Are we becoming designer crazy?

[exquizit]

I'm a fan of the Prada, Chanel, BCBG, Dolce&Gabnana, BeBe, Kate Spade..ect..

I've noticed several college students , sporting many designer labels. Many don't even have a job!

That doesn't bug me as much because for many school is their job, but what about these high school kids sporting ICEBURG ($185 jeans) Carrying 2 way pagers, carrying Prada purses....

This cracked me up! I was like ....true enough I wear many of these lables.(Those I can come close to affording)But how in the heck are these kids pulling this off? And Are we as adults encouraging this behavior?

*You guys I've noticed the treatment in several bebe shops I've visited too, but I walk right out after I show them what I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT (like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman )For some reason some shops treat you as if you're just a window shopper from the moment you walk in the door*

[Poplife]

I often wonder that too.

I went to a Catholic high school so were sportin' the plaid most of time. However every month we paid $1 to our homeroom teacher and we were allowed to wear our own clothes for the day (the dollar went to a homeless shelter we worked with).

I guess the other ladies in my school felt the need to dress to impress since it was so rare. I saw it all! Bebe, Iceberg, Armani Exchange, VERSACE...

But then again, I don't know how much of that was actually the REAL McCOY! *lol*

I definitely think the parents have something to do with it. I know some kids that have jobs, but what about those who don't? I was never allowed to have any of that stuff as a kid because my mother was very anti-fad. She said she wasn't going to pay $80 for a shirt I was only going to wear for a few months. I have to thank her for that because it forced me to learn how to look nice without spending all the $$!! Now that I'm in college, it really helps. I can control my spending because I can prioritize. Some people see the logo gear as a must. I mean I love Armani and St. John suits like the dickens but where would I be if that's all I bought?

I'd be looking sharp with no phone, no books, no place to stay...


Ex, I feel you on the Bebe thing. At a mall in my home area they actually took out all the logo wear from the store and moved it to another location in the mall. I asked the manager why and she coolly replied, "The staff and I were tired of the same kinds of people coming in and crowding the store even though they could only afford a small section of the merchandise. We thought it was best to move it."

"Kinds of people"? I'm not even going to say it.

But sadly it's true. Every time I went in there it was the same scene. 50 people in there and 42 of them in the logo section.

Well, C'est la Vie.

[kitten03]

Wow,
What is this? I wish I was able to afford to floss and profile all this stuff. I do find it disturbing that parents work 8+ hours a day so their kids can wear clothes by designers that dont respect or appreciate their business. I know one thing. I knew better than to ask my mom for a new anything. We weren't desperately poor but I definately did not have all types of designer clothes. I don't have a lot now.

I wish that people could prioritize. I was having a conversation with a friend about why blacks don't invest. IMO, some people spend more money on looking good in the present than preparing for the future. I like nice things but Iceberg jeans at that price ...shoot I would rather start saving to set up a mutual fund so that when I'm 45. I can retired a live like a queen. But until then, I'll shop the sale racks. That's where I find my designer clothes :-)

[DST Love]

Originally posted by kitten03:
I wish that people could prioritize. I was having a conversation with a friend about why blacks don't invest. IMO, some people spend more money on looking good in the present than preparing for the future. I like nice things but Iceberg jeans at that price ...shoot I would rather start saving to set up a mutual fund so that when I'm 45. I can retired a live like a queen. But until then, I'll shop the sale racks. That's where I find my designer clothes :-)

Right on!! I'm in the process now of getting mutual funds, etc. I'm trying to invest in my future. I'm trying to have assets. Things that appreciate in value and have postive equity, i.e. homes, mutual funds, etc. I'm trying to build a substantial financial future for children (and a husband) that I don't even have yet. Bump the clothes that I'll either outgrow physcially or socially.

I'm too glad that my boyfriend and I aren't into the FUBUs, Tommys, etc. It's definitely okay to want nice clothes, but like kitten03 said, "Prioritize". I'll get all that after I'm retired early and my future family is well off financially.

In response to kitten03 about why Black people don't invest, I think most Black people get caught up in "flossin". Here's why I say this, a few years ago when I was buying a gift for my boyfriend, a "stupid" friend of mine told me not to buy anything for him that didn't have the brand name visible. She said, "what's the point of buying XYZ if no one knows that's what it is". I was thoroughly disgusted. This person only buys upscale clothing, of course with the tags visible. Now mind you, she is 24, in gobs of credit card debt, with no car and living with her parents. I wonder if her priorities were in order :-)!!

[allsmiles_22]

For me, I was never really into the designer thing. I too had to deal with "a Catholic high school...sportin' the plaid". Then in college, I never got "dressed" up because there was no one to impress. Sweats became my frequent attire. However, my girl went to a school in which it was a fashion show everday and had to sport the designer apparel. Now that I have a job and can really afford to "tear the mall up" (not on the Prada level though), I'd say that I have gotten more into designer clothes, but only for special occasions and not for everyday wear.

