DORÉ

If you’re obsessed with labels, then yes.

i may get shit for this but: i recommend investing in better friends who don’t care about ur brands :D

http://littleaesthete.com

Yes I definitely think branding plays a huge role of how much we are prepared to spend on a product. I guess it may be for different reasons for different people perhaps because because we believe it to be higher quality or perhaps a status symbol or maybe we can identify with the brand in some way. I guess their is some very clever marketing and psychology that makes us pay more for certain brands. For me it is really important that a brand makes its clothes ethically and I am definitely prepared to pay a little more for that.

C’est sur que la marque influence beaucoup, mais aussi souvent un vêtement de marque signifie de meilleure qualité, c’est sûrement pour ça qu’on paie plus plus cher en ayant l’impression de faire une affaire.

http://www.laurablogmode.com

I loved it!
I’m posting looks from Los Angeles and accessories:

http://www.thegavlaks.com

I know exactly what you mean. But I think you have to differ between owning a timeless designer piece you really love and just wearing expensive stuff around so that anyone sees how much your outfit did cost in total.

Me, personally, I really really am into special (expensive) pieces that just grade up your wardrobe but on the contrary I can’t stand wearing big fancy designer labels off.

A really good example for this is my black phantom. I only have few friends that would recognize (and know about the Céline) and that would actually pay a such sum for one piece, or rather for one handbag!

I don’t talk to anyone about label or price of the bag I often wear around because I think that people would not understand and would rather think me to be insane. (Same goes for my parents)

Similar situation with my gold Saint Laurent cuff. It is one of the semanier collection and NO ONE in my life would ever even get it is a YSL piece. I could have gotten a similar one from and flea market around. But when i opened the package I knew that I would never regret paying almost 300€ for a simple cuff that nobody else in my environment is interested in. It beautifully laid in a black box and was packed in a minimalistic leather envelope. It just felt right. And it still does. It is just the kind of feeling you get when you recognize all the details that are connected to a designer piece, because I just felt with how much love Slimane did design the packaging.

To conclude, what I am trying to say, is that labels definitely do influence us und that this, in my opinion, is perfectly fine as long as it makes you happy and as long as you are only trying to please yourself instead of anybody else.

absolutely leonie. luv ur comment.
i also changed my buying habbits from buying everything i liked to rather just purchasing really interesting key pieces, that sometimes do cost a lot but are worth every penny.
if a special designer piece (which is an original rather than a cheap copy) makes ur heart jump and u can afford it from ur own hard earned money GO FOR IT! beautifully crafted and design- and qualitywise long lasting and timeless pieces will last for much longer than cheap trendy styles.
in the end it’s a very personal decision and obviously a question of budget and attitude towards designerclothes. and everyone should act according to their very own opinion on this. everybody has different criteria when it comes to shopping: some have a tight budget and will evitably buy cheaper styles, some find it important that products are from fair productions and some will only buy stuff by big labels which they can brag about in front of their friends and collegues etc … and the best thing about it is, there is a right choice of products and labels for all to find in what if offered on the market.
and noone needs to justify themselves or should critisize anyone for behaving like they do. except maybe when purchasing cheap products supports exploiting children and adult workers in poor countries.

i personally would always rather buy a good designed and high quality item that speaks to me (it mostly says: BUY ME OR U’LL REGRET IT FOR LIFE! lol) than some trendy, low priced style – and i do believe that doin this, i don’t really spend more money in the end then people who buy a lot of cheaper stuff but much more of that.

love ur blog garance! keep it up!

I buy if I love it….whether that item is cheap or expensive, I also don’t care what label or brand it is. How can you have individual , eclectic personal style if a label dictates whether you purchase or not?

I know this probably isn’t the best comment for a fashion-y article, but honestly I put quality first and foremost, then value for quality– the best I can get for my budget and that will last me a long time (no one-season fashions for me). I understand that people rationalize based on brands alone, but I just don’t get it.

