How Does Everyone Afford All These Designer Items?

[morgan38]

I mostly buy designers stuff, but many times I get great stuff on the sales. For me there´s no middle range, clothes have to be designers or very cheap (from flea markets and such), what´s in between is mediocre, just bad rip offs of designers with no quality, like Zara.
And I think to be greatly dressed you have to spend certain money, it´s imposible to be super chic and trendy wearing H&M only. But if you pair your H&M top with a pair of cool jeans or a nice handbag then that can be really cute. But if you only wear cheap clothing, cheap handbag and cheap shoes, you´ll look cheap for sure.
Some designers stuff is overpriced, but there´s no doubt you´re paying extra for something (design, quality, colours...)

That is ridiculous. There are so many people out there who will never ever be able to afford designer clothing regardless of whether its on sale or not. So does that mean you have to be wealthy to look chic? I certainly would not agree.

And of course you're paying for quality. However, you're also paying for a label, and when money is very tight that is something that most people just can't justify.

 

[fashion_boi_01]

So when I come online and see members my age or younger buying pieces that cost thousands and thousands of dollars I really have to wonder how they swing it.

There are members from all sorts of different economic statues on here.. trust fund kids, middle class, and I'm sure there are some at your level too (not too sound like I'm judging or anything.. it really doesn't matter to me.)

I believe anyone with an eye for style can make Topshop/thrift/what-have-you look as good or even better than designer clothes.

I'm still in high school and live at home, but my parents no longer support my shopping. I worked full time the entire summer and saved the money, and that's what I use to pay for my clothes. I don't own that many designer items, and most of them were gifts anyway. At my age (17) I don't need nor want an entire wardrobe of high-end clothes. I like playing around with H&M/Club Monaco/AA,.. etc., and seeing what outfits I can come up with from those brands. As I get older, I can see myself investing in more key pieces from luxury labels, but for now I'm still unsure of my exact style, so I'll continue along with my current methods.

 

[softgrey]

someone recently said to me...
'everyone has their own set of priorities'...

i think that applies here...

 

[cavanaugh]

^ agreed

age 12: "cavy, dont you want a gamecube/xbox?"
"no mom, just give me money for christmas to spend on clothes"

age 17: "how about a nice digital camera for your birthday?"
"mom, i'd rather look well dressed in other peoples pictures, than
have my own...they all end up on facebook anyways"

 

[DandyWarhol]

to me, i dont want to buy a lot of expensive designer items im just going to grow out of in half a year..
having a 2,000 dollar coat that wont fit me in that time doesn't appeal to me very much.
ill plan on saving that for when im a bit older =]

 

[AD073018]

to get money to pay for my big items i take on extra writing assignments.

it's a simple calculus: ok, one rick owens jacket is twelve 250 word word articles (eek!), or westwood pirate boots, one 2,400 word article, for example...

work = money = stuff i want

great minds think alike , that's exactly how i do it too!

the more i want something, the more ambitiously i toil in order to get it.
and i am one of those firm believers in a small wardrobe of classic pieces. i don't buy much but every piece in my wardrobe is something i absolutely adore and 90% of those pieces will never go out of style. i think of my purchases as investments and i invest wisely.

 

[emma peel]

^ yeah, workaholic (to keep up with the) shopaholic= too much online shopping!

 

[Beautiful Stranger]

'someone recently said to me...
'everyone has their own set of priorities'...

i think that applies here...'

i totally agree with this.

i prefer a designer-highstreet-vintage mix. some things can be bought cheap, some things should be bought expensive. I think the dumbest thing i've used my money on is formal shirts.. i have maybe 5 to 150-200$ and i always end up wearing them once or twice.

 

[Jungla_Juana]

I treat myself to a single expensive item (or a spree at zara) when I pass exams. motivation!!!

 

[Guessgirl96]

someone recently said to me...
'everyone has their own set of priorities'...

i think that applies here...

I think this is very true. I skimp on other things to get more clothes, but my brother saves money on cheaper clothes to buy cars, his gf buys rare old books, my bf buys video games.. so I guess is depends where clothes are on your priorities

 

[baRose]

I don’t have a lot of designer items yet, but I do buy designer shoes, and accessories, though I need some bags.

