Is it all about the label?

[KoV]

I kind of agree with that. I'm not very wealthy, so every season I've saved up a certain amount that I have to budget. The most expensive fashion-related item I've bought was a $4,000 bag. I didn't feel guilty because I really do love it, I love the designer, it's reflective of my style, etc. That's the kind of wardrobe I hope to have. Unless I soon can afford more pieces, I just want a well-curated small collection of designer items I truly love supplemented by more disposable and affordable brands that produce clothes with good (if not amazing) fit and durability. The designer items I do buy tend to be on things like classically stylish coats/jackets, wallet, bag, scarf, ties, etc. because I know I'll use them often, they will wear well, and they wont be out of style in a few months.

 

[bun-bun]

And when I see people displaying their massive Chanel logo purses I think a) that's probably fake and...

It's interesting that a lot of us come to this conclusion when we see a logo since it was all started as a way to prevent fakes in the first place. I remember reading somewhere that the reason why more fashion houses started putting their logos on their items was for protection really, since replicating the design of an item is not illegal but replicating the trademarked logo is.

 

[KoV]

It's sad, but I see them selling fakes all over the place. I don't think it's enforced enough by local law. There's a farmer's market I go to sometimes and there are more than one "booths" selling fake merchandise with (seemingly) exact logo replicas. Of course I also see items with slightly moderated logos as well.

 

[Les_Sucettes]

When i'm buying the designer labels of my choice, or something very expensive I'm paying for a concept, i'm not just paying for the clothes. And it's fine with me, the fact that you have a massive team just to create a certain concept that will make you dream and be inspired has to be paid. And yes i will equate that when i decide if something is worth it or not. But regardless, it is not just about the label, the materials, the cut, the fit, the attention to detail is indeed different when you are buying luxury brands, it is fair to ask if they are different enough to justify the price they are asking for, but that's where the label comes to play. A fake destroys the concept.

 

[Excentrique]

I wish I could speak English a bit better to really express well my opinion, but all I can say it that for me, when I buy a bag, I don't buy it because it's a LV or Chanel bag or whatever, I buy it like a unique piece that I enjoy the design, material or spirit. I hate when brands put there logo all over the piece just because people want to show that they have the money to buy it ...
A few famous example:

journaldesfemmes.com

Hate that too! it´s just annoying! they dont know anything about the name of their clothes, there´s a piece of history in every single thing, and most people don´t care about that, they are just dumb, personally, i don´t care about the label, i care if that really likes me, not the label, just because what it means to me.

 

[blueorchid]

^ Why should a consumer know the history of the company before they wear/buy their clothes? Who cares if someone with a Chanel bag doesn't know the entire history of Chanel? I'm kind of just playing the devil's advocate here, but why should someone care about the history of these fashion houses in order to wear a belt or a shirt?

You don't expect someone who buys a Black & Decker toaster to know the entire company history of Black & Decker or the entire history of Apple if they buy an iPhone. Why is this level of "knowledge" required for clothes, but not other things we buy?

 

[Excentrique]

^ Why should a consumer know the history of the company before they wear/buy their clothes? Who cares if someone with a Chanel bag doesn't know the entire history of Chanel? I'm kind of just playing the devil's advocate here, but why should someone care about the history of these fashion houses before they wear their clothes?

You don't expect someone who buys a Black & Decker toaster to know the entire company history of Black & Decker or the entire history of Apple if they buy an iPhone. Why is this level of "knowledge" required for clothes, but not other things we buy?

well i think its important, well at least for me, i dont mean the whole history, the thing here its that people buy those kinds of things just because they want the be spotted wearing that, because they have money, they dont see it as an invest and Fashion should be seeing like that (in my own personal opinion)

 

[ssgghh]

I think im on the other end of that label thing and I must admitt its probbably as bad as the "look im wearing a label". I tend to buy stuff that I like (and can afford at the time), regardless of the label. But, if the logo is unavoidable and doesnt mess up the look butis still is present I usualy cover it in one way or another. Acrylic paint, sewing something over it or just really hoping its small enough if covering it up would ruin the design.

If I buy something that´s a bit more expensive,something that can seem like bragging (which is so rare btw...) I feel some embarrassment. Idealy for me it would be not worrying about the label/brand at all, but I must admit I do, even if its the opposite to the way label-whores worry about it.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Why should a consumer know the history of the company before they wear/buy their clothes? Who cares if someone with a Chanel bag doesn't know the entire history of Chanel? I'm kind of just playing the devil's advocate here, but why should someone care about the history of these fashion houses in order to wear a belt or a shirt?

You don't expect someone who buys a Black & Decker toaster to know the entire company history of Black & Decker or the entire history of Apple if they buy an iPhone. Why is this level of "knowledge" required for clothes, but not other things we buy?

black & decker ...

actually i wish people were buying chanel for utilitarian reasons ... 'best darn ballet shoes out there, even if they do have those funny white curves plastered on ...'

