What is fashion?

I saw a Neiman-Marcus ad showing a male model wearing very ordinary looking casual clothes. The cost of the outfit was $650!

Frankly, the pic could have been one from Target, PC Penney or Sears which would have cost less than a $100. Why is that?

Glowpun said:

I saw a Neiman-Marcus ad showing a male model wearing very ordinary looking casual clothes. The cost of the outfit was $650!

Frankly, the pic could have been one from Target, PC Penney or Sears which would have cost less than a $100. Why is that?

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Because some people have more money than sense?

Some derive their self worth from appearance and lofty labels.
Granted, I pay a bit more for quality products/brands. But I don't pay more for a name.

Glowpun said:

I saw a Neiman-Marcus ad showing a male model wearing very ordinary looking casual clothes. The cost of the outfit was $650!

Frankly, the pic could have been one from Target, PC Penney or Sears which would have cost less than a $100. Why is that?

Click to expand...

When you buy clothes at upscale stores, you're buying name recognition, quality and, most of all, service. A Target shirt is nowhere NEAR the quality of a Neiman Marcus men's shirt The colors will fade, buttons are cheap, cut of the shirt is boxy, not tailored. It will wrinkle more, shrink. Etc.

When you shop at these upscale stores, you won't see yourself coming and going. The styles you're choosing from will be cutting edge. You will find people commenting on your shirt because it's very different from WalMart's selection.

When famous people put their names on things, you will find they have, most of the time, carefully chosen "unique" to protect their brand. This past spring, I bought a pair of Ivanka Trump sandals. EVERY time I wear those shoes, I get compliments...and "where did you GET those?" remarks. Honestly, so much fun to wear.

If I should pull those sandals out next spring and notice a funny wear pattern, for instance, I can walk into Nordstrom's and get a full refund...just because. No receipt. No argument.

If I'm going shopping at Nordstrom's for a number of things, and find a store clerk that I like for her sense of style, she will accompany me to other departments to put outfits together. And they know their stuff.

Nordstrom's also has valet parking...complimentary. Really comes in handy on Christmas Eve and rainy days.

Shopping at upscale stores is an EXPERIENCE. I do it every chance I get.

MaggieD said:

When you buy clothes at upscale stores, you're buying name recognition, quality and, most of all, service. A Target shirt is nowhere NEAR the quality of a Neiman Marcus men's shirt The colors will fade, buttons are cheap, cut of the shirt is boxy, not tailored. It will wrinkle more, shrink. Etc.

When you shop at these upscale stores, you won't see yourself coming and going. The styles you're choosing from will be cutting edge. You will find people commenting on your shirt because it's very different from WalMart's selection.

When famous people put their names on things, you will find they have, most of the time, carefully chosen "unique" to protect their brand. This past spring, I bought a pair of Ivanka Trump sandals. EVERY time I wear those shoes, I get compliments...and "where did you GET those?" remarks. Honestly, so much fun to wear.

If I should pull those sandals out next spring and notice a funny wear pattern, for instance, I can walk into Nordstrom's and get a full refund...just because. No receipt. No argument.

If I'm going shopping at Nordstrom's for a number of things, and find a store clerk that I like for her sense of style, she will accompany me to other departments to put outfits together. And they know their stuff.

Nordstrom's also has valet parking...complimentary. Really comes in handy on Christmas Eve and rainy days.

Shopping at upscale stores is an EXPERIENCE. I do it every chance I get.

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completely agree

I can't afford high end clothing all of the time, but I will purchase when I can. It lasts forever and fits properly.

I suppose I would admit that I have an eye for what I consider fashion, but it isn't based upon cost or shopping at certain stores. In fact, my enjoyment increases the less I pay.

My thing, though, is shirts from the 1950s. I have a closet full of them. I like em. They're cool to me and I'm the only one I'm trying to please.

As far as dressing for the approval of somebody else, though, I find that dressing to impress doesn't really interest me. Somebody else telling me a bottle of wine or a work of art is good has little effect on whether or not I like it. I'm not easily influenced that way. The same goes with clothes. I've got to like it in order to like it.

Gardener said:

I suppose I would admit that I have an eye for what I consider fashion, but it isn't based upon cost or shopping at certain stores. In fact, my enjoyment increases the less I pay.

My thing, though, is shirts from the 1950s. I have a closet full of them. I like em. They're cool to me and I'm the only one I'm trying to please.

