Struggling With Luxury: Time to Get Off the Merry-go-round?!

[kbell]

Everyone’s idea of “luxury” is so different. For some, just buying any new bag is a luxury. I thank my lucky stars every day for what I do have but I still splurge here & there... bags, shoes, jewelry, etc. I don’t put any of these things on credit. That’s where I draw my line and sometimes it can be years between “lux” purchases, sometimes only days.

The only luxury item I put on credit was my old BMW but looking around lately I see so many BMW,Acura,Porsche, etc - they seem much more common than luxury. I probably see all of those brands drive by me every single day.

20 years ago a luxury vacation to me was an all inclusive tropical place... now I’m totally different. I now hate sun bathing & would rather cruise to Alaska any day... tastes and “luxuries” are always changing based on the individual.

It’s only a merry go round if you feel like it is. If you feel that way, take a break, step back & reevaluate what’s really important.

 

[BittyMonkey]

You know what will keep you off the luxury merry go round? Having to pay for a &^$&$ new roof for your house.

 

[floodette]

Hermes is one company that lucratively pushes that button. They call their employees craftspeople and claim that their art is so slow and painstaking they can manufacture only a limited number of purses and must charge tens of thousands of dollars for them. The reality is that they're an industrial manufacturer just like the rest of them.

it is a claim that BV should push more, i think

 

[Lake Effect]

We've flipped that attitude around. So much better to have things in your home or wardrobe that were hand-made by etsy craftspeople rather than churned out in a factory faraway.

Hermes is one company that lucratively pushes that button. They call their employees craftspeople and claim that their art is so slow and painstaking they can manufacture only a limited number of purses and must charge tens of thousands of dollars for them. The reality is that they're an industrial manufacturer just like the rest of them.

^^This^^ There’s a lot of marketing , marketing, marketing going on out there. I was fascinated a few years ago when Coach was featuring a video clip about a woman who refurbished vintage Coach bags. The interesting small world note is that she had participated in the Coach rehab thread at one point and it is clear from her posts that she learned a lot about rehabbing there. But I was fascinated at the top notch level of marketing Coach had going on in hiring that woman and in making that video. Coach has not manufactured anything that I know of in the US since about 2000 or so. So this video shows this woman’s Coach rehab work shop in a barn out of my freaking dreams and I kid you not, this video clip pulled together small mid west town, a little girl riding a pony and fireworks. They did buy up vintage bags to refurbish, embellish them and offered them in a few high end store, iirc. They may still offer some. And also I think it was to support launching the 1941 line. They are not showing a video about the day in the life of their current manufacturing employee in Vietnam Nam.
I realize Coach is not a luxury brand. But you don’t have to look too hard on the internet to find articles about the influx of Chinese immigrants into Italy over the past two decades that work in factories ( some factories are reported to be basically fly by night sweatshops ) there to make bags /bag parts so the label can state made in Italy.
Marketing marketing marketing . . .

 

[LuvhandbagsLV]

You know what will keep you off the luxury merry go round? Having to pay for a &^$&$ new roof for your house.

This! Exact same or more situation with us lol

 

[VintageViv]

This is a very interesting thread. I have been feeling a little "buyer's burnout" lately just with my vintage/preloved shopping. I realized I had gotten too focused on collecting and it was all about the hunt. I need to take a break and enjoy what I have: shop my closet, take time to "smell the leather" ha ha. I really have embraced vintage in recent years because I love accessories but I like the idea of recirculating goods rather than promoting the producing of more.

 

[Emily1830]

Update: I’ve slowed down considerably lately. I just recently got two Sonnet James dresses (saw her on Shark Tank and really liked her vision and brand), but other than that I haven’t bought anything designer/fashion since December. Feels good. But more importantly the desire to accumulate has lessened. I see my “wish list” and feel like I don’t need them either.

I want to invest more in savings and experiences, like traveling.

I also realize I have more than I could possibly need.

Feels amazing.

