Designer, brand-name, and luxury merchandise for kids

[Whitelinen]

That's a very good point.

 

[fashion_boi_01]

My parents bought me a Prada messenger for my 16th birthday. They didn't get me a car, or offer to pay for insurance (two months of insurance costs more than the bag.) I plan on using this bag for a long time, so I see it as an investment.
Now they have pretty much cut me off, so anything I want to buy will be bought with savings from birthdays/holidays, and next semester I'm getting a job. I think it's a good thing because this way I'll be able to buy what I want, when I want without having to ask them.

I pity teens that have everything handed to them. They're set up for major disappointment in the future.

 

[Trista]

A lot of the kids in my area carry Coach and D&B, but the girl who carried the most Coach bags actually paid for most of them herself with her job money from Starbucks. There were some kids who had LV and Gucci, even one girl who had a Chanel. My mom carries a Coach bag because of the quality, so every 5-10 years she'll splurge on a $200 bag. I wouldn't dare to ask my mom for a purse costing $50! I mean I live in an affluent suburb where a car is pretty much expected on your 16th birthday, and if you don't get one then, either your 18th or graduation. I got nothing for my 16th birthday, an $80 pendant for my 18th, and nothing for my graduation. And I mean nothing!

My splurge with my first paycheck will be a Prada nylon bag. Part of the nice thing about being a vegetarian (not vegan but strict enough to where I refuse to touch leather and fur and suede) is that I avoid the trendy bags. So I'm gonna build up a nice collection of Prada nylon bags.

 

[unplugged66]

From working in retail and just finishing highschool, I have noticed not too many teens in Toronto carry authentic designer handbags. You will see the occasional teen with a small authentic pouchette which is about it.

Personaly for me when it comes to designer accessories such as wallets, travel bags and so on I don't mind buying them, because I know the quality and craftsmenship that goes behind every piece. I won't lie most of the stuff I have is because my parents give me money, but alot of it is also my own money which I have worked for.

I don't think age has anything to do with carrying a designer bag. I believe that some teenagers like myself have knowledge of the product and understand its an investment. If you can afford it and you understand the concept of a designer bag, than age shouldn't be a factor.

 

[ilaughead]

I'm sixteen and live in an affluent-ish area. A lot of my classmates don't work and their parents give them everything they want. My mother bought me a car and pays for my cell phone bill, car insurance, and gas. But she would never buy me a piece of clothing. The last time she bought any clothes for me was in the seventh(ish) grade, when I just needed that Abercrombie & Fitch sweater. Since clothing/accessories aren't essential, I believe that this is a good decision on her part. (However, as much as I work, I've been able to spend very little of the money I make because she usually vetos any expensive items. E.g. anything designer.)

 

[Whitelinen]

Very off-topic, but it sounds odd that 16-year-olds have cars. I know it's the way in the US, but here it's a different thing (you can't get a driver's license at that age). Sorry, very off-topic.

 

[kanita]

Very off-topic, but it sounds odd that 16-year-olds have cars. I know it's the way in the US, but here it's a different thing (you can't get a driver's license at that age). Sorry, very off-topic.

Same here , I think I'm to young to drive car at 19, let alone 16 .
Here parents pay for the driver license of there kids when they turn 18 (and that cost at least 2000-3000 euro) This happents usualy when the kid has done/not done something, like never started smoking. Also parents pay for college and ensurance of there kids when they study (I really was surprised about it when I omplaid about how expencive school and healtcare was, and nobody in my class had an idea what it all costs) But still, non of these kids (17-20 year) owns designer clothing, the only ones having designer stuff, no bags, maybe only a pair of dsquared trainers and chanel sunglasses, are the ones of +/- 24 years who have been cut off by there parents a long time ago, and have worked for years.

It is very different in the international classes (non dutch studends) they wear desinerbags / clothing.

