How Does Everyone Afford All These Designer Items?

[high maintenance]

i work especially for it lol.

Yes, ma'am, i work extremley hard for the money, and i love designer things, but like most people if your not rich you have to budget and save to get what you want, if you want to live a certain lifestyle it takes long hours and hard work, it cost to be the boss! I am a hair stylist, and i work 12 and 13 hours, sometimes longer, and i try to buy at least one or two pieces a month depending on the price, and you just accumulate over time, i make very good money, but with more money comes more bills!

 

[hairsprayhead]

I very rarely buy things at full price- occasionally I'll splurge on something designer (especially when we're on vacation) but for the most part, anything that comes my way full price is given to me as a gift by Hubby- like my bags.

My clothes (Nanette Lepore, DVF, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, etc) are usually found after stalking and on sale.

 

[dannydaily]

Counterfeit goods are pretty cheap.

I hope you are joking . Normally, I don't do the "anti-knock off" rant but I rather go Target then go fake.

 

[Prudence Pureheart]

lol in Taiwan the fake Rolex's use real Rolex parts. Also, many fakes 'fell off the back of a truck' out of the OEM factories. So, it's not always as fake as you think. But I wouldn't know anything about what I just posted, a friend of a friend told me.

lol

 

[jesspgh]

I'm a grad student so my funds are extremely limited. But I do occasionally teach extra courses at nearby colleges to subsidize my more extravagent wants. Even when I have extra mad money, I only buy on sale. And even if I love something, if it sells out before going on sale I view it as not being my shopping destiny.

I also hunt on ebay for things I missed out on and try to use coupons as much as possible when I am online shopping.

 

[rosalynn]

I have spent a lot of money getting on top of my debts, paying off my credit cards and so I now live totally within my means. I have a flat now, so I no longer need to save money, and most of my disposable income is now spent on mainly shoes but also clothes as I don't have many other outgoings now other than the essentials.

Shoes are also my hobby, so while a lot of people might spend money on a gym membership*, flying lessons, foreign language courses or whatever, I spend mine on shoes. How shallow do I sound?!

(* I actually have that too, haha)

 

[after__eight]

I only use my debit card or cash. I refuse to put any expensive items on my credit card because I know I probably won't be able to afford it.

SALES! Sample sales are great!
Consignment shops are great too, some places are still $$ but you can find really good deals if you hunt around.
Ebay. I've gotten all of my Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes from ebay for amazing prices.
Outlet malls. There's an outlet mall in NY that I go to frequently that has stores like Chloe, Gucci, Chanel, Saks, Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Oscar de la Renta.. etc. I've found awesome deals, especially around black friday/holidays.
Only buy what you can afford, if you can't afford it in cash or using a debit card then don't buy it.

 

[kbella]

I only use my debit card or cash. I refuse to put any expensive items on my credit card because I know I probably won't be able to afford it.

SALES! Sample sales are great!
Consignment shops are great too, some places are still $$ but you can find really good deals if you hunt around.
Ebay. I've gotten all of my Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes from ebay for amazing prices.
Outlet malls. There's an outlet mall in NY that I go to frequently that has stores like Chloe, Gucci, Chanel, Saks, Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Oscar de la Renta.. etc. I've found awesome deals, especially around black friday/holidays.
Only buy what you can afford, if you can't afford it in cash or using a debit card then don't buy it.

Oooh may have to PM you about this outlet....

 

[modelcitizen]

Oooh may have to PM you about this outlet....

by the description i believe that outlet i believe it's the "woodbury common premium outlet".

 

[yjkim2000]

lol in Taiwan the fake Rolex's use real Rolex parts. Also, many fakes 'fell off the back of a truck' out of the OEM factories. So, it's not always as fake as you think. But I wouldn't know anything about what I just posted, a friend of a friend told me.

well fakes are still fakes lol
and they're illegal

 

[cfrancesca]

I hope you are joking . Normally, I don't do the "anti-knock off" rant but I rather go Target then go fake.

Same here. I'd rather go with no-name brands rather than get some labeled with designer names but are fake.

I think people have a lot more choices now with all the department stores and fast-fashion, high street brands and don't have to resort to buying knock-offs.

