Designer clothes - how can the price be justified!!!!

Novella · 21-07-2009 07:39PM

I don't give a fcuk about labels, if I like something and can afford it, I will buy it, whether it be in Penney's or in Brown Thomas!

kizzyr · 21-07-2009 07:41PM

BlackandGold wrote: »

Right ladies, just a question I've been pondering about:

Stemming on from the Penneys debate, and some posts about Karen Millen dresses etc, I decided to look at the KM website for myself and see prices of dresses! JESUS! €200 easily for a simple dress!

Okay fair enough, I can understand people not wanting every Tom Dick and Harry walking around in the same clothes, so by going for more expensive clothes, this eliminates a lot of that.

However, women are notorious for not wearing a similar outfit more than once or twice - " I can't wear that dress again, I wore it a couple of weeks ago when I was out" - so how can spending such an amount of money on a dress be justified?

Also with shoes - I certainly would never pay near €200 for a pair of shoes - €100 yes but €200 or more is just taking it to a whole new level.

As an aside, I spotted a lovely autumn/winter coat in Debenhams - looked at the price tag; couldn't believe it! €43 for a John Rocha coat! No sale! Then I checked the others as that one wasn't my size and it seems it was a missprint - the others were €132!! If only that €43 was my size - they'd have to sell it for me for that as it was clearly marked as €43!!!

I like my shoes, I like my dresses - but couldn't spend so much money on something that only gets worn a handful of times.

So ladies - is spending such an exorbitant amount of money on a pair of shoes or little dress the norm???

I would spend that amount of money on my clothes. I like clothes, shoes etc a lot, don't drink (save for a glass of Bucks Fizz at Christmas), don't smoke and so chose to spend my money on good quality investment pieces of clothing.

midlandsmissus · 21-07-2009 09:39PM

kizzyr wrote: »

I would spend that amount of money on my clothes. I like clothes, shoes etc a lot, don't drink (save for a glass of Bucks Fizz at Christmas), don't smoke and so chose to spend my money on good quality investment pieces of clothing.

I don't smoke, rarely drink and I wouldn't dream of spending that amount of money on clothes. You obviously value fashion more than I do which is fair enough.It just seems like a huge waste of money to me.

bnagrrl · 21-07-2009 10:05PM

Pinky Pixie wrote: »

I have indeed spent over €200 for shoes. They have been re-heeled numerous times and yet still look as fabulous as the day they were purchased.

+1 on this. I have several pairs of heels that I spent a lot on but they are still going strong years later. (Always get new shoes soled before you wear 'em!) They don't pinch or squeeze or make my feet sweat and I can happily wear them for hours.

My wardrobe is a mish mash of designer stuff (basic items that I can wear from season to season) and inexpensive high fashion items (Penneys etc that are only "in" for a brief time.)

chocgirl · 21-07-2009 11:16PM

I spend a lot of my money on clothes. I always have, even when I was broke and in college I spent proportionately way more on clothes than anything else. I know it's a cliche but I view nice items as investments. I suppose I spend more on accessories, bags and shoes, than on clothes really.

I'm not a label snob though and I'd shop in penneys as quickly as anywhere else. I don't like anything that has an obvious label on it though. I just don't believe in free advertising:).

The most expensive item in my wardrobe is a DVF dress, it was a really ridiculous price but I've worn it a ridiculous amount and I still absolutely love it over two years later.

I don't really feel I need to justify it but it constantly comes up with friends and family. I work really hard, I don't smoke and don't spend as much on drink as most of my peers and figure I might as well spend my money on something I enjoy.

midlandsmissus · 22-07-2009 02:33AM

chocgirl wrote: »

I spend a lot of my money on clothes. I always have, even when I was broke and in college I spent proportionately way more on clothes than anything else. I know it's a cliche but I view nice items as investments. I suppose I spend more on accessories, bags and shoes, than on clothes really.

I'm not a label snob though and I'd shop in penneys as quickly as anywhere else. I don't like anything that has an obvious label on it though. I just don't believe in free advertising:).

The most expensive item in my wardrobe is a DVF dress, it was a really ridiculous price but I've worn it a ridiculous amount and I still absolutely love it over two years later.