 

[Couture_Tribe]

As a just turned fifteen kid myself

I don't want designer bags, I carry different vintage handbags all the time, ROOTS school bag for books. I don't see any reason why a kid needs a designer bag at such a young age. Don't even get me started on the real ones with huge logos, waste of money.
EVEN if you carry a real one with your own money from starbucks job, I think it's pathetic. You wasted your youthful time when you are supposed to study, to work and buy a designer bag that dosen't match your status or economic level. With the student occupation and starbucks job, I bet you can not afford much good quality clothes, so most ppl will assume your bag is fake anyways.
Money from parents ones are just spoiled kids, Goerge W. Bush type of kid. I disdain those kids.

Here in toronto, my school, countless girls with american eagle or holister outfit carrys a guess bag mostly or chanel. They love their bag to death, they carry it with them even to the washroom everytime in the middle of class. I have nothing to say, but pathetic as in their taste level also.

I also utterly DO NOT understand the whole purpose of collecting designer bags.

 

[Whitelinen]

As a just turned fifteen kid myself

I don't want designer bags, I carry different vintage handbags all the time, ROOTS school bag for books. I don't see any reason why a kid needs a designer bag at such a young age. Don't even get me started on the real ones with huge logos, waste of money.
EVEN if you carry a real one with your own money from starbucks job, I think it's pathetic. You wasted your youthful time when you are supposed to study, to work and buy a designer bag that dosen't match your status or economic level. With the student occupation and starbucks job, I bet you can not afford much good quality clothes, so most ppl will assume your bag is fake anyways.
Money from parents ones are just spoiled kids, Goerge W. Bush type of kid. I disdain those kids.

Here in toronto, my school, countless girls with american eagle or holister outfit carrys a guess bag mostly or chanel. They love their bag to death, they carry it with them even to the washroom everytime in the middle of class. I have nothing to say, but pathetic as in their taste level also.

I also utterly DO NOT understand the whole purpose of collecting designer bags.

I disagree and agree with you...

It is true, that when you see an underaged person with an expensive bag your first thought is that it is a fake. But if that bag is not the uber-hip LV or Fendi, and it's not worn in a "look at me, I've got like a REAL designer BAG!!!, but otherwise I wear a tanktop from H&M sale" manner, I see nothing wrong with it. If you can pull it off (and this does not mean having a wardrobe of over-priced designer clothing, but grace and style), it is ok. These rules apply on adults too.

Not all designer bags are what you see Nicole and Lindsay carrying. And designer can be vintage, many times on teenagers it is just that.

I don't see working as a waste of time. Earning your own money teaches you things studying cannot and will never teach.

If your style has to match your economical level or status, then designer clothes/bags/shoes/you name it should be banned from anyone but the rich and famous.

What about those teens, who are "upper class" and who's parents have actually dressed them in expensive clothes since their childhood? Not all of them are spoiled kids with no touch to reality, I can tell you this since I happen to study in a place know as "elitist".

Girls take bags to bathroom for other reasons too. I take it with me since I may, for example, need a tissue, a brush or a tampon, not because of vanity.

"Collecting" designer bags. To me this means building a good basic wardrobe. Buying those few very classic and basic quality bags, having them forever and then passing them along after I die. It's not to show off "my designer bags" but because of the quality only designer labels offer, expensive or not. I want my wardrobe to last long so I don't have to put too much money to it.

 

[kanita]

^I agree, there is nothing wrong with owning designer pieces if you are young. it is not al about, look at me, I have the same bag as paris/lidsey/nicole, but appreciating quality and design. Since I love quality leather bags, that I can use for years, I would love to have an YSL Muse. And not only for the quality, but also for the design, I love the idea that it was an design by someone who has so much talent and whom I respect for his/hers work.

 

[Whitelinen]

Agree.

I hate bad quality in bags. It's such a disappointment to buy something you like and then after a couple of weeks it looks old and tarnished. That's why I want to opt for designer.

