Just curious about your thoughts on this. Do you think most people buy luxury items to fit in, instead of stand out? Personally, I notice the same bags on literally every women where I live. It's rather funny since they're spending over $1500 to look the same.
Are luxury consumers looking to fit in?
- Thread starter Annachka
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I think it can any of the two for some people. We live in a materialistic society where designer labels is a status symbol and one may think by flashing items they can be admired as a success. This is done in excess more with people like rappers, athletes and in the entertainment industry. I see younger girls more obsessed with labels and doing the whole social media thing in what they own and have to post pictures showing this and feel as a person ages they do not feel the need to do this to impress others.
For the average person I think many are looking for a nice bag to use that serves their needs.
As for designer handbags the first two I think are the most popular and have been for years are the LV Speedy and Neverfull styles which are great designs and will last forever if taken care of. I have a Speedy gifted to me from my best friend which is now over 25 years old. I have a mon monogram one that is two years old and love the design. I am not one to try to impress anyone and actually got rid of all my monogram bags through the years because I thought they were to in your face and switched to Azur because I thought not many people would know the design. But then I bought my Monogram speedy because the dark color would work better in the winter for me.
I also think certain locations on where one lives can have different bags that are more popular. When I lived in Florida there were many more wealthy areas where people lived, shopped and tourists so you saw a huge array of high end designer bags in all areas from the gas station to shopping malls.
Many people will buy them as a first bag due to the Speedy having a. Lassi. Design and the Neverfull being a really nice tote from casual to business use. So these are bags I see most often on women anywhere I go. On some threads in this forum we can read about the desperation of women looking for the latest it bag. One example is the latest limited edition catogram collection by LV. People were going crazy trying to buy one from that line. Are people buying this bag because they love the design or because of the added status that it is a new limited edition release and by having one it somehow makes you look special because of the difficulty in purchasing it.
Going to extreme one can look at Hermes and how impossible it is to purchase one new from the store. Any yet women are desperate to buy one because this has become the ultimate status symbol for many. I still see and hear people making comments on what others own or wear. I have one friend who has a circle of relatives that all seem to live for buying the same style bag or clothing (might be in different colors) as if it is a uniform for their club. I have seen casual friends when I lived in Florida do the whole Lilly Pulitzer Palm Beach floral preppy look daily and if you did not wear the clothing you were the one that stood out. I thought this was kind of Stephford Wives club ladies who lunch reality.
I don’t really pay attention to what others wear. I can admire a nice outfit or bag and think it is great when a person has their own style and does a outfit in a unique way. As I have watched my kids and friends children grow up I have noticed that kids do get bullied by what they own and wear at a early age. One has to wonder where kids learn this behavior and how they can be so mean. If one grows up with parents judging appearance they will have some issues with their own and how they view others. So I could see some people even as they get older feeling a bit insecure if they are not wearing the latest fad clothing and what the magazines are pushing as trends.
For the average person I think many are looking for a nice bag to use that serves their needs.
As for designer handbags the first two I think are the most popular and have been for years are the LV Speedy and Neverfull styles which are great designs and will last forever if taken care of. I have a Speedy gifted to me from my best friend which is now over 25 years old. I have a mon monogram one that is two years old and love the design. I am not one to try to impress anyone and actually got rid of all my monogram bags through the years because I thought they were to in your face and switched to Azur because I thought not many people would know the design. But then I bought my Monogram speedy because the dark color would work better in the winter for me.
I also think certain locations on where one lives can have different bags that are more popular. When I lived in Florida there were many more wealthy areas where people lived, shopped and tourists so you saw a huge array of high end designer bags in all areas from the gas station to shopping malls.
Many people will buy them as a first bag due to the Speedy having a. Lassi. Design and the Neverfull being a really nice tote from casual to business use. So these are bags I see most often on women anywhere I go. On some threads in this forum we can read about the desperation of women looking for the latest it bag. One example is the latest limited edition catogram collection by LV. People were going crazy trying to buy one from that line. Are people buying this bag because they love the design or because of the added status that it is a new limited edition release and by having one it somehow makes you look special because of the difficulty in purchasing it.