I don't really feel I need to justify it but it constantly comes up with friends and family. I work really hard, I don't smoke and don't spend as much on drink as most of my peers and figure I might as well spend my money on something I enjoy.

Yeah I agree you should spend money on what makes you happy.Clothes is definitely not where it's at for me.I look at something that's 200+ and think 'you could get a holiday for that!'. It just seems like an unbelievable waste of money to me.

tinkerbell · 22-07-2009 09:54AM

I have a mix of designer pieces and high-street.

For handbags, I only will buy designer. I'm not interested in high street bags, they fall apart too quickly and show wear and tear easily and the quality is just not that great.

MadgeBadge · 22-07-2009 10:50AM

My income has never afforded me the experience to answer this question thoroughly.

However, I have been fortunate enough to come across the odd designer bargain during sale season. I would happily pay full price if I could afford it, and it was good quality, and I knew I'd get plenty of wear from it.

For the moment, I'm happy enough shopping in the high street, especially Pennys, and second hand shops. I'm also getting into altering my own clothes, when I have enough patience to thread a needle.

For those of you who are interested in designer goods, I hear that Jimmy Choo is doing a line for H&M.:)

tinkerbell · 22-07-2009 10:58AM

^^ Yes he's creating a shoe collection for H&M!

lemon_sherbert · 22-07-2009 11:08AM

I buy all the basics on the high street; jeans, t-shirts, tops etc. But I do have quite a few designer things that I bought because they looked really well on me. But none of them have worn out yet, contrary to lots of the high street stuff. Though I am always fairly wary of buying clothes from places like Penneys when I have doubts about the ethics of their production.

I am definitely willing to pay more for clothes if they are different/make me look great/top quality. But to buy purely for the brand is nonsense.

JP Liz · 22-07-2009 11:43AM

If i have money i will splash on designer stuff (not doing it much nowadays) - its nice to say this its deisgner also

I agree shopping online you can find plenty more bargains

Clare Bear · 22-07-2009 11:55AM

MadgeBadge wrote: »

For those of you who are interested in designer goods, I hear that Jimmy Choo is doing a line for H&M.:)

Oooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh :eek: When when when? Oh excira!!!!!!!!

I buy what looks nice to me. I won't go overboard on spending though, I think it's silly to spend so much on clothes, I hate label snobs. I'll shop anywhere from Penneys to High Street to Boutiques. It depends on what I want but I don't discriminate, I'll shop everywhere, I'm an equal rights buyer :pac:

Tony EH · 22-07-2009 12:26PM

Designer clothes - how can the price be justified!!!!

Unfortunately, as long as there's gob****es that are willing to pay exorbitant prices for a bit of cloth that has been produced for 1/70th of the price, then "they" won't have to justify anything.

Fools and their money...

IvyTheTerrible · 22-07-2009 12:44PM

I don't care about labels and never really buy "designer" stuff. However, as someone else mentioned, it does depend on how much wear something will get.

So I would have no problem spending more on a good winter coat, or a pair of good shoes because I will wear them a lot. But holiday clothes? Nah.

astrofool · 22-07-2009 01:49PM

A lot of designer labels aren't that profitable, it costs a lot of money to maintain a brand, LaCroix, for example, has never made money.

I do laugh when someone says "well I'd spend €100, but not €200", as if 100 was a little and 200 a whole lot more. People have a very personal concept of money, and what its value is to them, be very careful before judging others by it.

MadgeBadge · 22-07-2009 02:00PM

Clare Bear wrote: »

Oooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh :eek: When when when? Oh excira!!!!!!!!

November 14th, I hope they're practical for winter. Here's the link;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1193640/Celebrity-favourite-shoe-brand-Jimmy-Choo-announces-new-designer-collaboration-H-M.html

cuckoo · 22-07-2009 07:24PM

lemon_sherbert wrote: »

Though I am always fairly wary of buying clothes from places like Penneys when I have doubts about the ethics of their production.

+1.

I'm trying to reduce the amount of stuff in my life, and would rather buy more expensive clothes that will last longer. I have a zip up hoodie that is going strong over 10 years later - the amount of photos of me wearing it throughout the years is crazy, this top has grown up with me!