 

[strawberry daiquiri]

i find this trend particularly ignoring.
it's become too common here to see young girls but all their 'style' into one tiny, obvious handbag... to wear it with the latest preppy pastel wardrobe as dictated by 'friends'. i don't know, i think it's the most offensive kind of brain-washing when you put so much of someone else's money into an item you like for 1) a logo and 2) the idea that brandishing it now means you're the most powerful teen on public transport off to private school.

 

[Whitelinen]

i find this trend particularly ignoring.
it's become too common here to see young girls but all their 'style' into one tiny, obvious handbag... to wear it with the latest preppy pastel wardrobe as dictated by 'friends'. i don't know, i think it's the most offensive kind of brain-washing when you put so much of someone else's money into an item you like for 1) a logo and 2) the idea that brandishing it now means you're the most powerful teen on public transport off to private school.

Agreed.

 

[winterinjuly]

but how do you ensure that your 14 yearold daughter understands that she is worth more than her designer hand bag? what are the values instilled in the child that makes this seem important. i am not trying to say that because you own a designer bag that your automatically vapid but i think that there is a major connection between items owned by a young girl, her ken and her work ethic. maybe i am just to old and bitter but there seems to be something wrong with a society that places more importance on material possesions than truly developing a personality. Does a purse or jacket define who we are becoming?

 

[loubylou]

To be honest, if parents choose to spoil their brats by spending thousands of dollars/pounds on an unimaginative bag emblazoned with tacky designer logos for them, then so be it. It's not my money they're wasting.

But, speaking personally, I would rather my parents did not do such a thing, which isn't much of a worry since there is no chance on earth that they would!

Quite simply, I'm 18 and highly ambitious. I like to set goals for myself, and since a child I've promised myself that once I became successful I would congratulate myself by investing in a classic bag, most likely Chanel, as for me Coco Chanel represented the ultimate in luxe style and couture. If my parents were to buy this for me, without me having worked for it, that would take away a great part of the appeal of owning one.

So for me, in owning a designer item, age, status and good old fashion graft should be considered.

 

[Whitelinen]

but how do you ensure that your 14 yearold daughter understands that she is worth more than her designer hand bag? what are the values instilled in the child that makes this seem important. i am not trying to say that because you own a designer bag that your automatically vapid but i think that there is a major connection between items owned by a young girl, her ken and her work ethic. maybe i am just to old and bitter but there seems to be something wrong with a society that places more importance on material possesions than truly developing a personality. Does a purse or jacket define who we are becoming?

Relax, it's only clothes. I'd buy a bag to carry my stuff around. It would express my personality because I'd like the look of it, but I see no link between developing a personality and owning a designer bag. What would a piece of clothing take away from my developing personality? Maybe in the occassion that I would be buying designer because everyone else wears it , but other than that, I see no harm in it.

If you learn that money does not grow on trees and that you have to work in order to get these things, there's nothing wrong in my opinion.

 

[loubylou]

Relax, it's only clothes. I'd buy a bag to carry my stuff around. It would express my personality because I'd like the look of it, but I see no link between developing a personality and owning a designer bag. What would a piece of clothing take away from my developing personality? Maybe in the occassion that I would be buying designer because everyone else wears it , but other than that, I see no harm in it.

If you learn that money does not grow on trees and that you have to work in order to get these things, there's nothing wrong in my opinion.

You'd think, but unfortunately, many girls from back home aren't aware that the endless flow of money leaving mummy and daddy's wallets has to have been earnt, and many come to expect more and more, and most disappointly, look down on others who havent got the luxury of wealthy parents.

 

[Whitelinen]

I didn't say I think teenagers think so. I said a teenager having designer is ok as long as they know they have to work for it, and understand the value, which most of the kids do not understand.

Most of the teens are very immature and assume they do not have to work.

 

[loubylou]

Tell me about it!

I've worked part time since the age of 14 and the satisfaction of being able to dress in clothes, listen to music and watch films that have all been paid for through my hard work is a wondeful feeling

 

[Whitelinen]

You're right about that!