to really not get designer "stuff" and be even more mystified by FAKE designer stuff?

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

Inspired by a conversation with a fellow dog-walker at the park! Older guy, who proudly told me that his wife's fake rolex is so good, you couldn't tell it apart from a real Rolex

In the first place, I really really don't get designer "stuff". I have a friend who yearns for a Louis vuitton (sp?) handbag. When she told me how much, I almost keeled over. Even if I was as rich as Midas i would baulk at spending money on something that is only so valuable because someone says it is! It's a bit like the Emperor's new clothes, is it not? "Oh, it must be fantastic and worth the huge price tag, because it is XXX"

I can't help feeling it's a bit of a status symbol- a way of saying to others (or even to yourself) that you can afford this. that you have "achieved" this- or that you are "worth it"!

But I scratch my head even more at fake designer gear- ie you want to pretend to people that you can afford it (even though you can't) You can't even pretend to yourself that you have achieved something in acquiring it, because you haven't! So what is it all about? Really? I'm sure someone will be along to put me straight, but I am genuinely curious as to why people buy these things (especially the fakes)

YANBU, I don't get it either.

Am totally with you on the fake thing, can't see the point myself.

However, regarding real designer goods I think it's about aspiring to something that you can't quite afford. If you've had to save and stretch yourself for it, it feels special and makes you feel good? You could apply the principle to anything - why spend extra money on a nice car when a cheap runabout gets you there just the same?

I was at a designer outlet village today and the friend I was with was asked to pick up a bag from a designer shop for someone she knew.

This woman was literally wetting her pants with excitement to be getting the latest 'it' bag for upwards of £600 (reduced from £900)

Gobsmacked doesn't come close!!

Well, as someone who owns a very elderly and perfectly functional car, maybe I just don't get it full stop

Maybe it's because I am a klutz, and everything I own gets trashed by me/ the kids/ the dogs. I don't like expensive things because I worry about the guilt I will feel when I invariably wreck them!

I'm not allowed expensive glassware for the same reason!

YANBU. I don't get it either. And as for names on clothing/luggage/accessories, well, ugh! The only name I want on my possessions is my own!

I just cannot understand the whole "Look at me, I paid £1,000 for this handbag" thing at all.

YANBU. I don't get it either. I buy things because I like them and they are practical/useful. However, even if I liked something that happened to be 'designer' and I could afford it, I am not sure I'd buy it on principle.

Most of the people I know who like designer stuff are very materialistic, and that's not something I aspire to.

I buy stuff I like and often that happens to be designer stuff. I only ever buy it second hand though.

When it comes to clothes for the kids for example, a Paul Smith shirt is likely to be much nicer, better quality, great print, good colours which last, tailored shape which flatters and also the shirt will last longer than something from Next. Also you're less likely to see someone else in it.

I don't care if people know its designer and I'm not bothered about the label. I love nice clothes though and high street stuff tends to be tatty and disposable.

Yay- lots of like-minded people

My friend who aspires to the LV bag was all excited about her impending trip to NY (a birthday present, she had never been) because she might be able to get one cheaper there! She earns minimum wage, and I was so excited for her getting to go to NY (one of my favourite places I've visited) until she told me she was in it for the shopping. Why do people put so much store in things like this? Is it a kind of insecurity- ie I must be ok, as I have a handbag worth £XX? It just made me a bit sad.

spidermama- if I put any of my kids in designer stuff, I can guarantee it would be "tatty and disposable" by the end of the day! Tomato ketchup et al would no doubt stain and ruin designer gear as easily as high street stuff surely?

When we lived in Fife, DS1 and I used to make a point of popping into Harvey Nichols every time we went to Edinburgh purely so that we could peer inside the handbags and piss ourselves laughing at the notion of handing over £500 for something that would hold a mobile and a stick of chewing gum.

We did make sure we were carrying a Jenners carrier bag so that we wouldn't get thrown out, of course.

Hmm. The fake goods are usually very obviously fake, including fake Rolex. I have seen lots of these for sale in the far east and I don't think anyone is really fooled by them, including those that buy them.
I do have a genuine Omega watch which looks as good now as it did when it was new 25 years ago. I reckon it'll long outlive me, so great value for money.

I don't really care about my image. The watch is worth about 3 or 4 times the value of my car for example. I had asked DH for a Swatch (very fashionable at the time) maybe he misheard . Definitely can't get excited about a designer handbag though.

jooly I find it's much stronger and just keeps its shape better.
I'm not saying it won't stain but my children will be wearing stained clothes wherever I buy them from it's just a stained Paul Smith shirt looks better than a stained George at Asda shirt and since I can get the latter for the same price on Ebay I know which one I'll plump for.

Don't get it. I don't pay good money to advertise for these bloody companies and that goes for them all be it Next, Gap or designer. Same with fakes - have been on holiday and wanted to buy cheap t-shirts or jeans and they are all fake designer - yeeww!

YANBU I can understand paying more for quality, but some "designer" stuff is just as cheaply made but with a different label on it.

You know it is possible to buy a designer bag for the only reason of liking it! Nothing aspirational about it - you need a bag, like a bag and buy a bag.

My latest purchase was a LV Monogram Vernis bag (a four figure sum was spent). I just love the quality of the bag - from the fantastic glossy leather to the gorgeous stitching. Lovely to look at and a joy to use.

If the bag had been the creative result of say M&S designers, then I would have bought it as well. But it wasn't.

Labels don't interest me, the item does. However, creative genius and beautifully made products usually come at a price and often have a 'label'.

I agree some things are just beautifully made - which is why fakes don't cut it for me (not to mention the drug money/mafia/child exploitation that goes into making them)

I have a few (ebay) pairs of designer shoes and they are better made than my high street ones - I have one Choo pair that I bought in a sale for £120 ten years ago that look just as good as the day I bought them.

Ditto my Congo Mulberry handbag - wildly unfashionable now but still regularly used.

watches - craftsmanship, so they will last forever and hold their 'value'

I have a Hamilton Bourton (the one Audrey Hepburn wears in Breakfast at Tiffanys) - cost me £150 ish 12 years ago. Never gone wrong, still simple, elegant and stylish.

Some watches are seriously well made - Breitling springs to mind.

I agree with quality over 'designer'. My Mulberry handbag was a present and is now over ten years old but still looks good and I use it all the time.

But most of the time I don't 'get' fashion. I once read one of the glossy magazines and counted 54 pages of adverts before getting to an article that wasn't worth reading anyway. It stated that one of the 'seasons' looks was a man's dress shirt with a [name of whatever watch] to be worn very low on the wrist.

The watch was over £4000 - what are you meant to do with it the next season - chuck it in a drawer? Maybe that is why people buy fake?

When I can afford it, I occasionally buy "designer" pieces. Young, up-and-coming designer pieces that are unique, beautiful and hand-made, whose prices reflect the work that has gone into their design, manufacture and materials. Part of their appeal is that they are unique. Having said that, one of my favourite bags is a $10 vintage brown leather handbag that will also probably outlive me.
I suppose my point is that everything is "designed" by someone. Some things are then mass-produced cheaply. Some things are worth more than others and some things cost more than others. I don't see the value in a brand-name but I do see the value in crafts(wo)manship and quality.