Going to extreme one can look at Hermes and how impossible it is to purchase one new from the store. Any yet women are desperate to buy one because this has become the ultimate status symbol for many. I still see and hear people making comments on what others own or wear. I have one friend who has a circle of relatives that all seem to live for buying the same style bag or clothing (might be in different colors) as if it is a uniform for their club. I have seen casual friends when I lived in Florida do the whole Lilly Pulitzer Palm Beach floral preppy look daily and if you did not wear the clothing you were the one that stood out. I thought this was kind of Stephford Wives club ladies who lunch reality.
I don’t really pay attention to what others wear. I can admire a nice outfit or bag and think it is great when a person has their own style and does a outfit in a unique way. As I have watched my kids and friends children grow up I have noticed that kids do get bullied by what they own and wear at a early age. One has to wonder where kids learn this behavior and how they can be so mean. If one grows up with parents judging appearance they will have some issues with their own and how they view others. So I could see some people even as they get older feeling a bit insecure if they are not wearing the latest fad clothing and what the magazines are pushing as trends.
I'm just a victim to nice things.... cant resist if it looks pretty 
I certainly don't. I think my daughter does. She cares what people think of her. I'm old enough to not care much anymore.
Of course. I am a conformity slave.
Which is why I commute by bicycle, earned science degrees, fly planes, have combat training & own the same >$8kUSD handbags everyone else does.
This. I think younger people are more interested in what others think of them. Many times they get over it after getting closer to 30 yrs old.
I personally hate visible branding and don't really care what people think of me or my bags. If they know, they know. If they don't, it doesn't matter.
I’m at an age in which I wear and buy what I like. Those things used to be important to me. Now, not so much. For the last 2 weeks, I’ve been carrying a Botkier bag. Next week, I may want to carry my Chanel. Either way, I’m wearing either bag with a t-shirt, Levi’s, and Chuck Taylors.
I’m a teacher so there’s no really “fitting in” at my school. Most of my colleagues don’t even know how expensive my things are. But, I have seen the random Speedy and Neverfull. That’s considered “baller”.
I’m a teacher so there’s no really “fitting in” at my school. Most of my colleagues don’t even know how expensive my things are. But, I have seen the random Speedy and Neverfull. That’s considered “baller”.
I was never into logos or designs that screamed the designer's name, even in my 20s. I ended up buying designer because honestly the quality was better and the item lasted. Now in my 40s I'm still into quality and find that the average high-end designer doesn't have that any longer. Quality to me is now more likely to be found in local artisans and bespoke items where I can have input into the final product.
I don't even think some of my designer bags that I still love would be accepted by Yoogis or other consignment shops as they are "too old." But I'm not giving up my Mulberry Roxanne or my YSL Muse 2 for anyone.
I don't even think some of my designer bags that I still love would be accepted by Yoogis or other consignment shops as they are "too old." But I'm not giving up my Mulberry Roxanne or my YSL Muse 2 for anyone.
Sounds like a good lookAre you an art teacher?
LOL! I wish. I teach third grade math and science.
I think everyone has different reasons for spending their money on luxury items, particularly bags. The tug between cool street-wear or high fashion is always in flux, at the moment I'd say it's more bubble-up than trickle down and designers are taking inspiration from the street which makes things look quite homogenised.
I think many do. But the reasons for buying are varied.
I hate fitting in. I like being unique. That being said, a small part of why I buy is because of badge status. It signals success. And, I say this even though I typically try to buy bags and other items without logos. Some things talk without screaming.
It’s shallow and silly but, hey...I’m an imperfect human. Lol!
I hate fitting in. I like being unique. That being said, a small part of why I buy is because of badge status. It signals success. And, I say this even though I typically try to buy bags and other items without logos. Some things talk without screaming.
It’s shallow and silly but, hey...I’m an imperfect human. Lol!
There are some interesting articles about Japanese vs. Chinese luxury consuption that are talking about this (fitting in vs. standing out) on a cultural level. In any event it can be both and also sort of at the same time within the same person. Standing out among peers or one group while aspiring to fit in with another group (that the consumer wants to belong to, but feels like he or she doesn't at the time of purchase) is a known motivational factor for conspicuous consumption. The desire to fit in fuel brand "crazes" all the time. It's been estimated that up to 40% of Japanese women in their 20s own LV, in such an environment it can hardly be said that it stands out anymore.
I totally buy for signaling. But I don’t want to get something too obvious. I also like nice things. I have been looking more and more for under the radar items.