By 
I’ve never been very interested in designer items. Sure, after years of following fashion bloggers I’ve acquired a crush on certain products (like Valentino Rockstuds), but even if I had the thousands of dollars necessary to make a purchase, I wouldn’t. And here’s why.
- Half of the price of designer clothes is for the name. I’m not saying Chanel or Gucci or Louis Vuitton aren’t well made, but because they’re “Chanel,” “Gucci,” and “Louis Vuitton” (said in a drawn-out, hoity-toity voice) the brand can charge much more. People like having the brand name and official logo. I, on the other hand, have never cared about the brand. If it’s cute, affordable, and not horribly cheaply made, then I’ll buy it, no shame (hello, JCPenney and Costco finds!).
- Back to the brand and logo: lots of designer stuff has their big logo all over it. Michael Kors displays a large MK, Chanel has the famous CC, Gucci has the metallic CG. I personally don’t like having logos because I think it takes away from the item. Even back when Aeropostale was a thing, I hated how almost every shirt had the big Aeropostale watermark. I mean, shouldn’t these designer brands be paying us to wear their stuff?! You’re basically a walking advertisement!
- Lots of designer items have much more affordable dupes. Sure, a Red Valentino dress is unique in its feminine detail and luxurious fabrics, but you can probably find something quite similar for a fraction of the cost at your local Nordstrom’s. Take Valentino Rockstuds, for example. I always loved the look of this trendy designer shoe, so when I stumbled upon a BCBGeneration dupe for only $60 at DSW, I had to buy them! (You can see me wearing them here.) It may take a lot of patience to find something similar enough to a designer item, but trust me, they’re out there. You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get the style you want.
- Similar to being able to find more affordable look-alikes, I don’t like the idea of designer purchases because of how much money you drop on one single item. I’d much rather spend $2000 on a completely new wardrobe and tons of clothes rather than just one fancy purse.
- Finally, if I ever bought a designer item, I think I’d be afraid to use it! Because the products are so expensive and because I’ve been known to spill/break things in the past, I think I’d just be too paranoid to fully enjoy the glory of an expensive purchase. I’d probably just frame it in a glass case in my room instead so I’d never have to worry about getting it dirty! Haha.
While in Toronto, I walked around a few very high-end shops, which is what inspired me to write this blog post. I felt a little embarrassed walking into the Chanel store. I wore this outfit, so it’s not like I looked like a scrub, but I still felt judged by all the employees. Not to mention, there were security guards on every corner. Seriously, there were so many. You shouldn’t feel intimidated when you go shopping!
I also walked into the cutest Kate Spade store (I was so sad to hear of her passing). While Kate Spade is a much more affordable designer brand, it’s still out of my price range. I wandered around the room in this outfit and picked up the prettiest navy polka dot dress. The store clerk, who wore a colorful striped dress that I loved, told me she really liked the dress I picked up, and we got to chit-chatting. She then said, “You know, I love the dress you’re wearing right now! Where’s it from?” I thanked her and told her, perhaps a little sheepishly, “It’s from Charming Charlie.” She stared at me blankly for a moment. Then she added, “Oh, I’ve never heard of it!”
This interaction seriously cracked me up. Perhaps Charming Charlie doesn’t exist in Canada, but I just thought it was the funniest thing for a cute girl to work in a designer store and not have heard of this fun, cheap-y store (who, ironically, carries a lot of Kate Spade look-a-like items). I think it just goes to show that you can have a stylish dress, purse, pair of shoes, etc. without paying for the designer version.
With that said, this post is in no way meant to shame those who do buy designer purchases. Designer items can be so exciting and stylish! And I’m all for treating yourself. 🙂 It’s your money, you worked hard for it, and you can spend it however you like; I just thought it’d be interesting to share why I personally wouldn’t buy designer stuff.
Would you ever do the big designer splurge? Or do you resonate more with one of the reasons I listed to refrain from the fancy purchases? I’d love to know in the comments!
Miles of smiles,
Grace
Brown Patterned Dress: Charming Charlie, $40 // Black Studded Sandals: Arturo Chiang via Dillard’s, $30 // Aviator Sunglasses: Icing, $16 // Pink Belt // Elephant Crossbody: Francesca’s, $20