It absolutely does! I feel guilty for it too. This weekend at Nordstrom rack I found a great navy blazer type jacket for $60, not bad! It was mine! If I’d have seen that same jacket at Gap there’s no way I’d pay $60 or what would probably be full price for the same item. Consumerism is weeeeird. But if I’ve learned anything about advertising – it’s not the product, it’s the way the product(experience) makes you feel that matters.

xo,
Ashley

Most definitely influences purchase because with a certain brand you expect good quality and a timeless piece – or you hope.

Yeah, I can definitely relate to that. While some people are just snobs or brand-obsessed, for others it might be more akin to the collector’s fever. I know that when I get into a brand (and it can be anything – make up, shoes, pretty pomade tins etc) I experience that kind of obsessive need to add another item to my collection, Other times, I’ll fall in love with a specific item., regardless of the brand. If it’s something cheap, I’ll just buy it, but something expensive, that I have to covet for a long time, or that feels like sacrifice buying it, will give me a lot more complex emotions (guilt, euphoria, pride, sense of specialness)… It’s a highly addictive high.

Yes! When you pay more for something, you’re not just paying for the clothing. It also comes with social recognition and confidence. When you wear your new expensive designer sweater out, people are going to notice and see what brand you’r wearing and judge you on that. People will wonder, “oh who is this person that can afford this expensive sweater. they must be well off.” Expensive clothing kind of pushes you up a social level, I feel. And sometimes when you wear things, for example, an $80 shirt, and there isn’t any significance to it. There isn’t something special about it. Why spend $80 on it?

xo,
Carmen
thefashionreformation.com

I know I am drawn to certain designer brands not only for the quality but also for the tailored fit or the great detail, whatever it may be. And then there are certain brands (like those large stores who do designer knock offs/trends/runway style) for less, that frankly I too turn away from esp. if I find the price ratio to quality ratio incongruent. The key is to watch out for those great sales for those designers you love. Just like you did. Enjoy your new sweatshirt!

I say fine as long as you bought it because you love it…. and then when you get it, you love it even more…. and the quality of the material and fit is worth the price tag. i start to question choices when it’s solely based on brand (and wanting others to know it’s ‘x’ brand)

Honestly, I think it kind of does. I mean I truly have to rationalize purchases over $100 as a college student, but I do feel myself thinking, “Think $50 piece is way too expensive” at some chain store, and then online I see a brand label that is on discount and I can certain convince myself it’s a rational purchase. So I can SO relate! Sometimes you just have to consider how much you are saving rather than the price.

It’s true. It does. If I know the item is of top quality and will last and is a classic item I don’t mind paying a little more. I am a bit against spending a really stupid amount on a plain white t-shirt though because even though the cheaper ones are made in china – so are the designer ones.
And then don’t get me started on low cost labour…
BUT if I buy a designer item and keep it for ages I am chucking less stuff out…
So it goes around in a circle…. this conversation I am having…
X
Kiri
http://www.fashionblender.com.au
http://www.facebook.com/FashionBlender

It’s funny because I see it exactly the other way around. Being brand-obssessed is mainstream, and the contrary of being snob.
For me being snob is to be convinced that one could look as good and confident with cheap or not too expensive clothes. Maybe it is a typically french kind of snobiness? In this respect, I am snob and I love the game of finding this kind of clothes (in either shops or my own closet) that will make me look (almost, ok) as great as the people shot in Scott’s or Garance’s blogs. Fashion is a game, not a money waster.

