Is Designer Wear One Big Con?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2651155/The-truth-outlet-store-designer-bargains-Shoppers-flock-town-malls-huge-discounts-brands-products-arent-seem.html

Can it be compared to ridiculous art such as can be seen in the Turner prize awards, or even to the song "The Kings New Clothes"?

[kvalidir]

For one AOG I completely agree with you:)
There is a huge element of 'Emperor's new clothes' in fashion, that being said I do own some designer stuff, mostly presents and I do wear UGGS (I wouldn't describe them as a 'designer' brand though). Often unless you have an original to compare something to, it's often impossible to tell a good fake from the real thing and this seems to be even more cynical than that.

[anotheoldgit]

kvalidir

You say that some of your 'designer wear' has been presents, would you have accepted them as much if they had been copies or even god forbid ordinary apparel?

Is it all to do with peer pressure, or that strange pastime of keeping up with 'fashion' ?

[Sipowicz]

I don't follow trends, I set them! ;-)

[Sipowicz]

In answer to your question AOG, yes.

[kvalidir]

If someone buys me a present it doesn't matter what it is AOG- I either like it or I don't, but either way I'm grateful for the thought. I don't tend to follow ' fashion' much. I tend by choice to buy vintage clothing and either adapt it or mix it with modern pieces or make my own. Of the designer stuff I have, I like most of it except some Louis Vuitton stuff because I simply think LV looks quite tacky. The one designer thing I bought myself that I like best is a Vera Wang dress and yes that's beautiful ( but I would have been as happy if it wasn't a Vera Wang). I also don't do peer pressure:)

[wolf63]

I went to enter this competition for a 'designer' skirt. I figured that if I won it I could either use it myself or maybe sell for charity.

http://tinyurl.com/pj95ldm It is the most hideous looking thing that I have seen in a long time. If it was a 'normal' label and being sold in the high street people would laugh at it.

In answer to your question AOG - I think that people who follow trends and buy only designer clothing are sheep (and being fleeced).

[DaisyNonna]

It is absolute rubbish.
Why ear something that makes you look a freak. Even if you were thin enough.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't 'do' labels as such, I own a few but they were bought second hand because I liked the style, not because of the name on them.

If I like a new trend, I wait a few weeks until it filters out onto the high street, but vintage is best for me.

[pastafreak]

wolf,that skirt has made my brain ache...

And no,I don't do designer. "Designer" for the masses is nasty,while a real designer formal gown would buy a house...

[boxtops]

Wolfy, that's vile :-)

High end designer stuff seems only to be purchased by clothes horses - and isn't always all that well finished, IMO, I have seen some ghastly hems.

[pixie373]

That is revolting, wolfy :-)
I always avoided designer labels, thinking they are for people with more money than sense, thinking it's somehow impressive to show everyone " I paid £200 for a t-shirt". However, i have noticed there is often a huge difference in quality (not enough to justify those prices, though!)
I've been to Bicester Village quite a lot. You can tell straight away what sort of quality something is and decide whether you're happy with the price. I don't really see it as deceptive when the goods are in front of you to look at. It would be different if you were ordering online from a picture.