 

[gburgnicole]

I will buy luxury for as long as it makes me happy. There is a cap on how much I am willing to spend because I have never gone "all in" with luxury items. My splurge items are handbags, and I always have a ceiling on how much I am willing to spend depending on what is going on in my life. I am content with what I have, and I never buy with the intention of selling in the future, so what I get is meant to be "forever." If I ever felt like luxury was stressing me out in any way, it would no longer be a part of my life. As is, my interest in luxury items declined since becoming a mother because I value experiences with my family more.

 

[chlorine17]

I like this thread a lot and all the opinions stated. I am feeling shopping fatigue. Too much buying and not taking time to enjoy and use what I have. Am always thinking of my next purchase and it's all gotten a bit too much. Going to stop for the rest of 2019 and USE what I currently have. Even if I see something cute at Chanel or covet boots from Celine.......am starting to feel there is no end to it.

 

[VintageViv]

For TPFers on this thread who has been pondering their purchases, feeling a little buyer's fatigue, etc. I have a good book recommendation: I just started reading "The Year of Less" by Cait Flanders, a blogger who put herself on a year-long buying ban. I do NOT think I could do something quite so extreme but it is a real page turner and does give one a lot of food for thought about how to be a more intentional spender. I got it out of the library of course!

 

[BittyMonkey]

For TPFers on this thread who has been pondering their purchases, feeling a little buyer's fatigue, etc. I have a good book recommendation: I just started reading "The Year of Less" by Cait Flanders, a blogger who put herself on a year-long buying ban. I do NOT think I could do something quite so extreme but it is a real page turner and does give one a lot of food for thought about how to be a more intentional spender. I got it out of the library of course!

I bought this. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[blondiekinz]

For TPFers on this thread who has been pondering their purchases, feeling a little buyer's fatigue, etc. I have a good book recommendation: I just started reading "The Year of Less" by Cait Flanders, a blogger who put herself on a year-long buying ban. I do NOT think I could do something quite so extreme but it is a real page turner and does give one a lot of food for thought about how to be a more intentional spender. I got it out of the library of course!

I also suggest "The Story of Stuff" by Anna Leonardi.

I personally don't have any luxury pieces at the moment, But I am saving up for my first handbag.

I read this book before I became interested in luxury, and it has curbed my buying of other unnecessary things and really opened my eyes to how much waste the production of "stuff" creates. It makes me really think about my purchases in all facets of my life.

 

[VintageViv]

I also suggest "The Story of Stuff" by Anna Leonardi.

I personally don't have any luxury pieces at the moment, But I am saving up for my first handbag.

I read this book before I became interested in luxury, and it has curbed my buying of other unnecessary things and really opened my eyes to how much waste the production of "stuff" creates. It makes me really think about my purchases in all facets of my life.

I've been meaning to check out that book. Thank you for the reminder! That is great that you are saving up for your first special luxury handbag! It really makes the point that mindful spending and luxury are not incompatible! Sounds like you have a clear goal and are making thoughtful choices to attain it!

 

[klynneann]

I also suggest "The Story of Stuff" by Anna Leonardi.

I personally don't have any luxury pieces at the moment, But I am saving up for my first handbag.

I read this book before I became interested in luxury, and it has curbed my buying of other unnecessary things and really opened my eyes to how much waste the production of "stuff" creates. It makes me really think about my purchases in all facets of my life.

Second - fantastic book. Really thought provoking.

 

[immigratty]

To OP I get it, and totally agree. It’s not about if u can afford it or not, u r bag content or not, u changed or not, it’s the principle of the matter. These fashion houses r simply increasing prices because “they can” and know ppl will pay more. While at the same time. The quality remains the same(or in some cases declines) and they r not likely increasing the salaries of their employees, offering greater benefits, etc. so YES I can afford a Chanel bag but under NO circumstances would I buy one based on the shear principle there is no justification for these insane price increases aside from pure greed. They can keep their gramma quilt bags