Les marketeurs font vraiment bien leurs boulots ! Parfois je peux vraiment depenser beaucoup d’argent pour des pieces de qualité dont la coupe et les matieres sont luxueuses mais parfois je trouve indécent que de grandes marques cool francaises fassent payer tres cher des vetements made in China !!!
Alors Alex si le pull de créateur est vraiment de qualité pourquoi pas ;-)

i couldn’t agree with you more. If you love the item, the brand and can’t let it go for the passing days.. You should buy it or you will regret it :)

xxxx
http://www.dominiquecandido.com

I completely agree.. As sales are all over the place, I cought myself doing almost the same thing. I try some shirts for 10,00 EUR and return them all the while telling myself I do not need more 10,00 EUR t-shirts and thinking that 100,00 EUR for a coat is too much from the same brand and keep waiting to drop a bit more.. And then on the other side, keeping my fingers crossed and going to THE store on the regular basis waiting for another coat to be 200,00 EUR (in my head sale buy buy buy number). But then I just thing it is like a special connection (I keep telling that to myself..:))..

I am prepared to pay a lot for designer luxury and quality, but I am well aware that not all designer produce is necessarily of the best quality. This is one reason why I returned the Alexander McQueen skull bracelet even though it was the prettiest thing I had ever seen on my computer screen. In real life it looks cheap and nasty. Same with some studded Miu Miu slipper loafers I ordered this winter. I do expect the feeling and look to be perfect, but then I am prepared to pay.
When I consider paying 80 euros for something at a chain store, though, I am aware that for a few times the price I could have a timeless designer piece instead of a trendoid top that I’ll probably forget 2 weeks later.

Also, when you buy online and you’re not able to touch/ feel the item, brands may be a garantee of quality…

Not you, Garance, please! You are so much more then brands.

Faire quand même très attention, car quand je vois des vêtements de créateurs, évidemment à des prix créateur fabriqué en Chine, quand on sait le prix du taux horaire qu’ils pratiquent la bas, c’est du vol pur et simple. Alors oui, je suis la première à m’acheter des belles pièces, mais fabriquées en France,.au delà de 300 euros, payer un vêtement mademoiselle ni china, c’est prendre les clients pour des pigeons

Interesting
almu
http://www.mavieenroseblog.com/

In recent years I’ve had more money to buy pieces from designer brands, and I have to say, an awful lot of it isn’t well made – or no better made than it’s ripoff high street counterpart. I end up mixing high street and designer, but when I buy designer I usually buy stuff that I can wear for years (a really well-cut jacket, dress or pair of trousers). I still have a bunch of well made 100% wool black tuxedo style blazers from Zara that I wear with everything. I do have to note that Zara don’t do nearly as much 100% wool as they used to – most blazers from there now are viscose, polyester blends with a little wool, which is a shame. What kills me with designer is when I see a beautiful dress online, and it’s like $600-800+, but when you zoom in on it (thank god a lot of sites do 360 viewing and super zooms) it’s totally unlined, or it’s got that down the middle of the front seam that makes it look cheap (bugs me on prints especially) ! I always feel like a good dress, aside from maybe a light summer dress ought to have a decent lining to them, it’s one of those marks of quality, along with stitching.

Well if the sweater was coool i understand

Xx
http://www.Lauralexo.com

La question est intéressante parce qu’elle renvoie aux commentaires des uns et des autres sur le post concernant le blog : les Françaises surtout (on est des râleuses) disaient que les contributions des autres personnes du studio changeaient le ton du blog. Ici, typiquement, c’est une question que se pose une jeune femme qui est influençable, adore les marques, est dingue d’une fringue etc. Pas exactement le style de Garance qui est perçu comme plus mature. D’où une certaine insatisfaction des lecteurs?

The question is interesting because it is reminiscent of the post about the changes in the blog… Some French girl (we French people always complain) argued that there was a change in the tone with the contributions from the Studio. Here, the question asked is one of a 20-something who loves fashion and brands and gets excited by a 280 USD sweater. That doesn’t sound exactly like Garance who’s perceived as more mature. Maybe that’s why some readers feel unsatisfied?