While I can't be 100% sure about the ethics behind any brand of clothing (except People Tree, etc, which I don't seem to fit me nicely), I would be more cautious of the v. cheap end of the market. It's not just the exploitation of the workers - there's also the impact manufacturing outside the EU has where there may be less controls regarding pollution, and the fuel used to ship the finished item over to us.

Then there's what happens to the cheap clothes after a few wears if people are tired of them - the charity shops are swamped with what are unsellable items that they have to get rid of, a lot of textiles are unsuitable for recycling (and the processing involved in this is again using more energy) and too many people just throw them into the black bin for landfill.

Then again, my opinion is also coloured by the fact that I'm a bit of an awkward size to fit, so would prefer clothes that have a bit more work in them (ie tucks, bust darts, etc). If i were an industry standard proportioned size 10 and could look good in off the shelf stuff then maybe i might be buying more clothes at a lower cost per item.

Shoes/boots are one area i'll always spend on though - taken care of they last for ages and keep me comfortable.

kizzyr · 22-07-2009 07:46PM

midlandsmissus wrote: »

I don't smoke, rarely drink and I wouldn't dream of spending that amount of money on clothes. You obviously value fashion more than I do which is fair enough.It just seems like a huge waste of money to me.

I like fashion, no point in denying that. I also get a kick out of new clothes, shoes, bags etc all the more so when I get something unusual that no one else (or hardly anyone at least) will have. I hate nothing more than every second woman on the street having the same clothes as me.
I suppose I'm lucky in that I earn good money and bought my house 9 years ago before things got crazy in that market and so my living expenses are pretty low. However that said, if I had less disposable income and I could buy new things less often, I'd save up and wait to be able to buy something rather than get something cheaper of lesser quality.
Have to ask, isn't Karen Millen, Coast, etc more high street than designer?

BlackandGold · 22-07-2009 08:12PM

Maybe you're right, but to me they're expensive enough for designer!

kizzyr · 22-07-2009 08:14PM

BlackandGold wrote: »

Maybe you're right, but to me they're expensive enough for designer!

They're not cheap, wasn't trying to imply that they are;) There is quite a difference though between €200/ 300 for a Karen Millen dress and €2000/3000 for an Versace gown.

chocgirl · 22-07-2009 09:33PM

astrofool wrote: »

A lot of designer labels aren't that profitable, it costs a lot of money to maintain a brand, LaCroix, for example, has never made money.

I do laugh when someone says "well I'd spend €100, but not €200", as if 100 was a little and 200 a whole lot more. People have a very personal concept of money, and what its value is to them, be very careful before judging others by it.

Exactly ten euro to one person could be 100 to another. I'd never forego my holidays for instance for the sake of a new outfit and wouldn't put myself in a situation where I was running up debt on credit cards like some people I know:).

tinkerbell · 22-07-2009 09:58PM

Karen Millen and Coast are high street, they are definitely not designer!

sunnyside · 22-07-2009 10:09PM

tinkerbell wrote: »

Karen Millen and Coast are high street, they are definitely not designer!

Reiss is always included in this category too, they are considered to be the upper end of the high street.
But Karen Millen and Coast used to be only in Brown Thomas which would be designer, bit confusing isn't it.

simu · 22-07-2009 10:19PM

sunnyside wrote: »

Reiss is always included in this category too, they are considered to be the upper end of the high street.
But Karen Millen and Coast used to be only in Brown Thomas which would be designer, bit confusing isn't it.

BT is kinda half designer, half upper-end high street. The one in Cork, anyway. I guess there isn't enough of a market for a purely designer-based department store in Cork.

Odats · 22-07-2009 11:53PM

Designer is justified especially for lads imo as Penny's,Dunnes etc don't offer the same quality with the value per wear category. Never buy in the likes of River Island Topman etc as they lose their shape after a few washes. Just back from holidays in America and stocked up on aload of casual tshirts,jeans,hoodies etc usual reliables, Abercrombie,Aeropostale,Levis etc. BTW we are getting robbed over here. My point I bought a Lyle & Scott cardigan in Brown Thomas at Christmas hasn't lost its shape where as bought a Jasper Conran one in Debenhams and completely lost its shape.
Items like good winter coats, leather jackets are worth the extra money as they'll last a lifetime.

