Can you relate to the lifestyle

Pretty much the only paper I buy now is the Irishtimes on Saturday so flicking through the magazine I started reading an article about the luxury good buyer for Brown Thomas she is dressed head to tow in the luxury brands they sell, none of whom I have ever heard of except for the iPhone. The whole tone of the article was having nice things is an amazing life style something to aspire to, surrounding your self in luxury.

I cant relate at all. Do lot of people think having such things is the be all and end all, the rout to all happiness is to have expensive stuff.

Robsweezie

Definitely not. Your health is your wealth.

Youngblood.III

The article is a big advertisement, to convince us that these items will make us happy...its easier to pretend to be happy with your well off.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Menas

It is nice to have nice things, but it is not the be all and end all.
There are certainly a lot of other things higher up the list. Physical and mental health in particular.

Son Of A Vidic

mariaalice wrote: »

The whole tone of the article was having nice things is an amazing life style something to aspire to, surrounding your self in luxury.

Consumerism is the new religion and creating a need for something that you don't really need, is the central tenet of this religion. If one can just see past the bullshít, then they've taken a big step towards real happiness.

maxwell smart

Didn't read the article but in fairness to the lady working for Brown Thomas she is using that feature as a sales tool. She might wear Penney's PJ's at home!

It's all about creating a need and a desire.

That doesn't mean it's not total bollix of course

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

A luxury goods buyer from Brown Thomas is hardly going to use her press exposure to say "True happiness comes from within, not from material acquisition" , in fairness.

The Irish Times Magazine is a rag though, it's full of that sort of shíte. Mind you, I got the Sunday Times yesterday and the Style magazine in that is forty times worse.

the evasion_kid

mariaalice wrote: »

Pretty much the only paper I buy now is the Irishtimes on Saturday so flicking through the magazine I started reading an article about the luxury good buyer for Brown Thomas she is dressed head to tow in the luxury brands they sell, none of whom I have ever heard of except for the iPhone. The whole tone of the article was having nice things is an amazing life style something to aspire to, surrounding your self in luxury.

I cant relate at all. Do lot of people think having such things is the be all and end all, the rout to all happiness is to have expensive stuff.

All part of the whiney ass,narcissistic generation we find ourselves in.

Duiske

Robsweezie wrote: »

Definitely not. Your health is your wealth.

I have some health issues which mean I'll probably not have the best quality of life when I get to my late 50's/early 60's, assuming I even make it that far. Was sitting in the garden a few days ago with my 1yr old granddaughter and found myself thinking that I would gladly give away every possession I have if I could be sure of being at her 18th birthday party with the strenght to hug her, and the compos mentis to say "Happy Birthday, I love you". Possessions are just stuff that make us feel like we are doing ok. Family, health and love are what truly make us feel alive and happy.

The other thing I was wondering about is where are all the people who shop and buy in Brown Thomas on a regular bases, I live in a reasonable well off area and I know some wealthy people but they are not buying designer hand bags every day of the week and changing their BMW yearly, yet to keep a shop like Brown Thomas going there must be a large amour of very wealthy people in Ireland.

kneemos

mariaalice wrote: »

The other thing I was wondering about is where are all the people who shop and buy in Brown Thomas on a regular bases, I live in a reasonable well off area and I know some wealthy people but they are not buying designer hand bags every day of the week and changing their BMW yearly, yet to keep a shop like Brown Thomas going there must be a large amour of very wealthy people in Ireland.

Obviously the people a class above you and your friends.

kneemos

kneemos wrote: »

Obviously the people a class above you and your friends.

Yes but is their really that large a population of the very wealthy in Ireland is my point.

Generic Dreadhead

I'd say the ole Christmas Gift Vouchers account for like 75% of their income

Menas

mariaalice wrote: »

Yes but is their really that large a population of the very wealthy in Ireland is my point.

No, there is not. But there are enough people in the 'middle' who go in there a few times a year for a wee treat, or to buy a present for someone. I think I would fall in to that category to be honest.

kneemos

mariaalice wrote: »

Yes but is their really that large a population of the very wealthy in Ireland is my point.

Very many wealthy people about.
Very many of them aren't obviously wealthy.

jimgoose

Anyone who's idea of "luxury" is draping themselves in BT tat has my sympathy. :pac:

languagenerd

Even if I had a load of money I don't think I'd be bothered buying luxury handbags/shoes etc. I've never been able to relate to that sort of lifestyle.

Handbags are going to get bashed around, they get left on the floor in bars, people bang into you on the street, you drop them, they get rained on... I just don't see the point in spending thousands of euro on one, because either you use it as intended and it gets worn; or you prize it and only bring it to special occasions, which kind of defeats the point of spending so much on it. Same with shoes. A couple hundred euro for a special occasion? Fine. A couple thousand? Nah.

Yeah, I'd like to have some nice clothes, but there's a happy medium there.

Aglomerado

languagenerd wrote: »

Even if I had a load of money I don't think I'd be bothered buying luxury handbags/shoes etc. I've never been able to relate to that sort of lifestyle.

