How and why do people who aren’t actually well off pay for this stuff?

[Watersunscream]

If I told you our income I would be told we are in the top percent of earners etc but I honestly couldn’t actually justify or financially manage these sorts of purchases.

Has anyone heard of the essentials brand? Literally hundreds for a tracksuit. I think another is Bergen? Expensive t shirts. Then there’s the usual like Fred Perry etc.

Obviously I know lots of wealthy people buy these things too but it’s mostly people from low income backgrounds. How do I know this? Because people I work with who live in deprived areas and not paid much are forever talking about these things! They actually buy the stuff for holidays or as gifts at Christmas etc. Is this a misguided attempt to gain status? An insecurity thing? I find it really bizarre, it wouldn’t ever cross my mind to spend this.

Oh I’m sure. I only know about Ferrari but the other super cars will do it too. Part of it will be because they don’t want the “wrong sort” driving their cars and the other will be that it will promote more brand loyalty because they’ve made the club!

Yes that would have paid for 2 or 3 driving lessons

To me, needing to 'prioritise' is a signifier of 'average middle' status. Wealthy people have no need to do that.

This is such a grossly déclassé remark, I assume it must be satirical?

Worthy of a Hyacinth Bucket Award 🏅

😂

Yeah that’s the other truth. No one wealthy is choosing a Chanel handbag over a skiing holiday because they’re taking both without even thinking twice.

or to lean into the favoured MN stereotype of the wealthy allowing their wealth to whisper by investing it and maxing out their pension that is all well covered

Short-term gratification versus long-term gain though I think we’ve had this conversation repeatedly on Mum’s net for at least 35 years
Hard to see the benefit of one or two driving lessons if it takes 20 to pass a test and then you can’t afford a car all the Insurance at the end of it

My friend’s 23 year old daughter is living with her late 40s boyfriend. She showed me a photo and he is in a T shirt and cap both with LOEWE in the biggest possible letters. Tells me everything I need to know about someone who has got to that age and still feels the need to shout his status to the world around him. The T shirts are around £400.
I am sure he doesn’t care what I think though!
Most of us try and impress the people we want to be associated with.

I’ve worked in private schools and let me tell you they love their status. One mum asked me if I could cut short a lesson at lunchtime to bring my class to the front gate. It was Year 12 and close to lunch and we were intrigued.
And up rolls a truck with a new two seater Mercedes convertible for their 17 year old DC. She was mortified and the kids who were on scholarships felt uncomfortable.
The child in question burst into tears when she came in and stayed to talk to me - she had asked for a Ford Fiesta so she could pick up her friends in it.
I have lots of upper middle class friends (where I fit I’ve no idea) and I see them at play. It’s like a mini Kardashians - branded everything, girls using expensive skincare at 8, and not just Nike as a label Alo, Skims, expensive bags, it’s endless. They spend a fortune on their homes and holidays and believe me little Fenella and Tarquin are decked out in brands.
I do have a few middle class friends who don’t care and neither do their kids - yet they are rare to me.
And please don’t assume ‘the poor’ only want labels. I’ve seen it at the arse end, where they can’t afford basic uniforms and they are trying their best, often juggling several jobs.
Some people also love fashion - I have all my life. But I realised early doors that following trends isn’t needed so I left my wide legged jeans in the 90’s after I’d left them in the 70’s! I love them, but not in me.
It was interesting to see the Wales’ children yesterday in pics - very understated, although I spotted Adidas trainers on Charlotte.
By buying labels you just make the owners of those labels wealthy. Of course some are fantastic quality, but even brands like Chanel have been pulled over just how handmade their bags are now.
I do think places like Vinted and Vestaire are great because you can sell things on and also pick up a bargain.
If you are willing to be a season or so behind you can find some great pieces in the sales.
If it’s a classic coat it doesn’t really matter.
I wear things again and again I’ve never worn something once and binned it, that to me is such a waste.

People buy what they buy. Many save. Many use credit. Same reason you see so many nice cars outside ugly houses - if you can’t afford a holiday in Barbados then you might instead get yourself a nice shirt.