(also, to answer the question, my rule is and has always been, never more than 200 € in an item. The quality of many brands is really bad anyway, so I wear my mother’s old stuff from the 1980s which is still totally wearable and in a good state)

Ce n’est pas la marque mais l’univers qu’elle est sensée représentée, le fantasme que tu projettes autour d’elle… Et puis la qualité (enfin normalement !), le design, etc…le fait aussi que tu ne retrouveras pas ce sweat à chaque coin de rue, que tu le garderas surement longtemps dans ton dressing. Alors que le petit top …., te fera tout juste une saison, et lorsque tu auras croisé 10 filles avec le même, tu ne voudras, de toute façon plus le porter. Et puis surtout, même à 80$, tu n’intégreras pas cet achat dans tes dépenses, ce sera comme si tu n’avais rien acheté (et ce, même si tu multiplies ce type de petits achats), alors que ton achat à 280$, tu l’intégreras et tu auras envie de l’optimiser ! Et enfin, les marques sont les laboratoires de style de ces enseignes bon marché, et sans elles, je me demande où en serait leur créativité ?
http://www.mode9.fr

I think that designer prices are ridiculous and there is no good reason for them. They’re not made with unicorn hairs or dragon scales. Everyone talks about the craftsmanship, but still, the prices they charge don’t add up. They price their wares to create exclusivity. So few people can actually afford it, and everyone else wants to be able to. That’s why you don’t think twice about dropping $300 like that, because you want in to the club.

Sure, there are designer items I’d absolutely love to have, but most of them cost the same as a trip to Europe, and I’d rather have the experience than the object.

Shani x
She Dreams in Perfect French

a woman under influence….

Je pense que dans le fond, le but de la mode a toujours été de se distinguer, plus ou moins socialement, et donc, en quelque sorte, par l’argent. Quand on achète un vêtement de marque, on se dit qu’il sera plus distinctif, parce que tout le monde ne peut pas l’acheter, parce qu’il fait référence à une “meilleure” image, à un prix plus élevé, etc… Si en plus on arrive à acheter ce produit de marque à un prix inférieur à celui qu’il coûte d’habitude, c’est une affaire, alors que si l’on paye “cher” (ou juste plus cher que ce que l’on pense que ça coûte) un vêtement qui à nos yeux n’a que peu de valeur, et ne nous distinguera pas des autres, on a l’impression de se faire avoir. En fait, je crois que la marque entre réellement, et pas seulement subjectivement, dans la valeur d’un vêtement, même si marque ne rime pas toujours avec qualité…

I think in the past, to be brand/label conscious makes you as a fashion victim. However as ideas and designs becomes freely shared and therfore copied, authentisity becomes more important – especially for ppl like me working in the industry. With everyone doing everything (vera wang doing bridal gowns – and plates, ring and now the mattress, too!) where is the point of differences or the expertise? A strong brand is one that has lifestyle/unique voice that hopefully sets it apart. Done well, it draws like-minded ppl and build loyalty and trust.

In my mind, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Who are any of us to judge ppl on how , where and why they spend their money? (Just how they look in it:) I just give extra credit to the brands that somehow connected with the consumer on such a level. It’s hard work.

The thing is….. You will wear it because you love it and often the better labels are better quality..
Thats my experience!!!!!!

I actually have had to develop a test for myself because of this problem. It is called the “Canyon River Blues” test. Basically, if I want to get something (and perhaps in my heart of hearts, I know it is ill-fitting or too small or large or just way weird) but realize I am entranced by the label, I take the test.
All it is, is this: “If this were made by Canyon River Blues (Wallmart brand) would I still love it?” If the answer is yes, then great, purchase made. If no, set it down, and back away. The other half of the test is the exact opposite situation. Perhaps you pick up some labeless beauty, and you run the test “If this were {insert name of favorite designer} would I love it more? If yes, then you now own it. If no, then you know it is not meant to be.

Basically, I know that I can be lured into buying something because of brand, or led out of a great and useful piece because of the same reason. Just run the Canyon River Blues test, and it will help you get in touch with your lady feelings.

Ligera mochila – Lo es útil para los viajes cortos fuera de la
propia casa de campo, y le ahorrará de llevar
mochila grande junto.