As far as dressing for the approval of somebody else, though, I find that dressing to impress doesn't really interest me. Somebody else telling me a bottle of wine or a work of art is good has little effect on whether or not I like it. I'm not easily influenced that way. The same goes with clothes. I've got to like it in order to like it.

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:lol: You're a cutie, Gardner.

Lovebug said:

Some derive their self worth from appearance and lofty labels.
Granted, I pay a bit more for quality products/brands. But I don't pay more for a name.

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I'm not paying an obscene amount of money for a stupid label, especially when the product's quality is just high-end "ordinary." But investment dressing is what it is, and have some classic pieces in my wardrobe that are 10-15 years old.

What's fun is paying better than 50% off. Such a thrill! Sometimes when I've made a good score, I'll keep the tags for a few days just to congratulate myself. :3oops:

nota bene said:

I'm not paying an obscene amount of money for a stupid label, especially when the product's quality is just high-end "ordinary." But investment dressing is what it is, and have some classic pieces in my wardrobe that are 10-15 years old.

What's fun is paying better than 50% off. Such a thrill! Sometimes when I've made a good score, I'll keep the tags for a few days just to congratulate myself. :3oops:

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Cough.....popping tags at Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul.....cough.

SMTA said:

Cough.....popping tags at Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul.....cough.

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I have no luck with thrift shops unless I take my BFF with me, but we're hardly ever in the same state. She finds fantastic deals. Paid $4 for the shrug she wore over her mother-of-the-groom dress, and nobody knew but me. So many compliments on it too.

nota bene said:

I have no luck with thrift shops unless I take my BFF with me, but we're hardly ever in the same state. She finds fantastic deals. Paid $4 for the shrug she wore over her mother-of-the-groom dress, and nobody knew but me. So many compliments on it too.

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Mom was a Goodwill expert. Her secret was going once or twice a week. The nice items get picked pretty quick. I'll stop in for books or vases for give-away flowers on occasion.

nota bene said:

I have no luck with thrift shops unless I take my BFF with me, but we're hardly ever in the same state. She finds fantastic deals. Paid $4 for the shrug she wore over her mother-of-the-groom dress, and nobody knew but me. So many compliments on it too.

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My wife finds awesome deals for the kids - especially local football teams, colleges, etc.

MaggieD said:

Mom was a Goodwill expert. Her secret was going once or twice a week. The nice items get picked pretty quick. I'll stop in for books or vases for give-away flowers on occasion.

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This is true - the wife drops by about twice a week and has nailed some serious deals.

A lot of the materials the fashion designers use are very expensive and they are trying to cover what they spent.

Glowpun said:

I saw a Neiman-Marcus ad showing a male model wearing very ordinary looking casual clothes. The cost of the outfit was $650!

Frankly, the pic could have been one from Target, PC Penney or Sears which would have cost less than a $100. Why is that?

Click to expand...

The fabric is often one reason. Pure silk (a man's $2,000 suit is likely to be silk, I think, or wool or whatever), high grade cotton, 100% linen, etc.

Quality of manufacturing. Seams are generous, well made, all facings are present, lined, etc.

Name brand. You pay UP for a name brand. Sometimes because it's trendy, sometimes because others will recognize the brand and know you're rich (like a Coco Chanel suit), and sometimes because the name means quality (like Ralph Lauren).

Fit. Well made, expensive clothes often fit better (but not always).

Taste and style. Name brands have a certain style that you can count on. Classy and classic - Ralph Lauren. Clean, streamlined, not trendy - some other name brands. Very trendy but chic - some other brands. Eco friendly, animal friendly, and cool and flattering - McCartney.

Up to date: If you buy an expensive name brand one year, you know it's in style that year (the style or the color or whatever).

I have bought some Ralph Lauren pieces on sale. They wear very well and last forever. Truly high quality. While some jeans, for example, I got at Target, fit well and look good, but then stretch so much that they almost literally fall off. Something very wrong with them.

The cheaper clothes, OTOH - you take your chances. Still, I've bought cheap (er...I mean inexpensive) clothes that look high quality and wear very well, and are decent quality. And I've bought some pricier name brands that got misshapen after washing and were a waste of money.

If you look at the stitching of cheaper clothes, and look at the inside of the piece, you will probably find uneven stitches, smaller seams, maybe some errors in sewing, facing sewn in backwards sometimes. Things like that. That may not matter to the wearer, though.

nota bene said:

I'm not paying an obscene amount of money for a stupid label, especially when the product's quality is just high-end "ordinary." But investment dressing is what it is, and have some classic pieces in my wardrobe that are 10-15 years old.

