Good Taste or Spoiled?

[PurseXaXholic]

Originally Posted by KittyKat65

For those who compare teens now and teens "then" there is a huge difference. I was a teen in the '80s and we were very, very different. I also grew up in Australia, which is far less materialistic than the U.S. One thing I remember from being a teen was that we had fun. Good fun that didn't involve lots of money, but lots of contact with friends doing stuff like seeing movies, going to the beach or even just visiting each other. Teens now look surly and always have their noses and thumbs buried in their phones texting away. You don't see too many smiles. I would think teens would be grinning from ear to ear if their parents bought them Chanel bags and a car. In my opinion it's up to parents to just say "no" - not a word that's very popular in today's vernacular. Just because parents can afford to indulge their kids doesn't mean they should.

To me, shopping, shoes, purses, clothes, etc. are all fun. That is the most fun I have. Making outfits, putting them together, shopping for more peices. Acctually, today I spent 4 hours making a skirt. Which I enjoyed. I still do normal things, I have lunch with friends, see movies, go to dinner, go to parties. But fashion is a big part of my life, and I truely love it.
Now, You said you'd think we'd smile more. Yes, I guess I always have a discusted look on my face, but that's just natural for me. I am very happy that I have a Louis Vuitton purses. But that doens't mean I have to smile all the time. You know? Sometimes people just have bad days. And sometimes people just give deathstares without even realizing it (i'm guilty).
You jumped to the conclusion that parents bough their kids their purses, when in reality, the child could've had a leamonade stand, saved birthday money, or even have a job to pay for it.

[declaredbeauty]

Lucky and Stylish!

I don't assume that they are spoiled or worked for it themselves though because you never know. I've been working since 16 and brought everything myself. My mom would never in a hundred million billion years buy me a bag over $100 lol

If I had a daughter myself, I really don't know. I probably would if she was deserving of it.

[one fifty]

well the OP asked for an initial reaction and I interpret that as your gut response, whether that is PC or not it's your gut response.

I don't typically look at what teens carry, I hardly even notice what other adult women are carrying! but my gut response would be wow, what's the world come to? I remember when I was a teen girls were into "designer brands" too but back then having Guess was a big deal (and this was an upper middle class neighborhood) oh and B.U.M. sweatshirts that cost all of $50.

Fast forward to now, even with inflation (but real wages have stagnated) I can't believe the norm now is for teens to carry bags worth hundreds, thousands of dollars. Sure Miley Cyrus can afford it and there is all this media hype to use/buy what your celeb idol is doing but Miley's fortune isn't the same your typical teen girl's savings account.

It's pretty scary how pervasive the trend is now to copy celebs from what brand of bath gels they use to what bags they're carrying.

[californiaCRUSH]

What I can't seem to grasp from most of the posts in this thread is why it MATTERS if the teenager bought the purse herself or not? I've only had one job in my entire life (I'm 20 years old) and it wasn't for lack of trying. All the designer goods that I own have been purchased by my parents, either as birthday gifts or just from recreational shopping trips. I value each and every gift that I've gotten and I don't take it for granted in the least because I know THEIR hard earned money was spent on it, NOT mine. I don't flaunt anything I own because it's foolish.

I think most of the people who assume the young girls are spoiled brats, or start thinking negatively are just jealous. Which is again, ridiculous, considering having more expensive things doesn't make you better than anyone else.

[Juilletdix]

Alot of girls at my school had things handed to them. Not me. I did get my first LV speedy at 16 or so. I saved up 'til I could buy it. I also bought my first Rolex when I was a Senior in high school. Took a lot of babysitting hours to do so! My parents could have easily afforded to give me these things, but they felt strongly that I needed to earn these "luxuries" for myself.

I am 45 years old now and this is one of the best memories I have of my folks. Learning that life is not a free ride and you have to earn the money to buy the things you want made a life-long impression on me.

[italianlolita]

I'm sorry but I don't having designer bags and things like cell phones at a young age. I think the youngest to have a coach to me is 14 and no younger and having a cell phone at 15 is appropriate. I think that most kids younger than 14 don't understand the value of how much things cost and the responsibility of having them. I don't chastize people that give kids younger than 14 designer things. Me personally I wouldn't give my child younger than 14 anything designer. If it were a gift to my child, I would let my child have it. However, if would make it personally clear to my child that if it gets lost or stolen it will not be replaced by me. But if a child wants to save up for it, then I am perfectly fine with giving a child a coach purse.

[Elissabeta]

Hmm...I grew up in Eastern Europe , from the day when I start to dress myself , I fell in love in design. My Mom work like a economist but She has a gift with sawing , so whatever I like it ,She just made for me . I made a projects , found the fabrics , explored some modeling ( all just for fun), but I never had a designer bag when I was teen . I always like when i see an TV ( there was nothing in the stores yet ..poor 80' ) , but that wasnt for me . I dont even have any friend with designer bag. At the day when my dreams come true about carry big designers... I paid avery single penny for that . Today I see young Girls around the whole world carry the beautiful designers bags , some are real some not ( we can say)... and even I never had a chance to have one in this age, it never bothers me . I just look what they like it , is realy different taste of design when you are 15-30-45 etc. Be honest I dont care how much money people have , if they are rich ( of course its easier to have your dream bag) , some working hard try to save money for just one designer bag . The truth is about yourself. What kind the person you are inside , not the age , not designer clothes , shoes , bags....just the soul and heart.Sometimes people are judging about what we are carry...think we are spoild ( and trust me this come in any age) . For all my life people judge me because of first look , I heard a lot ...ohh I hate her ... why ??? ...just because she is ...and ther was no answer . After some conversations, they will like ...ohh you are fun...you cool ...you normal ...not spoiled...but your look ....its just my look dont jadge because of my age , my clothes , my bag , my shoes , my jewerly or my car ...I am normal person who love design . I wish one day my daughter ( hope to have one) will ask me about design and I will be there for her ...in any her or my age.

