Who is buying the really expensive handbags and £600 trainers??

[Newmeagain]

I really like clothes and have always splurged on the occasional “investment” item - e.g. nice boots, a jacket from ME&EM that I loved, etc.

But even though I am on a high salary I can’t imagine spending £2000 on a handbag or £600 on fashion trainers that will only last a few months.

I work with lots of women in a professional environment, all earning between £150k/£200k - many don’t have children - and I don’t see any designer items. Mostly mix of standard high street brands plus a bit of Sezane and similar.

So - if you are spending £££, are you earning over £500k or have a partner who does?

how frustrating!

The point of luxury goods is not to wear them around "the average person on the street". Some luxury goods have evolved to be very shouty (fabric that is all over LV or Dior?) but fundamentally they are all designed as a status signifier alone, recognition is the whole point, and that is why people spend such silly amounts of money on them. I'm not inventing anything here, this is extremely widespread knowledge that explains the financial success of the luxury goods industry in the past 25 years. In Europe the market for luxury goods among Europeans has waned as prices have skyrocketed (and interestingly lots of fantastic new brands of beautiful and cheaper clothing and accessories have appeared to meet the more discerning European market) but sales have been strong among Asians and Americans, be that on their home turf or in tourist destinations in Europe. However, the massive Chinese market for luxury goods is beginning to shrink, in particular because the Chinese now know that the "made in Italy" label is largely a lie and that most of the goods are made in Chinese factories and merely finished off in Italy and not worth spending their hard earn cash on - indeed, the Chinese are beginning to realize, like Europeans, that they look foolish when they wear them.

It depends who you are trying to impress!
If you want to gain status from other people who perhaps think flashy/obvious designer stuff is vulgar but spend a lot on themselves at the same sorts of brand, then they will recognise the pieces that the wider public will not.
Just like having an expensive brand of musical instrument/fishing rod/knitting yarn/rubik's cube/whatever will get you status amongst others who are 'in-the-know' but not with the wider world.

You think you are bad?

I lust over kitchen appliances that I cant afford :)

This is superior, judgemental, clap trap which makes you look rather “silly” and “foolish”.

Honestly I think people just like what they like. I’d only go as far as the odd jewellery piece but even then under £500. I’d sooner spend on tech.
I’ve considered bags but honestly I’m happy with my Marc Jacobs and it’s more my style.