Most Overpriced Designer?

[GIVENCHYlover]

Louis Vuitton SS 12 dress - $ 61,000




Christian Dior SS 12 dress - $ 14,000




Chanel SS 12 dress - $ 12,500




Lanvin SS 12 dress - $ 10,785



photos from style.com

 

[Alexei]

^ Wow, some of those prices are way excessive. Particularly that LV one. And what's worse is that they're all hideous (perhaps with the exception of the Lanvin dress, though if you ask me that's very much debatable).

 

[KatherineCouture]

OMG! 100 000 is just crazy price for LV clutch.

 

[Crying Diamonds]

As soon as any type of embellishment goes onto a garment the price skyrockets due to the handwork necessary to apply the beads. Also, two of those dresses are draped on the stand (though the Dior dress is a terrible example) which is expensive and takes a lot of time.
The flowers on the LV dress are some sort of laser-cut plastic centered with metallic beads; the Chanel dress is covered with sequins on what is probably quite an expensive textured fabric; the skirt of the Dior is draped and the top part is sequinned and the Lanvin is draped with embellished shoulders.
I'd say the LV and the Dior are overpriced, but the former is a statement piece while the latter just looks like a pretty cheap dress.

 

[JustABoy]

What I take from this is that somewhere in the world, there is a guy who can make stuff out of eggshells. That skill is only somewhat more useful than the guy who makes hammers out of glass or the guy who makes lion cages out of steak.

What's your point? If utility is what you're looking for, you're in the wrong place! No one buys any luxury brand because they've figured out how to make coat that keeps you warmer.

 

[Squizree]

What's your point? If utility is what you're looking for, you're in the wrong place! No one buys any luxury brand because they've figured out how to make coat that keeps you warmer.

lol what? There are many intelligent buyers who make sure a piece is practical and functional before they buy it. If you're buying a luxury fur coat just for the sake of buying it then that's just sad. Very sad.

 

[lepetitcouturier]

I agree with all of you on the coat and clutch. I think the clutch is impractical as someone would be deathly afraid to walk around with something so delicate. It would have to be something used as a thing to brag about rather than regular use. But I doubt that anyone would be willing to shell out (pun intended) 100,000$ for that. And as for the coat, I completely understand crocodile. The only parts of crocodiles that actually get any kind of use is the meat and the belly hide. But when you buy something that is made of a rare, expensive skin, and it is put together perfectly, you should buy it only if it is timeless. Hence why Couture isn't looked at as a joke. The clothes are all completely timeless. And it's the same with Birkins. They're extremely expensive, but they are hand made and they are made of the highest quality of skins. But this jacket is made specifically for March-August of 2012. Things like that usually have a price range of 2-30k. But this is over 175k. And it's the same with the clutch, it will be bought for strictly bragging rights. But as I mentioned in my last post, why not just take the money for this coat, go to paris, stay at the ritz, and buy a Chanel couture gown for the same amount? It'll be timeless for as long as you own it and it's value will only increase rather than decrease. The only time it decreases is when Couture is being sold at a vintage store.

 

[Frenger.]

That clutch would mabye be worth 100k if it was made out of a dragons egg. That's just ridiculous, there are plenty of things that take half a year to make which are more practical and better than that...(A small living space, for example) Besides, it would be so fragile, I would be shattered if it broke.

 

[ultramarine]

Re: Vuitton minudière.

Just because it mentions that it was made with eggshells it does not mean its ENTIRELY made of eggshells. If you look at the details of the bag. Like in here

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/d...gner=design_house59&trend=&iphoto=66#slide=66

you will see that it has a metal clasp. I think the bag is entirely made up of metal and the eggshells are applied like how you would applied enamel on jewelry ... and after that, it looks glossy so I think the eggshells are very well protected.

Now ... if it wasnt for LV, how many people would know of this technique .. and they DO pay the artisans, don´t they ... and if it wasnt through a channel like LV, how often these artisans would work? I loved the minudières when I saw em the first time over and I still love em.

 

[JustABoy]

lol what? There are many intelligent buyers who make sure a piece is practical and functional before they buy it. If you're buying a luxury fur coat just for the sake of buying it then that's just sad. Very sad.

I don't think I made my point clearly. Of course people want a fur coat to be functional and to keep them warm. But a fur coat from Fendi doesn't keep you any warmer than a fur coat from a vintage store or from a less well known brand.

Maybe they use a nicer fur from a rarer animal with a more pristine pelt; or maybe it was cut in such a way to seem particularly fashionable; or maybe you're buying it because it's Fendi -- but none of these things has much to do with the coat's ability to keep one warm.

