I do think a lot of it is to do with a new outlook that women have got -- often we will not buy a full designer outfit, but we will spend $$$ on a high end accessory. In the end the accessory dollars don't work out to as much as the clothing would have, so it becomes one way of going high end without being a millionaire.
Interesting WSJ article on mid-range designer bags!
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I find it really amazing that it's REALLY hard to find a nice/cute purse of decent size for under $200! And I think the "value" brands like Botkier and Kooba will continue to inch up their prices...
That's true, but lately the dollar has gained a bit on the Pound and Euro.
I read an article recently that said luxury items would be going up in price simply because the stores/lines could demand it. As more and more people around the world become middle class if not outright rich, you have a larger customer base wanting the same high-end items. Luxury goods, by their very nature, aren't designed for the masses, and they're not marketed and/or produced the same way. If they were, they'd lose their luxurious desirability. With more people chasing fewer goods, the price will not only stay high but get higher. A great example of this would be Gucci. As soon as they pulled out of average department stores, hired a new designer, and decided to get back to being somewhat "exclusive," their profits increased, and the line became super chic again. And boy did those prices go up, up and up!
I read an article recently that said luxury items would be going up in price simply because the stores/lines could demand it. As more and more people around the world become middle class if not outright rich, you have a larger customer base wanting the same high-end items. Luxury goods, by their very nature, aren't designed for the masses, and they're not marketed and/or produced the same way. If they were, they'd lose their luxurious desirability. With more people chasing fewer goods, the price will not only stay high but get higher. A great example of this would be Gucci. As soon as they pulled out of average department stores, hired a new designer, and decided to get back to being somewhat "exclusive," their profits increased, and the line became super chic again. And boy did those prices go up, up and up!
gratytude said:
I say that about my 15-year-old LV wallet. It was expensive at the time, and thankfully it still looks new, but it sure looks like a bargain in comparison to today's $440 Tresor version.
melisande said:
I'd love to hear if anyone on this forum has bought a Lumiani or seen one in real life (offer on some bags on zappos ending in minutes). Thanks.
Pics off zappos.
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7167804.html
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7167809.html
Pics off zappos.
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7167804.html
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7167809.html
Interesting article. I started out purchasing Botkier (trigger) and Kooba (sienna) but then I figured for two of those bags I could have a Balenciage or a Chloe which seems much more valuable or collectible to me...
IMO accessories stand out more than the clothing so it's easy to focus on that instead. The last figure I heard was that 90% of Chanel's business was in the accessories and not the clothing itself.
melisande said:
I've found a lot of fabulous brands, but you have to be on the lookout for them constantly, and it helps tremendously if you have at least one department store near you that has an extensive collection. For me, it's Dillards and Macy's at the Mall of Georgia. Nordstrom's online is so much better than the local store so I don't even bother.
wickedassin said: