How much do they get paid? Enough to shop there?

[Deleted]

Jan 11, 2011 14:06:38 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

I bought a pair of sandals with heals there. My friend recognized the designer. I had no clue.

I really find it weird when people recognized a designer seriously!

I went to a party in December and a guy recognized my sweater and designer (it was a Christmast gift). I thought it was weird and to be honest akward.

I did not know if the guy was right or not, but since my wife was with me she confirmed that he was right

[dancinmama]

Jan 11, 2011 14:04:33 GMT -5 swamp said:

"Plus, the oohs and aahs you get when someone recognizes them as $1,200 boots."

I dunno if I say ooh or aah when I recognize $1,200 boots. I think it's more likely that I think to my self that the person is a idiot for spending that much money on trendy footwear.

swamp: First, I would never recognize a pair of $1,200 boots; but if I did, I'd probably feel the same way.

One of DS's friends bought her boyfriend a $400 designer wallet when she was a junior in high school. It starts young.

[Deleted]

Jan 11, 2011 14:12:11 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Jan 11, 2011 14:04:33 GMT -5 swamp said:

"Plus, the oohs and aahs you get when someone recognizes them as $1,200 boots."

I dunno if I say ooh or aah when I recognize $1,200 boots. I think it's more likely that I think to my self that the person is a idiot for spending that much money on trendy footwear.

swamp: First, I would never recognize a pair of $1,200 boots; but if I did, I'd probably feel the same way.

One of DS's friends bought her boyfriend a $400 designer wallet when she was a junior in high school. It starts young.

Seriously.... $400 for a wallet? Seriously?
And Junior in High school? Like the wallet cost more money than it will actually contains?

[swamp]

"Like the wallet cost more money than it will actually contains?"

I make pretty decent $$ and $400 is certainly more than my wallet will contain at any given time.

[thatgirl]

I think for a lot of retailers, the employee discount is a part of the total compensation package.

While I agree that designer clothing is expensive (too expensive for me), keep in mind that the expense of the clothing includes many factors besides which factory made the clothing. Rent on the upscale retail, advertising costs, fashion show costs, etc are very expensive. The top design houses set the trends for each year and the less expensive brands are then able to copy the styles and colors at a much lesser cost.

[Deleted]

Jan 11, 2011 14:15:25 GMT -5 swamp said:

"Like the wallet cost more money than it will actually contains?"

I make pretty decent $$ and $400 is certainly more than my wallet will contain at any given time.

Same here... my wallet never contains more than the $20-40 allowance I get a week.

My wallet costs $30

[thyme4change]

It is possible that the boots are actually better quality than some of the POS stuff that is out there. Sometimes designer clothes are all about paying for a name. Sometimes they really use better fabrics and do little extra details that make the clothes last longer. Sometimes they are crap (Bebe comes to mind.)

We talk often about quality over quantity, but if someone even thinks about spending a lot on clothes, this board immediately assumes it is because they want to impress someone. I just want a pair of pants that fit, look good and last. I haven't had the magical Ross experience that so many have. They don't really carry pants with a longer inseam, and I don't have time to spend a couple hours every weekend sifting through their racks and racks of stuff to find the rare quality piece.

Some stuff is very, very nice - and happens to have a designer name on it.

[swamp]

Thyme, I agree, and will pay willingly for quality clothes and shoes. However, I'm still not convinced the $1,200 boots are better quality than the $250 ones...............

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"I'm still not convinced the $1,200 boots are better quality than the $250 ones...":::...

I believe there is a threshold for every commodity after which the increase in price is much more about the brand name than it is about the increase in quality. I have a vita-mix blender which excels in every category. However an almost equally superb blender can be had for less than half the cost of the vita-mix. Same thing with the $200 jeans. After the $50-$75 price point, how much better can a pair of jeans get without no longer being "jeans".

[Deleted]

Jan 11, 2011 14:49:26 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

...:::"I'm still not convinced the $1,200 boots are better quality than the $250 ones...":::...

I believe there is a threshold for every commodity after which the increase in price is much more about the brand name than it is about the increase in quality. I have a vita-mix blender which excels in every category. However an almost equally superb blender can be had for less than half the cost of the vita-mix. Same thing with the $200 jeans. After the $50-$75 price point, how much better can a pair of jeans get without no longer being "jeans".

Yes I wonder the same thing... does anyone knows the actual answer?

My wife bought me some nice IZOD sweaters for Christmas and they costs between $40-50.
What is the difference between them and the Armani ones that are $100-250 and are not cashmere.

Yes I understand that cashmere would definitely me more expensive.

[thyme4change]

I don't think clothes are a commodity. A commodity is something that is the same in all circumstances. Oil and gas are a commodity. But clothing has many, many variables - some of which are aesthetic, and some are measures of quality.

You could say a t-shirt is a commodity, but I've had cheap t-shirts that are see-through because the cloth is so thin, and they become disformed after the first washing, and the material feels itchy, and the stitching isn't reinforced so you get a tear at the seams, and the interior seams aren't finished well, so you get that thing where the thread starts to pull off and you have a bunch of stuff hanging down. I've also spent considerable money on a t-shirt that was a high quality, thick, soft cotton that held up wash after wash and always fit the way it did when I bought it. The stitching was strong and the garment was finished well, so I never lost the hem or the shoulder seam. Want to guess which one was a "designer" name?