For some kids, their parents are supporting these expensive tastes. Sometimes parents want to give their children what they didn't have when they were younger or they feel that if they can wear it, then their kids should be able to also.

As far as the Bebe thing, I've had a similar experience. I remember one day, I walked in looking broke down. I was still in my college phase-cap, sweats, tennis shoes- and no one approached me and when I asked about a certain item I got a quick response. However I went to another one after work wearing my business attire and the treatment was unbelievable. This associate jumped on me the minute I walked in, told me her name, and offered to start a me a fitting room. I asked her about an item and she searched hi and low and even called 3 other stores to find this item. A few weeks later I received a card with that girl's name on it telling me about their upcoming sale. I never knew before hand that Bebe had a "VIP list". It was clear to see that they do judge people on their appearances.

But one thing about Bebe/such stores and some of it's customers that I don't understand is why would someone got to these stores and pay around $30 for a tee-shirt just to say they shop there. I know people have the right to spend their money on whatever they want, but at least be smart about it. If I'm going to spend some serious money in a store like Bebe and "brag" that I can shop there, I'm not buying a tee-shirt.

As far as black people not investing, I'm not falling into that trap. Ever since I started working and saw how Soc, Medicare, Fed and State just help themselves to my earnings, I had to establish an IRA real quick and I'm not stopping there. Because a lot of my money is going out and most likely none of it will be coming back, so a sista cannot afford to floss right now. I'll floss when it really matters.

[Shelacious]

Wanting these name brands was a part of growing up: I remember hollering in the 8th grade until I got a pair of Guess jeans and a Guess sweatshirt. The jeans were too big and didn't fit well, but I refused to take them back. I also recall having to have Bongo and Jordache too. The difference was that my mother and grandmother are not trendy people, so not only did they impress upon me the rationale for NOT wanting to wear these expensive billboards, but I quickly grew out of it because my family didn't encourage it.

Now, I am much more into getting what I like--my favorite stores are BCBG and Georgiou (on sale and outlet) and I am an Internet and catalogue shopper. I love classic, quality materials and goods, with a trendy (non-logo'd) top every now and then I KNOW I won't wear but two or three times. On the other hand, I have stock options, a 401(K), own my own home and car and yet still must look for ways to better manage my $.

I have noticed, though, that many people of African descent here in the US are into what we call "conspicuous consumption" and we teach this philosophy to our children. We let the future take care of itself (some of us think we won't be around by old-age anyway so...). What it is in part is a residual response to being denied things in the past because of poverty and discrimination. Because I look younger than I am, I also sometimes fight the urge to whip out my gold card and buy expensive item to show people that I CAN, not because I need, or even really want it. It is an insidious legacy that we must overcome if we are to truly "overcome".

The first step: realizing the fact that you are doing it in the first place and that it's WRONG to have a $1000 a month car payment but you don't yet own your own home.

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Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920

[DST Love]

Originally posted by Shelacious:
The first step: realizing the fact that you are doing it in the first place and that it's WRONG to have a $1000 a month car payment but you don't yet own your own home.

Preach sister, preach!! My boyfriend is a credit manager where he serves mostly "us". He tells me about these grown people who live with their parents and have massive debt yet want loans to get cars that are far beyond what they can handle financially, i.e. Navigators, Mercedes, etc. And as I said earlier, get something that appreciates in value. A car depreciates as soon as you drive it off the lot. Those high payments could be going towards something of substance. But once you have lots of "real" investments and have made sure that you can support your family's and your future, that's when you can go and get the things your heart desires.

[meeks]

well i know when i went to school down south, people really didnt go out of their way to dress to impress. HA! I came back up here to Detroit and EVERYONE is all Guess/Iceberg/Polo'ed out. In my neighborhood, there are still those who are living in the basement RENTING expensive cars EVERY weekend so they can floss. (dont have their own). I agree with the others when they said we should invest in our futures. I have a pension plan and I am not even out of college yet, and that makes me feel better than any brand name!


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The truly educated never graduate!

[ZChi4Life]

Originally posted by meeks:
well i know when i went to school down south, people really didnt go out of their way to dress to impress. HA! I came back up here to Detroit and EVERYONE is all Guess/Iceberg/Polo'ed out. In my neighborhood, there are still those who are living in the basement RENTING expensive cars EVERY weekend so they can floss. (dont have their own). I agree with the others when they said we should invest in our futures. I have a pension plan and I am not even out of college yet, and that makes me feel better than any brand name!