What's fun is paying better than 50% off. Such a thrill! Sometimes when I've made a good score, I'll keep the tags for a few days just to congratulate myself. :3oops:

Click to expand...

I admit I get a kick out of bargain hunting. It's what I imagine a hunter feels when he has a good hunt. I "bag" a great deal, and I feel I did something great.

There's a high end consignment store near me. I love to go through it looking for something. Most of the stuff is worn or out of style or not really high end. But then I find that one thing.....a Ralph Lauren navy cashmere pullover sweater, a Lauren black pullover fall top of high grade cotton, a navy corduroy jacket. All items looking almost new and very inexpensive.

I have to watch it, though. It's tempting to buy something on a great sale at a department store, when it's really not flattering or something I'll never wear. I've made some mistakes doing that.

The discount stores have great items, though, if you know how to find them. T-shirts, cardigans, whatever. Heck, I even found a couple of t-shirts at Walgreen's, of all places, for $5. Cute as can be. One is a favorite: Spring green with pink writing on the front "Green Girl" (an environmental message). I look for deals everywhere. Pricey deerfoam slippers from a department store? Forgeddabout it. Walgreen's has carried deerfoams at a discount in some years. And WalMart sometimes has a knockoff for cheap. And they DO last as long as the real thing and are as comfortable, though the fit is not as good.

JumpinJack said:

I admit I get a kick out of bargain hunting. It's what I imagine a hunter feels when he has a good hunt. I "bag" a great deal, and I feel I did something great.

There's a high end consignment store near me. I love to go through it looking for something. Most of the stuff is worn or out of style or not really high end. But then I find that one thing.....a Ralph Lauren navy cashmere pullover sweater, a Lauren black pullover fall top of high grade cotton, a navy corduroy jacket. All items looking almost new and very inexpensive.

I have to watch it, though. It's tempting to buy something on a great sale at a department store, when it's really not flattering or something I'll never wear. I've made some mistakes doing that.

The discount stores have great items, though, if you know how to find them. T-shirts, cardigans, whatever. Heck, I even found a couple of t-shirts at Walgreen's, of all places, for $5. Cute as can be. One is a favorite: Spring green with pink writing on the front "Green Girl" (an environmental message). I look for deals everywhere. Pricey deerfoam slippers from a department store? Forgeddabout it. Walgreen's has carried deerfoams at a discount in some years. And WalMart sometimes has a knockoff for cheap. And they DO last as long as the real thing and are as comfortable, though the fit is not as good.

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You've summed everything up so well--the need to look at the seams and so forth, and I learned that a long time ago and the hard way. As you've said, sometimes the higher-end stuff is cheap while you really might chance into something utterly fantastic at Target or someplace.

You know that scene in Gone With the Wind just before the intermission when Scarlett is clutching that carrot and vowing that God as her witness, she'll never go hungry again? I'm kind of like that about paying full-price. It's just pissed me off once too often to have paid full price and then see that blouse knocked down to half-price or better. :twisted:

Glowpun said:

I saw a Neiman-Marcus ad showing a male model wearing very ordinary looking casual clothes. The cost of the outfit was $650!

Frankly, the pic could have been one from Target, PC Penney or Sears which would have cost less than a $100. Why is that?

Click to expand...

People who care about fashion are trying to impress other people that care about fashion.

My husband thought I'd give a rats ass about the fact that he wears 501's . . . I find plunking down $50.00 on a pair of jeans to be a complete and total waste of money.

But I'm a metalurgist and a gemologist - so $50.00 can buy a few feet of half-hard workable silver or a 6" strand of D-grade emerald cut rubies. Thse things I care about considerably - but at least the jeans get worn

True fashionistas like my sister are able to - well - take anything and make it into something notable. A used dress, worn out jeans, a designer top . . . doesn't matter. It's how you tailor it / wear it / accessorise it that counts.

I know just enough about fashion to make sure that everything I own matches with everything else I own, except for my only suit, and to keep my facial hair fairly well groomed. Anything else and I'm lost.

Glowpun said:

I saw a Neiman-Marcus ad showing a male model wearing very ordinary looking casual clothes. The cost of the outfit was $650!

Frankly, the pic could have been one from Target, PC Penney or Sears which would have cost less than a $100. Why is that?

Click to expand...

Seems to me that fashion is the agreement between people selling clothes agree and the magazines that talk about those clothes, as to what will be "in" this season. Similar agreements define the price of various brands/designers.

It's a massive scam that many willingly participate in.

I don't know that it's a scam--consumers aren't being tricked, but it's certainly a business.