Handbags are going to get bashed around, they get left on the floor in bars, people bang into you on the street, you drop them, they get rained on... I just don't see the point in spending thousands of euro on one, because either you use it as intended and it gets worn; or you prize it and only bring it to special occasions, which kind of defeats the point of spending so much on it. Same with shoes. A couple hundred euro for a special occasion? Fine. A couple thousand? Nah.

Yeah, I'd like to have some nice clothes, but there's a happy medium there.

Same here. Those Hermes scarves are lovely but I couldn't justify spending hundreds on one. Especially when the pashmina I bought on holiday for €20 does the same job.

Agricola

I get the Sunday Times here some weeks and that paper has a similar effect on me. Seems to be staffed by two groups of people. A bunch of middle class social climber snobs who think the be all and end all of life is to make sheds loads of money, drive a bigger newer car than the Jones next door and generally feel superior about themselves. And then theres the hippy dippy younger journalists who just bang out about seeking out new "experiences", airbnbing, and social media. Oh and then theres the celebrity name dropping.

I think you have to be well off and British to get this shít. I fail on both counts.

Anyone who thinks certain brands equal happiness has a borked idea of what happiness is.

Maybe its an age thing I come from a background where if you had money you were discreet about it, in fact that was the epitome of social decorum.

Spending money on a good coat or shoes was seen as a good investment.

meeeeh

Not all wealthy people are the same and they don't all have same lifestyle.

Anyway if people can afford expensive stuff I don't have a problem. However I absolutely hate waste or disregard for stuff. If you buy something in bt or penny's just because you can and then never wear it or use it it is just as bad.

jimgoose

Candie wrote: »

Anyone who thinks certain brands equal happiness has a borked idea of what happiness is.

I was watching this thing on the TV the other night about chefs and suppliers who's niche is keeping a bunch of overstimulated, bored five-year-olds - a.k.a. billionaire jet-set types - amused. Between buckets of Beluga caviar, those coffee-beans that are digested and excreted by some blasted monkey or other, and dreaming up ever more exotic and amusing ways to cook steak, I would have been wondering if these people were complete eejits or what, were it not for the fact that they are lip-wobblingly, bowel-evacuatingly, trouser-flappingly wealthy. :pac:

Baggy Trousers

I only go into Brown Thomas to look at the made-up assistants. They always give me durty looks.

Stone Deaf 4evr

such materialism is appalling.



posted from my macbook air.

ancapailldorcha

“We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.”

― Dave Ramsey

jimgoose

jimgoose wrote: »

I was watching this thing on the TV the other night about chefs and suppliers who's niche is keeping a bunch of overstimulated, bored five-year-olds - a.k.a. billionaire jet-set types - amused. Between buckets of Beluga caviar, those coffee-beans that are digested and excreted by some blasted monkey or other, and dreaming up ever more exotic and amusing ways to cook steak, I would have been wondering if these people were complete eejits or what, were it not for the fact that they are lip-wobblingly, bowel-evacuatingly, trouser-flappingly wealthy. :pac:

Probably the latter. Life only offers so much novelty available to the privileged, there comes a point where it has to be invented, exclusivified, and monetised.

How else are they to know how special and deserving they are?

NachoBusiness

What did the posh lady from Foxrock call the penis that had just been up her bum?

Brown Thomas

jimgoose

Candie wrote: »

Probably the latter. Life only offers so much novelty available to the privileged, there comes a point where it has to be invented, exclusivified, and monetised.

How else are they to know how special and deserving they are?

I dunno, it all sounds like a lot of hard work to me, thus completely missing the point. Any chance of a pint a' plain and a rasher sangidge??

languagenerd

mariaalice wrote: »

Spending money on a good coat or shoes was seen as a good investment.

I get that, alright, both of those are worth shelling out for. But there comes a point where you can't be gaining much more for the money you spend.

I mean, if you spend a couple hundred euro on a decent coat, you'll usually get good value out of it. Are you going to get much more out of a €2000 coat? (Other than the brand-name, or a more exotic wool...)

I have noting against anyone buying that stuff if that what they want, it was just one of those occasions when you feel a jarring disconnect from the society you live in.


Maybe all those who bang on about the rich getting riche, the poor getting poorer and the middle ground disappearing are right.

On a lighter note maybe Aongus has an opinion on Brown Thomas it must be one of his spiritual homes.

jam_mac_jam

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

“We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.”

― Dave Ramsey

Is that quote not from Fight Club?

If people have the money and want to spend it on what I'd consider frivolities, then let them at it. At least it creates employment.

Eugene Norman

mariaalice wrote: »

Yes but is their really that large a population of the very wealthy in Ireland is my point.

There are 6 billionaires. Probably quite a few multi millionaires and many millionaires.

mailforkev

mariaalice wrote: »

The other thing I was wondering about is where are all the people who shop and buy in Brown Thomas on a regular bases, I live in a reasonable well off area and I know some wealthy people but they are not buying designer hand bags every day of the week and changing their BMW yearly, yet to keep a shop like Brown Thomas going there must be a large amour of very wealthy people in Ireland.

