"Embarrassing to be seen w/ a show-offy bag?"

[GyrlLayney]

What are your thoughts on this excerpt?


SOURCE: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23968625-5001031,00.html

...But as we head into the eye of a recessional storm the real issue here is one of appropriateness. Flaunting wealth was, until recently, simply annoying.
But in a climate where a full tank of petrol is bragging, paying four figures for a bag is crass. I spoke to a number of women in Sydney's fashion industry this week to get their thoughts on the matter.

Acacia Stichter, an art director at Cleo magazine, says it's now embarrassing to be seen with a show-offy bag. ``It just makes you look out of touch,'' she said.

A bit like the guy who bought a Ferrari in the '80s only to drive into the doom and gloom of the '90s and find everyone thought he was a wanker.

Forbes magazine has pointed to a desire among the world's elite to look anything but rich, and have coined the term Stealth Wealth to describe the pendulum swing to more modest consumption.

Hmmm . . .

[Compass Rose]

I don't care what other people think about what I do. Pure and simple. As much as I'd like to save the world, too, I can't live under a rock and deny myself what I need and want.

[knics33]

Couldn't agree more Compass Rose!!

[HauteMama]

People need to keep in mind that fashion trends change, too. Just because skinny jeans or ruffles are "in" do you have to wear them? Of course not. You wear what works for you.

Handbag trends are always around, too. Clutches are much bigger this season as a response to the last few years of bags getting bigger and bigger. But does the person who needs to carry a lot switch to a clutch just because it is "in"? Again, of course not.

Likewise with other bags and labeled bags. The "trend" has been towards less-conspicuous consumption for a little while, hence the rise of BV. It doesn't mean people aren't comsuming and spending as much (the truly wealthy are often not affected by the recession), but rather that the trend is toward less flashy styles. Just like any other trend with shoes or clothes, it is up to each individual whether following that trend suits them or not. It is more important to be happy with your style and an individual than slavishly follow trends.

Personally, with the economic devastation in this area from flooding (which will only worsen as harvest approaches and farmers have little to nothing left to bring in), GM closures and the recession in general, yes, I would feel uncomfortable carrying a branded bag around a lot of these people. They are looking at losing their jobs and their homes and their land and they are my community. Ostentatious displays of wealth would be like spitting in their eye.

[GyrlLayney]

Compass Rose & HauteMama - excellent responses!

[DallasSocialite]

Thats interesting... I see her point about giving back and helping the environment, but if I want to spend a whole months salary on a bag then its my choice!

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by GyrlLayney

Compass Rose & HauteMama - excellent responses!

+1 Couldn't have said it better myself!

[heather123]

I think there are some very interesting points in the article, which I first saw the other day. The issue of appropriateness/self-awareness in recessionary times is one of them. But I don't think showy bags are in the same league as Ferraris. No-one's bag costs that much money, no matter how many bells and whistles it has. Also, just as some women enjoy carrying bright yellow bags in the depths of winter, for 'a pop of colour', there's no harm in wearing those showy bags (which are not always that expensive) when doom and gloom are slowly enveloping your country's finances, and people's moods. Think of it as 'rising above the situation'.

[acshih]

I guess my response would be with several questions "what is considered a show-offy bag?" A bag that is plastered with Logos? A bag that costs a lot of money? A bag that make you "stand out" in the crowd? What is considered "wealth"?

I look at this in relative terms. In different cultures and different environments, this can mean different things. In Japan, for example, a LV speedy 30 maybe considered an "entry-level" handbag for a 15-year-old. It is quite common to see teenagers wearing LVs or Guccis to school. As a matter of fact, the parents willingly shell out the money to buy the bag for their daughter because the Japanese value workmanship, and will consider buying the LV money well-spent because this will last a long time. Now, take the same LV speedy 30 to a US public school and a 15-year-old is wearing it. What might the reactions be? "Oh, it is fake, she cannot afford it." Or, "Oh she is flaunting how wealthy her family is."

How about the same 15-year old wearing an Hermes Kelly to school now? Those of us who can recognize the handbag would be going. But the rest of the students and/or faculty probably will not react simply because they don't recognize the brand, and hence the cost/worth.

Now which one is flaunting and "showing off" wealth??

According to HauteMama, if the "trend" is towards less flashy styles, aren't we falling victims to manipulations of fashion trends again, by wearing "IT" bags when they are "in", and wearing less recognizable bags when these are "in".

For me personally, I would not spend a fortune on bags that only last a season. I buy according to my own budget and style. My bag, just like my wardrobe, shoes, jewelry reflect my personal taste and style. I tend to wear what is comfortable and appropriate in my own standards. And I do have my own set of standards in terms of what is appropriate or not.

[wordbox]

Eh, whatever. People don't seem to care that others are still buying big screen TVs and iPods and expensive cell phones and sports cars, or a million other extravagant things. I'll carry what I want, and anyone that has a problem with it can mind their own business.

There will always be someone richer than you, and you'll always see people that seem to be living an easier life than you. But you know what? To someone else, YOU are that person.

[vhsethan]

Regardless, people are going to spend on what they want. To some it may be a purse, to another it may be an iPod. I don't feel bad carrying a designer bag because I know that it is good quality and worth the money. I'd rather have one Louis Vuitton than 20 Target bags (although, I own both). Everyone has their something, and I think it is ridiculous to say that people shouldn't be carrying designer bags because of a recession.

This information doesn't really make sense to me either, considering designer bags are at an all time high right now. The only companies not suffering are luxury companies.

[bag-mania]

The author of the article is incredibly judgmental. Just because she has personal issues about women with expensive handbags, she assumes the fashion industry and all of society will soon jump in and agree with her wisdom. Her self-righteousness is worse than the pretentious women she's complaining about.

[lark_lulu]

Originally Posted by HauteMama

People need to keep in mind that fashion trends change, too. Just because skinny jeans or ruffles are "in" do you have to wear them? Of course not. You wear what works for you. Handbag trends are always around, too. Clutches are much bigger this season as a response to the last few years of bags getting bigger and bigger. But does the person who needs to carry a lot switch to a clutch just because it is "in"? Again, of course not. Likewise with other bags and labeled bags. The "trend" has been towards less-conspicuous consumption for a little while, hence the rise of BV. It doesn't mean people aren't comsuming and spending as much (the truly wealthy are often not affected by the recession), but rather that the trend is toward less flashy styles. Just like any other trend with shoes or clothes, it is up to each individual whether following that trend suits them or not. It is more important to be happy with your style and an individual than slavishly follow trends. Personally, with the economic devastation in this area from flooding (which will only worsen as harvest approaches and farmers have little to nothing left to bring in), GM closures and the recession in general, yes, I would feel uncomfortable carrying a branded bag around a lot of these people. They are looking at losing their jobs and their homes and their land and they are my community. Ostentatious displays of wealth would be like spitting in their eye.

I completely agree with you. Also when traveling to poorer countries I am careful about what I wear.

[jcriley5]

whoaa this author is too judgemental!!

[BagSlave]

Although I personally love designer bags and will continue to buy them, I do however stay far away from signature prints, obvious logos for this reason that I DO in fact sometimes feel embarassed getting too many looks with such a bag and feeling judged that i spend X amount of money on it....i would just rather stick to my simple yet elegent bags that no one needs to know the designer of....thats just me