rich by having those daughters/nieces. The younger girls/women are a kind of status symbol themselves. It is a relief that the younger generation does not seem to get it, especially if we are talking fakes, not even the real thing.
I appreciate designer items, but don’t feel any pressure to own them or anything that looks like them. I do have a vintage Gucci clutch and a Coach tote (both logo-laden, both gifts), and I rarely use them (the size of the Coach tote comes in handy, but I’ve never used the Gucci clutch).
Maybe I’m lucky, but none of my friends really talk about owning or buying designer stuff, even though some of them do. It’s just not a topic of conversation. I do glance at things longingly, but most of the time it’s for their quality of construction and material…something that a knock-off could never offer. So I just don’t buy anything like it. I’m sure I have “designer-inspired” items, though, since I buy a lot of random-brand stuff from discount retailers.
If I ever really really REALLY wanted a designer item enough, I’d start stuffing my piggy banks for the real deal. But I’ve gone 28 years without spending a dime on a designer bag (or an intentional knockoff) and my life is just fine…I’ll just as likely live out the rest of it without buying designer (unless somehow I come into a lot of money…unlikely).
It’s interesting how this topic brings out such strong responses!
I have several Coach bags, and I like them. I got my first one when I was in my late 20’s…my ex-husband’s mother in law bought me a leather one, and it was definitely the most expensive bag I’d ever owned. It was a beautiful red color, and ten years later, it still looks fantastic (unfortunately, the size of bag I use has doubled, and it’s now a little too small). My ex-husband’s family was well off, but they still looked at the Coach bags as a treat. A few years ago, my mom started buying me a Coach bag about once a year. I think she feels proud to give me a pretty bag that she knows I’ll like, and I always think of her when I use them (we don’t live in the same part of the country). She does a lot of traveling throughout the year and is a big outlet shopper, so she finds a lot of good deals on the Coach bags. She tends to buy me unique ones in pretty colors (the fabric ones that some of the commenters have said are ugly), and they’re pretty timeless and have held up extremely well. There are a lot of other bags I’d love to own, but honestly, it feels excessive to go out and spend a bunch of money on a new bag when I already have so many.
I don’t carry them as a status symbol, but I like them. I like other non-designer or non-logo brands, too (I just love bags – all shapes and sizes!). In all honesty, I feel pressured NOT to use them, because of the way others view them, but I am going to keep doing it because I like them. Just like people shouldn’t feel pressured to carry designer bags, people shouldn’t feel pressured not to, either. Fakes, though – bad idea.
I was going to post along the same lines. I’m often gifted a Coach–sometimes with signature “logo” fabric and sometimes all leather–and I usually buy one once a year. What draws me to my Coach bags, and my other well made bags, is their durability. I’m not really worried about what people think of my bag and I’m not trying to project an image when I carry my Coach vs my Merona bag, but I know much of what we say is non verbal.
With that said, there are certainly people who enjoy purchasing $500 Coach bags and flashing them around, or much more expensive LV etc. To me, it’s just not worth the money. I’ve ebayed (thanks to PurseBlog forum) some all leather Coach legacy bags (which are fabulous quality, bargain priced, and a understated but elegant addition to outfits). Sally, I see you post with one and it seems to match almost anything.
I think BudgetBabe said it best when she noted that sometimes people want a fast, put together look and a designer bag looks good paired with jeans. It’s a staple albeit a boring one. I also see we’re you’re coming from, Sally. Purchasing a super expensive bag doesn’t make you fashionable. For instance, whenever I go to my local Coach outlet, I always see sloppily dress, sweatpant clad ladies. They’re usually buying a mountain of bags and all I can think is “save some money for clothing.” I suppose, though, in the end part of one’s self expression is making those choices.
Side note: When I started college, I took a couple trips to Canal Street in NY to purchase my “designer bags and/or “Tiffany” jewelry. I only bought a few pieces and regretted it soon after. The bag handles split, the jewelry broke. My fake LV made me feel really phony. It’s one of those things, I think, people often do when they’ve reached young adulthood and then the novelty wears off (I hope).
Sally, your post inspired such interesting feedback; I enjoyed reading and sharing. I love your style by the way because you pay attention to the little details that make your outfits unique.