I buy a fair chunk of my clothes in BT.
I'm not minted by any means.

I'd generally rather buy one nice thing, made in Europe or the US, than 3 or 4 disposable items made in a far eastern sweatshop. And I will pay a premium for that.

Nothing I buy has logos advertising the brand, I don't buy clothes to impress others. I'm not flash, I just prefer nice stuff.

jimgoose

Candie wrote: »

If people have the money and want to spend it on what I'd consider frivolities, then let them at it. At least it creates employment.

In the words of a Mr. O'Carroll-Kelly, "I’d like to think that life is still about accumulating things, though. I suppose I’ve always been an idealist."

arayess

Baggy Trousers wrote: »

I only go into Brown Thomas to look at the made-up assistants. They always give me durty looks.

some rides alright... well worth rubber necking when walking by

Autonomous Cowherd

I live in the backward boonies in the west, where real men never wash their faces and get round on clapped out honda 50s with a beef nuts bag strapped to the windshield. My husband made a long voyage to Wicklow last Saturday and when he came home he remarked, ''Jaysis, the number of chubby feckers in khaki shorts and polo shirts getting into BMW's to jaunt around for the afternoon....It's a whole different world out there.'':pac:

Eugene Norman

mailforkev wrote: »

I buy a fair chunk of my clothes in BT.
I'm not minted by any means.

I'd generally rather buy one nice thing, made in Europe or the US, than 3 or 4 disposable items made in a far eastern sweatshop. And I will pay a premium for that.

Nothing I buy has logos advertising the brand, I don't buy clothes to impress others. I'm not flash, I just prefer nice stuff.

Not sure why it has to be BT though, rather than the Internet.

Fat Christy

Cormac... wrote: »

I'd say the ole Christmas Gift Vouchers account for like 75% of their income

Reading through this, I immediately thought of the vouchers for BT and Debenhams I got for Christmas that are still lying at home. I need to get on that. :pac:

jimgoose

Autonomous Cowherd wrote: »

I live in the backward boonies in the west, where real men never wash their faces and get round on clapped out honda 50s with a beef nuts bag strapped to the windshield. My husband made a long voyage to Wicklow last Saturday and when he came home he remarked, ''Jaysis, the number of chubby feckers in khaki shorts and polo shirts getting into BMW's to jaunt around for the afternoon....It's a whole different world out there.'':pac:

He went from the Atlantic coast to Wicklow on a Honda 50? Better man than I, Gunga-Din! :pac::pac::pac:

mailforkev

mailforkev wrote: »

I buy a fair chunk of my clothes in BT.
I'm not minted by any means.

I'd generally rather buy one nice thing, made in Europe or the US, than 3 or 4 disposable items made in a far eastern sweatshop. And I will pay a premium for that.

Nothing I buy has logos advertising the brand, I don't buy clothes to impress others. I'm not flash, I just prefer nice stuff.

That's not really what the tone of the article was about buying well made clothes is a good idea you will have them for years and you will be the type to look after them. The whole tone of the article was aspirational life style that the bit I cant relate to at all.

Autonomous Cowherd

jimgoose wrote: »

He went from the Atlantic coast to Wicklow on a Honda 50? Better man than I, Gunga-Din! :pac::pac::pac:

lol. No, we are blessed with a 15 year old car that sounds like a honda 50

nelly17

If you consistantly have nice things I think it can diminish the value of nice things

Eponymous

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Is that quote not from Fight Club?

Not quite:

Tyler Durden wrote:

Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy $hit we don't need

GLaDOS

I prefer to spend my money on experiences rather than items. Gigs, footballs matches, holidays etc are things I'll remember for the rest of my life and the people I experienced them with.

mikom

mariaalice wrote: »

Pretty much the only paper I buy now is the Irishtimes on Saturday so flicking through the magazine I started reading an article about the luxury good buyer for Brown Thomas she is dressed head to tow in the luxury brands they sell, none of whom I have ever heard of except for the iPhone. The whole tone of the article was having nice things is an amazing life style something to aspire to, surrounding your self in luxury.

I cant relate at all. Do lot of people think having such things is the be all and end all, the rout to all happiness is to have expensive stuff.

She sounds like a sad ****er.........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RnOrwEb7Hg

catallus

Fat Christy wrote: »

Reading through this, I immediately thought of the vouchers for BT and Debenhams I got for Christmas that are still lying at home. I need to get on that. :pac:

Do they not expire after six months or so?

Fat Christy

catallus wrote: »

Do they not expire after six months or so?

Shut it!

I hope not.

jimgoose

catallus wrote: »

Do they not expire after six months or so?

Various retailers have a habit of doing this, that is expiring vouchers after some period of time. My view on this is that I bought the thing, with money that had to be found somewhere, it's the same as a bank-draft and it's mine. Some Ultan Shirt manager-type who tries to persuade me otherwise is in for a less-than-pleasant afternoon.