Hermione* · 23-07-2009 12:40AM

Reiss, Coast, Karen Millen et al are all high street. I find there's very little that's genuinely designer in BT in Limerick; it's nearly all high street concessions.

I love clothes, but I buy mostly in sales, and I buy a lot online. I do have some designer pieces that were well worth the money - DvF dresses, Marc Jacobs boots, a Temperley dress, Catherine Malandrino dresses. I don't mind too much about designer or not; I hate labels anyway and I hate having what everyone else has. I am fanatical about the materials of my clothes though: shoes and handbags must be leather, coats must be wool/cashmere, macs must be cotton, winter sweaters must be cashmere,work trousers and pencil skirts must be wool for winter and linen for summer, and I love silk for dresses/shirts/tops. I couldn't buy anything that wasn't a natural fabric. I've been known to put back things I really liked because they were made of polyester. I would never buy a brand name bag like Gucci, Guess etc that's made of fabric and plastered in logos.

I do think designer pieces are worth the money. I have a Chloe handbag and a Marc Jacobs handbag that live in their dustbags when I'm not using them, and I expect to have them for at least twenty years. With proper care, they'll definitely show a return on investment.

doctor evil · 23-07-2009 01:48AM

lgoring21 wrote: »

and yet sometimes penneys clothes last longer than the other brands

Do you take it out of the bag, unfold it, look at it, refold it and put it back?

I don't like clothes covered in brand names, I would rather not be a billboard. I will spend money on better made clothes that by definition will last longer.

The problem with the internet is that you can never be sure of the fit than there is the cost of P&P which can be expensive. You'll be buggered if customs catches it as well.

midlandsmissus · 23-07-2009 03:49AM

doctor evil wrote: »

Do you take it out of the bag, unfold it, look at it, refold it and put it back?

I don't like clothes covered in brand names, I would rather not be a billboard. I will spend money on better made clothes that by definition will last longer.

The problem with the internet is that you can never be sure of the fit than there is the cost of P&P which can be expensive. You'll be buggered if customs catches it as well.

I've actually never had any clothes from Penneys that didn't last. Actually I've never had ANY clothes that didn't last. What do people mean when they say their clothes didn't last? Is it like lose shape/fall apart? Cause that's never once happened to me. Maybe I just take really good care of them or have a good washing machine or something?

Das Kitty · 23-07-2009 08:59AM

I definitely prefer good quality clothing (fabric, fit and finish), but I don't think you need to spend huge amounts to get it. In fact I was looking at a pair of wool trousers in Karen Millen for €120 and they weren't even lined and the finish on the seams was less than fabulous.

I actually find the quality of the clothing in Oasis very good in general and the prices aren't huge either.

ztoical · 23-07-2009 11:02AM

Twee. wrote: »

I like to spend on key wardrobe pieces. I mean I'd rather spend over a hundred quid on a great pair of jeans and crisp white shirt, but wouldn't dream of spending it on say Ugg boots, which will go/are/are going out of fashion.

+ 1 I tend to buy good jeans and other key pieces, spend the little extra and get ones that last and go with everything. Match them with cheaper items, charity shop finds or reconstructed shirts I do myself. Learning to use a sewing machine a few years back was one of the best things I ever did. I buy jeans once a year in new york as I'm always there for work in June. I stock up on several pairs of jeans at a fav local store I know and they last been worn day and night and I can dress them up or down as needed. Also stock up on undies and bras at the same time, get them in this one place that always has a buy 1 get one free deal on really good bras, never getting a cheap bra again after the under wiring broke and stabbed me in the chest. I also pick up shirts at craft shows and comic festivals that are hand printed - like Squid Fire or attack Threadless.com during one of their $5 sales.

I would spend good money on shoes as I think you should look after you feet, on glasses cus I need to wear them every day, good sunglasses as again you need to look after your eyes and a good coat that you'll get a number of years out of - don't care about the name on the clothes would check the fabric and the stitching to make sure its worth the cost.

Sometimes it's nice to splurg on a piece that just makes you feel really good about yourself. I got a cute sun dress earlier in the year that was costly at 80euro but I just felt so happy wearing it, it's yellow and bright and makes my boobs look great and just automatically puts me in a better mood when I put it on.

Designer clothes - how can the price be justified!!!!

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