Deluxe

[kittynh]

Dana Thomas casts her critical eye on the world of luxury goods.

From the first beginnigs of Louis Vuitton in France, to the present day globalization of luxury goods for the masses.

Interesting facts abound, that make you really think before you ever spend another penny if you were simply buying because it's "better made".

A real stopper for me was the fact that an Armani suit bought in Italy is made in Egypt. And Armani suit bought in the US is made in Italy. That's because in Europe you don't have to label where clothing is made, and in the US you do. The Italian made suit really is better, but it's simply the image of Armani that counts with most consumers.

Hermes and Chanel get thumbs up for sticking to their traditions at the cost of the bottom line. The rest get ratted out for switching production to China.

The one chapter I had a bit of difficulty with was that imitation luxury goods paid for the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center. I thought that was drug money, but whatever.

A good book for anyone that wonders, "is that Hermes bag worth it?" yes to the Hermes, more than likely NO to the Gucci or Prada (Prada comes in for an extra big hit on the drop in quality).


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[JoeTheJuggler]

In one of Pratchett's discworld novels he addresses this issue. The poor person who buys a $10 pair of boots every year ends up paying more than the wealthy person who buys a single pair of $100 boots that last twenty years or more.

Meanwhile, can a mod or someone fix the "it's" typo (should be "its") in the thread title?

[kittynh]

only now ofcourse the $100 pair of boots isn't any better made than the $10 pair. And it's "out of fashion" in a season. Luxury goods makers are moving production to China, throwing out craftsmanship, and making the goods "disposable" as in you would not be caught DEAD without the latest bag. In a way they don't HAVE to make them to last anymore. The chapter about the Prada pants that the hem gives way on is a sad commentary on how the same factory that makes pants for KMart might make them for PRada also.

[Tobermory]

I tend to buy expensive things in some futile belief that having them will make me happier. I know the belief is false, and that my actions are generally w/out reason. Still, I like my Gucci watch, my Cartier ring, and my Hermes scarf pin. I value them particularly because of the work it took *me* to acquire them. Could I have spent the money more wisely? Yes. Did any of these things make me any happier? No.

But basically, value is in the eye of the beholder. Some people spend a ton of money on "practical" items that I would never want. It's their choice, and I don't judge them for it.

In any case, I wouldn't want to be looked down on for having fashionable luxury items any more than I would want to be judged for not having them. In the grand scope of things, these things mean nothing. But to me, they are representative of my hard work.

In any case, it's all just stuff. Meaningless, stupid, stuff. Even items with sentimental value become mere clutter in the end.