Remember it this way if it is a fake like a Coach knock-off that has the signature “C” on it or a knock off with an LV on it it is illegal to sale! Now if it’s Coach inspired and has a “G” on it instead of a “C” no crime!
I worked at a Plato’s Closet and we were told that if we didn’t have the certificate of authenticity to go with it we would be breaking the law to sale it! The only “designer” purses we could sale were like Betsy Johnson or Juicy, the less expensive ones. Of course at that point we completely stopped getting “real” Coach, LV and Prada since people claimed they didn’t have or couldn’t get the certificate.
I think if you come across a well made fake designer piece (and there are many, many different variations) for 1/8 of the designer price AND you love it, I don’t think there’s anything wrong it. I own two celine box bags that are both fakes, fantastic quality for less than 1/8 of the original price and I adore them. For handbags especially, I am constantly shocked of how much people are willing to pay for them. As much as I love the look of the celine bags, there is NO WAY I would pay $3500 for one when I bought them both for $300 and my friend who owns the real deal cannot tell hers and mine apart.
I totally agree that no one should be pressured into Designer Goods nor should they buy these items when they do not really like them, just because they feel that it enhances their status.
In defense of Louis Vuitton, they were the first brand in the world to ever place their name on the outside of their merchandise in the 1800’s. This was done on the brown chequerboard canvas whereby they placed the name “Louis Vuitton” on a few of the squares very inconspicuously in the corner. This was done to try and thwart counterfeiters as the previous two canvases used, which were plain, were heavily copied from the start. This was used for a good few years by Vuitton for their merchandise and unfortunately did not stop the counterfeiters.
After Louis Vuitton’s death, his son once again tried to thwart the counterfeiters by devising a more elaborate design made up of flower shapes and quatrefoils etc. This was no random design but was carefully worked out in it’s placement. As a tribute to his late father who had founded the company, his son included the LV of his father’s initials interspersed into the design. He did not just place huge letters side by side to be readable but he used a modest sized lettering and interlaced them to form a shape meant to blend in with the rest of the monogram symbols. these other symbols are largely to be found in architecture dating from the 4th to the 19th centuries.
The Louis Vuitton name and LV symbol on their merchandise was not devised to be blatant advertising but was purely a preventative measure against counterfeiting. As things turned out, it is now instantly recognisable and ironically it is now the most counterfeited brand in the world.
One could point the finger at a much lesser designer that has nothing else but his initials plastered hugely all over every square inch of his canvas bags. Now that is blatant advertising.
The child in me fell in love with the Louis Vuitton muticolore monogram many years ago and it took me until I was 50 years of age to afford a purse and a bag when I was left some money.
I wear very cheap clothes and shoes etc. I am not pretentious and I am not rich. Most people seeing me with it, will assume immediately that it is fake because I am not famous and certainly do not exude wealth.
That suits me fine. I did not buy to impress nor to elevate my status. My conscience is clear that I did not support counterfeit activity and all that it represents.
That is the key. Know who you are and maintain your sense of self worth.
Buy something because you can afford it, and want it because you really like it.
It’s funny – I have exactly one purse, a black Coach bag, that I’ve been carrying for over 10 years (with a break for the years I almost never left the house without a diaper bag.) But the reason I bought it was that it was well-made, looked good, and did NOT have visible logos. I recently thought I should maybe expand my horizons a little, so I’ve been poking around department stores, and I cannot find a single bag that doesn’t have the brand name prominently displayed! It’s ridiculous. They’re not paying me to advertise their product, so no thanks.
An unrelated story: In middle school I really, really, really wanted Calvin Klein jeans – the usual stupid reasons, everyone else had them, I would finally fit in/be cool… My mom refused to buy me any such thing because she thought advertising was appalling. (This was around the time of the Brooke Shields nothing-between-me-and-my-Calvins campaign.) We were in Marshall’s, trying to find me clothes and lo and behold, a pair of CK jeans. They fit perfectly, unlike anything else I tried on and after much begging (and probably whining) my mom agreed to let me get them as long as we cut the tag off the back. Fine! I wore them to school the next day – everyone recognized the stitching pattern on the pockets, but where was the label? Tons of people had to ask, “Wait, are those Calvin Kleins??” It generated SO much more attention than if I had just worn the darn things with the label!