I work as a higher level Administrative Assistant in the SF Bay Area so salaries tend to be higher (so is the cost of living), but I'm not in the 6 figure category. I have bills, and another priorities like the next person, but I've been making a point not to buy cheap clothes (or anything else for that matter) just because it’s cheap. I don’t have a closet full of clothes so I tend to wear key items more often, especially work clothes: suites, coats, pants, skirts, button up shirts, shoes, so I cant skimp on quality. Plus, if I'm meeting with clients, etc, I need to look good.

I budjet monthly for clothes so I may not purchas anything for months just to get the shoes (or whatever) I want.

I too feel envious when I see 19 year olds buying Hermes purses (with someone else’s money), but at least I have the satisfaction of working and buying things for myself. Sure it would be nice to have someone else buy for you, but so is working hard and getting it yourself. I guess its just motivation for me to work harder and find another source of income that would put me at the point where I can just buy something and not think about it.

 

[lola belle]

Suffering.

 

[salomelovesjohn]

^^^


In my case, law school.

 

[ptowngal]

We have Nordstrom Rack where I live, and they have great designer stuff for really cheap! (well, designer wise). I think it's the stuff that Nordstrom gets rid of to make more room for new stuff. I just got some awesome Marc Jacobs sunglasses for $60 something dollars as opposed to the original $280ish pricetag.

 

[jaimediane71]

I also love Nordstrom Rack! Much better than Off 5th or Nieman's Last Call.

 

[misssakura]

Uhm I don't own any designer clothes yet..but one thing people seem to be forgetting here is shared income. My partner and I earn very little but if we were just pulling in regular, below average salaries, I could afford quite a bit of designer stuff. Maybe not the high end ODLR dresses for thousands a pop, but Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Stella, they're definitely in reach for somebody earning a normal salary. Some people just don't go on holidays or buy electronics, they buy clothes instead.

 

[ibimus]

I don't own anything designer.
As a matter of fact, the bulk of my shopping is done at Plato's Closet, and local thrift shops. Every once in a while I will invest in something nice from a department store (formal wear, mostly.)
Hoever, I still manage to look decent enough. I figure that if an article of clothing is clean and well-fitted, the price tag really shouldn't make any difference.

 

[ysljunkie]

oh and to answer the question HARD WORK its works every time.

 

[Street_a_Licious]

lol, if it's not true he'll come here to defend himself. if not..... well,

Thank god for trust funds (not that I'm a trust fund kid )

.... I don't even own that much designer stuff. I either can't afford it (Hermes F/W 07 leather jackets..... ) or the sizing is off. There's always Made to Measure

 

[Thefrenchy]

My family isnt one of these old money families or even nouveaux riches but i've almost had everything i needed and wanted -- until the day my mother (kind of) forced me (OMG ) to face that she will not always be there to buy me everything i want , when she saw i was asking for more and more things as my love for fashion was growing up, and told me something like "Now you're 17 you'll have to manage on your own to buy the things you want".......................

Today, I don't own a lot of designer clothes. I've like maybe 2 Dior Homme jeans, 5 Marc jacobs tees, 1 Dior Homme polo. Also (i dont know if it's really considered as designer clothing but) 5 Ralph Lauren polos and 4 sweaters, one pair of Ksubi jeans and a pair of Paul Smith shoes. Thanks to ebay (mostly!), money i saved and gifts from my mother.

I always mix cheaper clothes (from Zara most of the time) with the pieces I have and i think my style is ok.....

The secret is in mixing your clothes because when i walk in the streets and see people (men and women) wearing LV or Hermes from head to toe : this is really tacky. For one second i think "Wow she/he must be really wealthy" but then "his/her looks is really tacky!". That proves that money doesnt buy style.

But I have to confess that i'm really envious when i read some threads here and see people buying the latest things or when some friend comes and tells me "I'm so happy my father bought me these Chloé shoes" and i feel like "Damn why not me" (not that i'm going to wear Chloé shoes ) ...






Sorry for my english, i'm doing my best