[coach♥]

Originally Posted by PurseXaXholic

Girl, that got to me. #1 Stop judging people you don't know personally. #2 Mommy and Daddy? You make those words sound discusting. Which, they shouldn't be. They're endearing words, which you make sound like dirt. #3 Just because a teen carries a designer bag doesn't mean they are "above" or feel as if they are "above" everyone else. I shop at thrift stores all the time, I'm always looking for that hidden gem, and you know what? I carry my Louis Vuitton speedy 30 with me while I do that, which I bought, pre-loved. #4 Oh, and just so you know, when I asked my mom for a coach purse, she laughed at me. A louis vuitton, they were in tears, and when i mentioned I wouldn't die w/o a birkin, they didn't know what a birkin was. When I explained it could costs upward of six thousand dollars, they gave me doubts. But just so you know: I work my ass off to get what I have, and I will continue to do so, until I have everything I want.

I totally agree with this hun!

[coach♥]

Anyway why do you ladies care if we teenagers carry designer things. Your not our parent's, and it isn't your money. So quit worrying about our child hood going to waste over fashion. Like Purse said, us teens will keep working our asses off to have every little luxury we want because like everyone else said mommy and daddy won't be there forever.

[Gimmethebag]

I don't really care what someone was given in life, because in the reality that we live in life isn't fair. Life will never be fair.

But I think it's hilarious how many teenagers think that they've "earned" gifts from their parents. Good grades? Check the spelling and grammar in this thread. Half of the lot should not be pushed through the university system in a few years. And you should get good grades anyways, because if you don't you are just setting yourself up for a disappointing future.

Being a good daughter? You SHOULD be a good daughter. You only have one set of parents and honestly, if you cannot respect someone who: gave you life, feeds you, shelters you, and gave you the gift of language then you are just a horrible person. You shouldn't feel entitled to lavish gifts for being a normal, decent person.

You worked for it? Know that you are lucky that your parents allow you to buy luxury goods with your wages, while they financially support you and provide you with all your needs. There are children out there who have to work to support their families. There are kids that will sell ice or fruit or candy to help pay their parents' electricity bill. Their wages aren't their spending money.

If your parents want to buy you nice things, it's their money and that's how they choose to spend it. I support that and if I have a daughter, I will probably spoil her too. I personally like the baby David Yurman bracelets and Tory Burch Revas. BUT, I can't stand the entitlement in these types of threads. Until you've moved out on your own and can fully support yourself for all your needs (*read, Miley's paying all the bills), then no... you have not "earned" your luxury goods.

[LadyLouboutin08]

Can we please not do the Grammer police thing? This is a forum for goodness sakes, many people (including adults) don't spellcheck, some overlook their spelling mistakes, and other people are just not good spellers. That doesn't reflect whether they make good grades or not.....I also think everyone's definition of earning something is different...In my parents eyes, me making good grades, and doing the things I'm supposed to do, and just being responsible is considered earning something...Speaking only for myself, I don't feel entitled to anything that my parents give me. Whether it be my car, bags, shoes or whatever. They don't have to do these things for me, and it is THEIR money. I appreciate everything that is given to me, and don't take anything for granted.....I really don't understand why people are so quick to make assumptions on these things, you don't know any of us personally, so why be so judgemental...You judging a teenager for having a designer bag, is just as bad judging someone who doesn't have one IMO.

[Agneauette]

^ I agree.

As for the initial question, I don't mind if a teen has a designer bag. Nor do I assume that the teen is spoiled in any way.

IMHO, this whole discussion is pretty trivial.

[Ellesbells]

What is spoiled anyway? My cousin thought I was spoiled because I didn't have to share a room with my brothers, my parents had two cars, and that I brought my lunch to school.

One persons "spoiled", is another persons normal.

Also, I'm 23 and very recently had someone tell me that a high school student should not be carrying around a Balenciaga! I told her I was 23 and she didn't believe me. So that "teen" you might be giving the evil eye could be a grown woman.

[bonchicgenre]

Ladies, I think it's time to grow up and realize TPF isn't life it's on online forum. Perhaps step outside the house and see this world has larger issues that if a 16 year old girl is carrying a designer bag. Pull your nose out of the air and see some people just have it better/easier. Sorry not everyone gets a free ride, and not everyone has to work their ass off. Didn't your parents tell you life isn't fair?

[LadyLouboutin08]

Originally Posted by bonchicgenre

Ladies, I think it's time to grow up and realize TPF isn't life it's on online forum. Perhaps step outside the house and see this world has larger issues that if a 16 year old girl is carrying a designer bag. Pull your nose out of the air and see some people just have it better/easier. Sorry not everyone gets a free ride, and not everyone has to work their ass off. Didn't your parents tell you life isn't fair?

I agree.