How Does Everyone Afford All These Designer Items?

[Blueberry Muffin]

I do not have so many designer pieces because I can not afford them either, like most of you. I buy a few on sale or ebay as much as can but I had a big credit card problem (twice) so I stopped shopping whether they are designer or not . In my city, designer goods are pretty much expensive than the other countries and we do not have many outlet stores that sells designer goods. I have a job with not very high salary,I have to pay rent and other expenses ..etc,no rich husband or boyfriend or family. I love fashion a lot but it gives me pain when I would like to have all great items that I know I will never have

 

[stylista7]

I live at home, rent free ...in addition, I live in the NYC metro area so I have easy access to all the huge department stores and boutiques, whereI buy almost everything on sale. The only thing I pay for full-price are handbags that don't go on sale. Everything else, I wait for it to go on sale. I'm of the mindset where if something is meant for me, I will eventually get it...if I can't get it, then I'm better off without it.

this is how i live also!! only difference is i will pay for some great shoes...
(and jeans sometimes)..i'm moving up to really investing in a great handbag for fall that will carry me through years...not only b/c its a designer but b/c its well made!

i live for Sample sales...and trade employee discounts!! I just bought a $1K Alexander McQueen shoe for $200!!!! it was 80 % off...
there are some things in NYC I

 

[gius]

^You make it sound so easy!

nah it just takes some time

 

[Alejandro]

I sell my body.

I still can't cut it for kmart though

 

[Trista]

I'm part of the "Never Pay Full Price" club. I had NO money in high school-our family had a house and cars, but we weren't well off to where I could do all the activities or things I wanted, and I pretty much had to skrimp on everything. Clothes were the fashionable things on clearance racks, but I am picky so I was able to do well. Ever since I've gotten a job though, I could afford to maybe get a piece or two every so often but not every day. The only thing I splurge on though are my sunglasses. I don't see the need for me personally to have a ton of clothing that I won't wear because I have no life outside the house besides work, and I have such a strict dress code that it wouldn't matter. I have enough dresses and tops anyways!

 

[yourbestfriend]

Saying everyone here has designer clothes here is a big overstatement. When looking through threads, I find there are just as many members who spend alot on designer clothes and members who don't buy any designer clothes. Personally, I have maybe 2 or 3 items tht could be called "designer", though they aren't anything luxurious. My advice is to try buying clothes of better quality, but not as many, at least that way the clothes you have will stay with you for a longer time. If you find yourself in awe of all the designer purchases, use it as a means of motivation for yourself to work harder and hopefully one day you will be able to buy them too. Clothes are what you make of it, so be creative and you'll be amazed at what you can do.

 

[madison01]

Sometimes fashion gets me frustrated because I love it so much and I feel like I know more about it than most of my friends in college but still I can't express it the way I want to, because I can't afford most of the things I love.

My sentiments exactly, word for word

Browsing through lagarconne.com just breaks my heart!!!

 

[youngprof]

I don't have many designer items, but the ones I do have I paid for with the money I earn working.

I didn't have designer purses when I was a high school student, nor a college student, nor all those years I was a graduate student and a post-doctoral researcher. Now, I can afford them.

 

[aquamarine]

I feel soo guilty reading your post.....,because I do buy lot's of things I dont really need....like....Another pair of designer shoes

I can afford them,but sometimes i wish i can be less selfish and use the money on something more useful for others,or maybe save for my own future???

Well,I really admire your honesty,and hey...You can be stylish with H&M too you know!!!

Hey, don't fret.
If you do have the money, there's nothing wrong with spoiling yourself from time to time...

I'd simply feel guilty if I spent my food/gas/ whatever money I get from my parents (who both work very hard) on something too expensive for my standards and then beg them for more money bc I ran out of it And they'd tell me off for sure.

It's just a matter of income. One day when I finally start working, I will spend some of my money on one fine bag, I already know that... but until then I guess I will stick to H&M and the like

 

[hell]

Sometimes fashion gets me frustrated because I love it so much and I feel like I know more about it than most of my friends in college but still I can't express it the way I want to, because I can't afford most of the things I love.

that is exactly the way how i feel ! Probably I get more money than other my ppl in my age , so there's nothing to complain about , but yeah ... good fashion is expensive. but I think the point to say : "okay now I've enough money and can afford all designer clothes and can buy the newest pieces..." will never be reached. unless you become a real billionaire. otherwise you will always be a step behind the scene. even if you earn a lot of money ... it's the concept of this market ... more & more & more ... and we're all so addicted that we ( at least me ) feel never on the top of the trends.

btw ... i'm only 16 , but my concept is ... either pieces have to be really cheap ( like H&M and stuff ... you can save a lot of money that way , the basics are okay there... but the quality has to be good! ) or expensive. nothing in between ... cause that is crap in general.

 

[marylauda]

^ But you can have "good fashion" at any price really. If you combine things in the right way, make your own, add your own touch to them etc., you can make any piece special.

 

[yellowetpink]

I've always wondered. But then I think, how many 14 year olds can affored Prada and Galliano?

One day, One day I will! lol
I agreee so much with you though marylauda!