My point is that this entire market is based on forms of value other than that which is strictly practical or functional; in fact, luxury goods are valuable predominantly for reasons non-practical. Perhaps it's sad to say it aloud, but what moves this market isn't utility.

 

[Riseup]

Daaaaaamn, that Vuitton collection has got to be one of the most expensive in fashion history, if not the most....

 

[GivenchyHomme]

Daaaaaamn, that Vuitton collection has got to be one of the most expensive in fashion history, if not the most....

I agree. It's ridiculous. Maybe that's why his new collection seemed more accessible,wearable, and probably less expensive.

 

[mikeijames]

i don't find those vuitton pieces all that overpriced -- astronomically expensive, yes, but not quite overpriced -- because the reason they've assigned that price tag comes not only in the craftsmanship and creativity, but in the exclusivity of such a garment. also, all of this discussion about "buying a ferrari" or "buying a couture gown" really does not take away from this point because the people buying these garments don't have to choose between the one or the other. they have enough money to buy couture gowns, ferraris, donate millions to charity, have a portfolio of exclusive real estate, and still buy pieces like this.

but, with all that said, i really do wonder if we'll ever see the woman who actually buys and wears this garment at retail and not just as a gift/loan from the house.

 

[GivenchyHomme]

i don't find those vuitton pieces all that overpriced -- astronomically expensive, yes, but not quite overpriced -- because the reason they've assigned that price tag comes not only in the craftsmanship and creativity, but in the exclusivity of such a garment. also, all of this discussion about "buying a ferrari" or "buying a couture gown" really does not take away from this point because the people buying these garments don't have to choose between the one or the other. they have enough money to buy couture gowns, ferraris, donate millions to charity, have a portfolio of exclusive real estate, and still buy pieces like this.

but, with all that said, i really do wonder if we'll ever see the woman who actually buys and wears this garment at retail and not just as a gift/loan from the house.

The clothes are only a small portion of LV's profits. Marc can design whatever the hell he wants and LV will price it however they please because in the end that's not how they'll be making their money. Louis Vuitton RTW is basically a spectacle to showcase the newest bags and to keep people talking. Magazines most likely feel pressure to feature pieces from one of the biggest ad buyers being LV of course. Don't get me wrong, sometimes LV is exceptionally beautiful and other times it's hideous beyond belief. The hype that follows is just a little ridiculous sometimes in my opinion.

 

[Crying Diamonds]

you will see that it has a metal clasp. I think the bag is entirely made up of metal and the eggshells are applied like how you would applied enamel on jewelry ... and after that, it looks glossy so I think the eggshells are very well protected.

Yes, I refuse to believe that Vuitton would risk their reputation as one of the world's most exclusive luggage labels by producing something that would smash if one knocked it off the dining table - this clutch may be made of egg shells but it's unlikely to be as fragile as that.

Also, we have to remember that Marc Jacobs isn't some genius who comes up with all of these incredible ideas - there are clothing designers and accessory designers, plus textile designers from all over the world whose ideas, such as the incredible powder-croc finish, are bought by Vuitton. Marc Jacobs just chooses the designs he likes best.

 

[Chanelcouture09]

Every house operates the same, strategically, most stores that pop up by the likes of Chanel, Dior, Vuitton and Gucci (to name afew) are mainly accessories focused, Chanel make very little profit from their clothes, their menswear, which is made in very small quantities and last time I checked are only available in the Rue Cambon store and also available in a store or two China or Tokyo, but that may have changed since, Accessories and Cosmetics are the big money spinners for those houses, hence why by 2015 everyone in China will own at least 2 pieces of Vuitton, according to in house statistics.

Some pieces from the collections aren't even made for production, some are of course made to order or for editorial use only to gather an interest in the brand (i.e Alexander McQueen), its all another marketing strategy for the houses, again, they'll either custom make or alter a look for a publication (such as US Vogue September 2011 with Kate).

 

[mikeijames]

^i get that, but while the clothing does not make up a significant portion of their bottom line, they price the garments with some customer base in mind. i'm just curious whether or not the public will ever see these garments on those customers.

 

[Littleathquakes]

I think if you hang around the right circle of people, and I assume it's a very small circle, you'd see these garments on real customers

And i'd assume 99.9% of us on here won't be experiencing that

 

[ultramarine]

I agree. It's ridiculous. Maybe that's why his new collection seemed more accessible,wearable, and probably less expensive.

Darling ... I think you've forgotten the Galliano for Dior $1 million couture dress

 

[Squizree]

I heard that Tisic's Givenchy couture dresses cost around 800,000 Euros each!