[Deleted]

I used to work retail. You would have designer reps. The designer often paid a separate commission or incentive in addition to the store. Tommy Hilfiger loaded ours on a visa card. Ralph Lauren just had contests all the time for free merchandise.

But we were women working in the men's dept. The female Ralph Lauren rep. got to order current merchandise at a substantial discount directly from RL. She did not purchase it through the store although she did supplement with store RL merchandise. That's all she was allowed to wear. A friend who used to work at Gap said that she could only wear Gap merchandise although it didn't have to be currently on the floor.

The idea is that if someone admires what you are wearing, it should be the brand you are selling or available in the store you work at. Oddly, not many men asked where I got my sweater so they could buy it in their size. Maybe it is because I am a petite?

[Deleted]

Cawaiu, the difference between an Izod and an Armani has a lot to do with status. Izod is now categorized as moderately priced sportswear (at best) every since Lacoste became separate. Izod is always on sale and eligible for coupons; Lacoste is almost never. Armani is categorized as "better men's" and is housed in that department.

If you are smart enough not to care much about labels, it doesn't matter that much although the better sportswear does tend to last longer. It also maintains its shape better, but that may just mean people take better care of it.

[dancinmama]

Jan 11, 2011 14:13:32 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Jan 11, 2011 14:12:11 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

swamp: First, I would never recognize a pair of $1,200 boots; but if I did, I'd probably feel the same way.

One of DS's friends bought her boyfriend a $400 designer wallet when she was a junior in high school. It starts young.

Seriously.... $400 for a wallet? Seriously?
And Junior in High school? Like the wallet cost more money than it will actually contains?

I know. Pretty ridiculous. I wish I could remember the name of the designer, but I was totally shocked and both she and the guy she bought it for thought it was TOTALLY worth it.

[thyme4change]

it doesn't matter that much although the better sportswear does tend to last longer

Well, which is it - that it is the same, or that one lasts longer? It can't be both.

[dancinmama]

It is possible that the boots are actually better quality than some of the POS stuff that is out there. Sometimes designer clothes are all about paying for a name. Sometimes they really use better fabrics and do little extra details that make the clothes last longer. Sometimes they are crap (Bebe comes to mind.)


thyme4change: I totally agree that it is highly likely that the designer boots ARE actually better quality, but when comparing a $1,200 pair of boots to a $250 pair of boots, I would ask myself whether the $1,200 pair is $950 better than the $250 pair. Often the answer is no.

I try not to buy a Cadillac if all I need is a Volkswagon,

[thyme4change]

Does anyone need a Cadillac?

[dancinmama]

Jan 11, 2011 15:28:27 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Does anyone need a Cadillac?

ha ha ha A lot of people think they do. Have you noticed how many Escalades are on the road? And from what I've been told, those things are gas hogs!!

[dancinmama]

In the end, it all comes down to different strokes for different folks. Some guys like fast cars. Some gals like designer clothes and shoes. I like having a nice home. Some people can have it all and still be financially secure.

[dividend]

Jan 11, 2011 14:18:55 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Same here... my wallet never contains more than the $20-40 allowance I get a week.

My wallet costs $30

Do you really give yourself a tiny allowance and tolerate your wife buying $80 sweaters all the time just because?

Most of your posts make me want to either hug you, or slap some sense into you.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...I think this thread decides it... I'm going to apply to work at The Walking Company, where Birkenstocks abound...

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"My wife bought me some nice IZOD sweaters for Christmas and they costs between $40-50. What is the difference between them and the Armani ones that are $100-250 and are not cashmere.":::...

Mens clothing is fun. I'd rather buy the Alfani dress pants made of real wool for $60 than the Oscar De La Renta pants made of Polyester for $100. I couldn't believe the price difference for an inferior fabric just because someone's name was on it.

...:::"Izod is always on sale and eligible for coupons; Lacoste is almost never.":::...

Lacoste always amazes me. I don't know whether its great quality, but there is a shop in Georgetown that has the $80 polo shirt and $140 pants with that little gator on it.

...:::"A commodity is something that is the same in all circumstances.":::...

I tried to use a more generic word than "product". Nevertheless my point remains that the increase in quality and the increase in price do not always run parallel after a certain point.

[Deleted]

Sure it can be both, Thyme. I tried to explain that they may be the same quality, but perhaps people just take better care of the more expensive stuff. That would make it last longer even if the quality is essentially the same when you begin.

[thyme4change]

The washing machine doesn't read price tags, and I find that is where most damage is done.

[zibazinski]

I think it's TOTALLY creepy that a grown man would acftually recognize a "designer" and comment on it. EEEWWW!!!!

[thyme4change]

Yes, heaven forbid there are actually men out there who care about their appearance.

[zibazinski]

It's ONE thing to care about your own appearance but another to comment on another man's attire is just weird. Guys don't say stuff like that normally.

[thyme4change]

I know lots of guys that want to look good and are into fashion. Just because it doesn't fit your narrow view of cavemen doesn't mean they don't exist or that is somehow offensive.

[zibazinski]

Yeah, okay, I get it.

[Nazgul Girl]

So Cawiau, I've been wondering. Is that you pictured from the back on your avatar ? Because if it is, then WHEW !! Hold The Phone. Wow !!