 

[high maintenance]

I kind of agree with that. I'm not very wealthy, so every season I've saved up a certain amount that I have to budget. The most expensive fashion-related item I've bought was a $4,000 bag. I didn't feel guilty because I really do love it, I love the designer, it's reflective of my style, etc. That's the kind of wardrobe I hope to have. Unless I soon can afford more pieces, I just want a well-curated small collection of designer items I truly love supplemented by more disposable and affordable brands that produce clothes with good (if not amazing) fit and durability. The designer items I do buy tend to be on things like classically stylish coats/jackets, wallet, bag, scarf, ties, etc. because I know I'll use them often, they will wear well, and they wont be out of style in a few months.

This is exactly where I am in terms of building my designer wardrobe. It takes a long time because I know the style I want to reflect, I save up yearly and tirelessly sit thru fashion shows (on my iPad) and check certain items I want from the collections of my favorite design houses, and while I am so far from rich ( hair stylist) I eat breath & sleep fashion and style and its something I do for me and the love I have for it. I will not lie and say labels dont matter, of course it does, but only to me, when I get dressed for dinner with my husband, unless your in the know like us, 99% of people in the restuarant will not know Im wearing a Gucci runway dress or a Stella Mccartney dress. I know and I feel fabulous I don't want Zara or jcrew, there is nothing wrong with it, because I own some and thats my off day wears ( and old navy jeans ) but when I get dressed up, I want to feel like a million bucks ( cause I paid it)

 

[Jinadaze]

^ I did never understand such mentality tbh. I think one should feel good about him(her)self without the clothes aspect, whatever one wears. Not in a sack of course, but a proper clothes, no matter of it's price.
I'm always satisfied when finding a good item with a great price/quality ratio, because there are more important things in life than expensive clothes.

 

[fashionista-ta]

I guess some of my favorite things are designer ... their skill shows. I also enjoy supporting designers I like, so that association when wearing something from a favorite designer is a positive one. but i wouldn't say i get a frisson of pleasure from the name printed on the label inside, or consider myself well-dressed based on the label. that i attribute to myself and I have things I really love wearing whose labels would impress no one.

 

[high maintenance]

^ I did never understand such mentality tbh. I think one should feel good about him(her)self without the clothes aspect, whatever one wears. Not in a sack of course, but a proper clothes, no matter of it's price.
I'm always satisfied when finding a good item with a great price/quality ratio, because there are more important things in life than expensive clothes.

Make no mistake, I've never been one to have low self esteem, people kill me because you like certain things you are shallow or don't feel good about yourself (not saying thats what youre saying) but trust, I love every bit of myself regardless of what I have on, and mybeautiful husband feels the same, its called personal preference and everyone likes different things, just because one likes Dior, they are no better than someone who is content with Zara, or vice versa its what YOU want, I dont want to feel judged by people because of what I like and I dont judge other people if they feel different or like different things. I would still be the **** in h&m because thats how I carry myself, and of course there are more important things in the world other than designer clothes, I dont think anyone here said clothes were their life, but if thats what someones hobby is, or choose to do on their free time, its not a problem, and you can look great in any label if you have style

 

[high maintenance]

I guess some of my favorite things are designer ... their skill shows. I also enjoy supporting designers I like, so that association when wearing something from a favorite designer is a positive one. but i wouldn't say i get a frisson of pleasure from the name printed on the label inside, or consider myself well-dressed based on the label. that i attribute to myself and I have things I really love wearing whose labels would impress no

And I bet you look just as awesome in the regular label as you do in the designer label, because you have style

 

[EvaH]

I guess some of my favorite things are designer ... their skill shows. I also enjoy supporting designers I like, so that association when wearing something from a favorite designer is a positive one. but i wouldn't say i get a frisson of pleasure from the name printed on the label inside, or consider myself well-dressed based on the label. that i attribute to myself and I have things I really love wearing whose labels would impress no one.

I couldn't agree more with all this. Especially the part in bold. At the end of the day I believe some brand's aesthetic or philosophy fits certain people. I am not really a rock'and roll kind of girl. I love statement pieces, I love colours, I love having fun with my wardrobe but then I am also very low key, I try to invest in timeless pieces, clean cuts etc.. I will enjoy extravagant brands for accessories (bags, heels) but I will lean towards classic pieces of clothing most of the time. I also don't tie my clothes/the way I feel about them because of their labels. It's not because it is Chanel that I will feel like a million bucks. It will be because I love the cut, the fabric, the way my body look in the outfit. Furthermore I am also interested in the way the piece of clothing was made. I am not a "hipster", yet I have grown more and more interesting in endeavours such as Muzungu sisters, People Tree, I have brought some shoes (toms), accessories to support specific charities etc I try to mix style/my tastes with positive social endeavours.

I try to believe that it's not all about labels but about feeling good with our purchases and how they look on our bodies. Mixing our own tastes with our budget and "philosophy".

 

[droodyblog]

I think it's extremely facile to buy something simply because of it's label, but a lot of the people who buy from luxury brands are there for nothing but the logos. Fashion is dying