It's also a good idea to look out for clothes by fashion students (those up-and-coming designers) since most of these are really well-made. They come up with a lot of interesting pieces.

 

[DenimBlog]

Everyone call tell if you are wearing fakes. Trust me. I can spot a fake from a mile away.

I think its better to have one or two nice pieces and mix them with non-designer items. I buy half my designer jeans on sale or at a sample sale website and wear with Target t-shirts, and it looks great. You don't have to be loaded to dress well.

 

[couturecouture]

I save for expensive/"designer" things that I really want. I have a ton of clothes (I have a major shopping problem) but most of my clothes are not high/high end designer. I am a huge bargain shopper and most of my designer things I purchase on sale (and super super sale. Loehmanns sale room, Nordstrom Rack sale racks and TJ Maxx clearance sales are TDF), the only things I don't mind paying full price for are coats/bags/shoes/denim. I also used to work at a store were I got things super cheap and my boss would give me free stuff almost every week (it sucks that I don't work there anymore). A girl I used to be friends with had TONS of designer things, Chanel, Dior, tons of jeans. . . I was so jealous and thought it was just because her parents are super wealthy but later learned that her parents are very in debt because of her spoiled-ness/shopping habits. I am quite the shopaholic and will admit that I honestly think anyone can have a designer wardrobe on ANY budget if you are willing to drive to the nearest big city for clearance/sample sales, you don't have to have a trust fund to have an amazing wardrobe.

 

[couturecouture]

Shoes are also my hobby, so while a lot of people might spend money on a gym membership*, flying lessons, foreign language courses or whatever, I spend mine on shoes. How shallow do I sound?!

^I LOVE this, it just makes my day!! Haha!

 

[moniescloset]

I don't buy things just because they are designer. I buy things I love, that are priced well, and are good quality. I don't really care about the label, I could easily be wearing a 200$ dress and 30$ shoes. It really just needs to catch my eye, and be of good/great quality, with some attention to detail. I hate paying what everyone else pays...I never buy designer things at retail price...its not fun, or challenging for me (and i would go broke). I also don't care if it's 'last season' or whatever. If I love it, and its on sale for a great price, well then I need to have it.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I don't mind paying retail ... but I super-mind getting home with anything I won't wear till it falls apart. My best luck with sales is retailers that offer pre-season sales--those I love, the best selection & a better price. Sometimes sales work for me ... I found a great pair of shoes on sale a few months ago. But if your stuff is all less than retail & great, more power to you It helps if you don't wear a common size, especially in shoes (as long as your size is commonly stocked of course).

 

[moniescloset]

Oh thanks for mentioning the uncommon size thing. Its soooo true. I think i've been lucky, and can avoid paying retail, only because I'm shorter than average, so I wear sizes no one else buys. My mom wears a size 5.5 in shoes and it is rediculous all the amazing shoes she finds on clearance.

But ya there are exceptions, sometimes i really want it, and i'm not about to wait for a sale. But I always feel a little more guilty after.

 

[Guessgirl96]

Good point about the uncommon sizes. I'm a 38 which I think is about the most common shoe size, and the small clothes sizes always sell out first

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I'm a 38 too (sometimes 38.5), and I think you're probably right about its being the most common size (or maybe it's 37.5). I was shoe shopping this week, and I was surprised how many shoes Barney's was sold out of in my size this early in the season. And there was no talk of getting them in, which I thought might indicate that they were sold out period, not just here. This may happen more than ever this year as stores seem to be cutting their open to buy ...

There seem to be quite a lot of heavily detailed, cuffed, etc. shoes/boots at the moment, even though it's spring. My theory is, buy one pair of really fantastic shoes & don't worry about the price. And I think they know that's what I'm thinking Though I did decline to try on a pair of Louboutin exotic skin wedges at $1500, beautiful though they were

 

[ChloeB]

Great post, which has given me lots of inspiration.

During 2009 I hope to continue to buy the odd piece from H&M, French Connection and Zara (and maybe even Primark as i've had a couple of great items from there, believe it or not!). I'll buy one designer bag (Rebecca Minkoff or Foley & Corinna - not LV, Gucci etc) and a great pair of shoes. Anything else will come from diffusion lines or the summer sale.