Yes we’ve got a large blended family, being together was a priority for us but an expensive one as meant on our joint household not eligible for the financial support got previously and we needed a large house, which was quite a stretch financially but better than being over crowded. Yes otherwise we would have definitely gone for a smaller house and enjoyed holidays, other nicer things etc.

I didn't realise that he "real" middle classes dressed so poorly.

I buy designer labels because I believe that they are better quality, will last longer and are vaguely in fashion.

I gave up buying clothes from charity shops when I stopped being a student.

I have a feeling you’re basing your experience on the nouveau riche of the upper middle class. Truly wealthy with nothing to prove do not bring the class to the gates to show off a Mercedes. Anything with an ostentatious logo, or made of polyester (clothing) is gauche.

If people really do have plenty of money, it just doesn't register with them that what they wear/handbag they carry will make an impression on someone.

Oh, you’d be surprised.
Especially their children who are now having children, they are rebelling against the holy old jumpers and the clapped out Volvo they realise that they have money and they’d actually like to spend some of it. Can’t take it with you and all that.
And given that they’re having less children themselves, they’ve got less to pay out for in the long-term or pass on to
Like everybody else

So many possibilities...

Fakes are a huge thing
Illicit income, from drug dealing, money laundering, selling duty free fags, "cash in hand" work, etc.
Benefit fraud
Tax evasion
Buying stolen/fake stuff
Saving money by not taxing/insurance their car

Then legal things such as

Maxing out credit cards and store cards
Remortgaging their house
Inheritances
"Gifts" from parents
Buying a "top end" car which looks good but in reality has 250k miles on the clock and was actually very cheap because of the W&T and high mileage

Debt usually. Either credit cards or buy now pay later through things like clearpay, klarna, very etc.

Also should say my step-dad’s daughter has one child, she’s an awful human being for various reasons. Never had a solid job so had perpetually claimed benefits. She does OF and in the past stripped with extras for money. She’s a terrible parent but at least her son has designer tracksuits.

@PetulaGordeno about Princess Charlotte wearing Adidas trainers.....
My daughter has a pair of Adidas trainers too.
They were £35 from Sports Direct 😂

The question here is WHY do they want them?

Why do any of us want anything? I have a marketing degree and know some of the tricks used to create this "want" but ultimately it's a human trait to want to be similar to your peers, one of the group, and wearing designer brands is part of the bonding.

How can earnings be irrelevant?

They're irrelevant in that the OP will spend her wages differently to others.

She may prioritise a big house and a huge mortgage for example, or an expensive car.

The people buying the clothes she mentions may prioritise clothing over those things.

Well the car one was very much new money.
I do understand some PWM don’t care but I think the dawn of social media has made their younger relatives care.
You only have to look at how women like Princess Diana dressed in their teens - frumpy cords and Laura Ashley blouses and see how a new era of those women dress now. Her Spencer nieces being a case in point, and their father is old school aristocracy.
I do think Princess Anne stands out as someone who does her own thing, though. She makes the headlines wearing things that are decades old. Good for her.
On the other hand, Lauren Bezos looks as cheap as chips wearing the best that money can buy. But it makes her happy and her husband looks pleased enough.

It's more complicated than that.

I think what OP is getting at is why pay through the nose for basic cotton trackies and t-shirts when you can buy almost identical unbranded stuff for a fraction of the price.

What does buying an expensive brand of very basic clothing do for a person?

This is just the same old stuff I’ve seen over and over again on social media in slightly different forms. How do you knows actually the case? Have you met anyone who has spent extortionate amounts of money on these things and then requested someone else pay for a school trip? Or is this all just assumptions you’ve made? Along with everyone else who’s ever posted variations of the same sentence? Are poor people not allowed to treat themselves? You may see someone with their nails done, how do you know they’ve paid lots for them? Maybe they did them personally at home with cheap stuff? Maybe a friend is training and needs a model? Same with extensions and same with clothes. Brands aren’t always expensive especially if you buy from places like Vinted. It’s pretty impressive just how creative you can be with minimal disposable income. Being ‘poor’ doesn’t mean you have to try and present yourself in a way other people on higher incomes feel is acceptable. Talk about judgemental