 

[rangerrick14]

Sometimes I get depressed too; especially when I see the rich girls at my college dressing to trashy southern but with so much money; they dress in the crappy i think I'm preppy clothes of abercrombie; head to toe all the time. While I scrape around rhe internet for deals on hip contemporary clothes.

I shop at strategic times like now right before school and then later for winter. I live at home during the summers and in dorms during school so I don't have to pay utilities or food; unless I eat out; and then I search for online coupons; I also just pay for gas and try to walk as often as I kind. But I do try to buy staples like great cashmere sweaters and a good coat. the coat can come from vintage or second hand. shoes and sunglasses are my link though. I have two pairs of eyeglasses one chanel that I bought and another a cheaper pair that my mom bought.( she refuses to pay for expensive things) At times I do splurge and can't help myslef; but I've been breaking myslef of buying lots of crap on sale. Plus you can go to target and get basics to pepper over more high-end things.

 

[zionforsell]

I've been wondering about this myself. I saw a thirteen-years-old girl today at the plaza who bought a $200 coin purse, and it ate me. But I guess it is just about priorities. My friend and I earn about the same income. But she always seem to be shopping, and eating out.

I rarely buy any designer daily clothes. When I buy designer clothes, I shoot for the dresses or gowns. Most of the dresses and gowns I own are vintage Versace, Dior, Valentino, and Givenchy. And no I didn't buy them, my dad got them for me. (This is one of the things that makes me regret getting myself emancipated from him when I was 15) But it taught me the value of money. Now I have to earn all my privileges through my own money.

I just got a $400 red leather jacket, and it feels absolutely amazing. I know it doesn't mean much for someone who buys $2000 bags, but it's the first time I got something a bit pricy with my own hard-earned money. I do hope I will someday be able to update my gowns collection with haute couture garments.

But money doesn't equal class, or style. I saw so many people wearing expensive clothing (and I mean EXPENSIVE), and they look...well...tasteless. Then again, I once wore an outfit that cost me 50 bucks and people thought I were an heiress (not anymore, people!) and they got pretty disappointed that I said no to this Valentino lacy red dress.lol

People need to realize that designer clothes aren't all that to rave about. I detest the garment instantly if the name of the brand or the designer is sewn or shown out front. I only buy pricy clothing if the material AND the making are worth it. I would never pick up a tissue-thin blouse for hundreds of dollars, no matter if it is of the best designer in the world.

 

[fashhhioned]

i agree with everyone that said style isn't the price of your clothing; my mom refused to buy designer stuff (even though she loved them) because she thought they were way too pricey; she constantly shopped at outlets and middle-range stores and she always looked good.

i only have a few pairs of designer jeans but i'm working towards more high-end pieces. i have to break my bad habit of buying cheaper pieces just beucase i'm in the mood...

 

[lolita_sweet_91]

I don't know why there is such a big fuss about designer clothes. In fact, these clothes are very pricey, because of the brand and its name. You can also be fashionable with clothes from Zara or H&M or Forever 21, because what matters most is not that label that you see only for yourself, it's the beauty of the product and how it suits you, it's very important that you like it. Anyway fashion changes very quickly these days and if it's not in fashion anymore, you'll not wear those Balenciaga jodhpurs again, even if you spent a lot of money on them.
Indeed, quality is very important, but if you don't get to wear something that often, then quality doesn't get its role: the durability of the garment. Then why spend hundreds of dollars when you can be chic with less?
I have only one pair of Calvin Klein jeans and one pair of Michael Kors shoes, because I found them at a really good price.
Designer clothes are made only for the super rich who can afford to spend like, 10 000$ a day. But if you live in New York and get to the sample sales, then you're a lucky person.

 

[poptheglock]

helloooo

swedish designers are the new cool. you guys are lucky

hehe ok that's kinda true! clothes from rodebjer, acne, cheap monday and so on is cheaper to buy in sweden than the states. but if i wanna buy for example marc jacobs, luella or something like that, i can't! the prices are c-r-a-z-y! it's cheaper to travel to nyc and buy stuff and fly home than buy it in sweden.

 

[justinleaddict]

It's basically been said already, but if you are just a normal middle class person, you might have to give up some stuff to afford nice things... and you definitely have to save up for a while if your entire wardrobe is designer.

And you have to stop buying things that are just ok... rather, look for stuff you love.

I used to only buy stuff that was just ok, and I now regret it because i spent a ridiculous amount on things that I don't even wear anymore...

also, shop online!

 

[deejoy]

I shop online. The internet has saved me a fortune in finding great deals on almost everything. Ebay, regular boutiques with discount codes, price matching, etc has saved me a fortune.

 

[mingminglei]

I feel like all the megative comments towards people who already have money are a little unwarrented I don't know but I dislike when people make themselves out to better than other people in terms of taste, because it seems horribly arrogant and self-righteous. Sorry, just had to vent a little. It's true they have money they may not deserve but it's not your job to judge and envy, just to work on yourself.

On the topic at hand: I don't actually own any proper designer items, a few items from their lines but nothing special. I know people who do and they work very hard at their jobs to be able to afford it, because clothing is never a priority. It's proper to enjoy fashion without buying every pretty piece you see and wanting to own it, like it's possible to enjoy art. But as people we tend to want to horde items.