Meeks, I'm from Detroit too and yes, everyone is rocking the Polo, Pelle Pelle and them damn Avirex jackets!!
I am an alumni from UofM and I swear about half the football team owns one of those Avirex jackets!
I wish I could own a Tommy this or a Prada that! Man, can I just pay my car note? Can I just pay my phone bill?
As far as the high school kids, I live in Ann Arbor, so I guess wearing name brands isn't a big deal up here unless I missed something. But whenever I go to the D, they are all rocking these name brands like they work full-time, making 50 G's a year!! I don't know where they get the money to do it but I agree, that it's getting a little outta hand. Parents need to teach their kids the value of a $1 cuz something is going on. I only hope that these kids that are wearing all these expensive clothes are making the honor roll, helping out at home and doing things in the community to deserve such nice clothing!

[AlphaChiGirl]

I think we're definitely becoming more designer-conscious. I worked at a jewelry store over the holidays when I was in HS, people used to come in all the time, with crappy credit, but still wanted to buy thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. What point is having an omega chain necklace when you can't pay your car payment? When I come home (to the South), younger kids are decked out in Prada, Guess, FUBU...the list goes on. It's really tragic...especially when you know they just had their phone shut off...again.

I admit it, I am a bit of a brand-name junkie. I am currently obsessed with Kate Spade stuff, and I've always liked Limited, Gap, Brooks Brothers, Bebe (damn, they are snobby), Ann Taylor, and Tiffany's. But the difference is, I know what's within my means. That's also part of the reason I work...after they've paid tuition, room and board, and dues, I'm not about asking my parents for 175 so I can buy a Kate Spade bag. I want it? I get it myself now. And yes, I am saving for a rainy day. Art history majors don't get paid squat, and I'd like to be able to eat more than Beenie Weenies.

[1 Woman of Virtue]

This is so true. I notice it a lot in the Black community. But I think a lot of it has to do w/ the fact that we come from a recent history in which we were not allowed to have nice things. We were told that we had to work our whole lives for someone else's pleasure (slave master). The centuries of watching "them" "floss" while we couldn't had to have mad an impression. Now I think that has manifested into some horrific behavior that is being passed on from generation to generation. Not to mention the fact that we live in such a "consumption" society!

When I was in undergrad (only 7 short months ago ) we had this main street that went through campus. Now I went to a school of 42,000 undergrads, and less than 2,000 were Black. But, watching the Black students was like watching a fashion show!!! I go back now, and can't believe I participated in this "Walk of Fame" as I now call it.
I'm glad I got into the investing thing early though. And believe me, the outlets and stores like TJ Maxx have become some very close friends of mine!

[Poplife]

Originally posted by AlphaChiGirl:
I am currently obsessed with Kate Spade stuff.

That's understandable! Kate Spade is incredible!

[exquizit]

Originally posted by 1 Woman of Virtue:


And believe me, the outlets and stores like TJ Maxx have become some very close friends of mine!

Oh they're close, close friends of mine too! I'm the sales queen! LOL

[chrini]

I am a shopaholic and I have a weakness for designer items. I love my my Prada (under $90 brand new), Louis Vuitton (paid $115 used worth $500& then some), and etc. All authentic. But the smart way is to shop during those special sales, (ex:day after Thanksgiving, Christmas, back to school) that is when Neimans, Versace, and loads of stores give you a chance to clean up nearly 50-75% off. Yes, I do invest as well. You just have to find great bargains. Also try Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and consignments stores (for rediculous expensive handbags that you can't live without). There is always those auctions if you dare to grow tired but refuse to give away an expensive item. Just a suggestion.

[SkittleGirl]

I've also noticed this trend to where I go to school in the south and it is the biggest fashion show i've ever seen. Designers don't need to have runways shows in New York and Paris, just come around here and they are represented to the fullest! I was always under the impression that if you buy designer clothing and accessories, that you don't have to see the name, I know its real and I payed the money for it, so I can care less whether you know i'm wearing it or not.

I don't know if its just me, but I was raised in a caribbean background and my mother just didn't play that. I asked her for a shirt that cost $60 dollars once, and believe me that was my first and only time, not only did I get the lecture on the value of a dollar, but that fact that trends fade quickly and as my mother says "Good living don't make long life." After that, I not only try to make better decisions when i shop now, but I think about it more and assess whether I really need what i'm buying.

For example, i wanted some Chloe sunglasses, and was really about to buy them for myself, and I thought..."This is only gonna last till fall of 2001, then what, i'm stuck with some glasses that are (1)out of fasion, (2) I know that I will get tired of wearing (3) I don't have that much orange,green, blue, pink, red in the world to just buy clothes to match sunglasses."

I don't know, maybe its just me, but not only priorities mixed up, but this is going to lead to greater economic problems down the road, because if these children today don't see that there is more to life than a label and a name, I wonder how happy and prosperous they will be in the future, because i've seen it too much, and living paycheck to paycheck doesn't look cute on anyone.