They do stomp out fires every week. They have whole departments to do this.
Ahh. Good for them.
Ain’t stopping Walmart, Target, Temu, Amazon, and 1000s of other places.
Preventing knock-offs is the reason Louis Vuitton slaps its LV logo all over everything? Maybe I’m weird, but I would prefer their stuff if their logo was absent or at least more discreet. Googling, though, some bags (like this one) seem not to have the logo.
My interest would be in buying a high-quality product made by craftspeople with years of training. So much of what we buy is mass-produced crap.
Yes and indeed most luxury brands do not plaster their logo on their most expensive items.
So they have two kinds of customers; those who wish to show off that they have money, and those that actually do.
…which is not to be too critical of the former group. Depending on one’s surroundings / situation, trying to show off can have utility.
As I understand it, quite a lot of luxury goods spiked during covid (people had nothing better to do than covet goods online), and are basically returning now to where they were. The article mentions covid, but I think they obscure that a little bit in favor of a longer narrative.
In terms of my own outfits, I don’t fit so well in this dichotomy.
I don’t wear branded goods, and I don’t like wearing t-shirts with a readable message on them, and stuff like that.
OTOH, there are times where I definitely stand out.
At the gym for example is one time where I feel I can wear whatever colors or a mickey mouse sports vest or whatever, which, considering 95% of men are in plain black or gray (and maybe 80% of women), definitely means I stand out.
I don’t care; having fun outfits is one thing that helps keep me in the habit of going.
From yet another New York Times article (gift link), I learned of the concept of “quiet luxury” or “stealth wealth”, in which really rich people wear stuff without obvious branding while still being really expensive. Brands like Brunello Cucinelli or Loro Piana are among what they wear. The article focuses on the costuming in the HBO show Succession. If you watched that, the character of Kendall Roy, portrayed by Jeremy Strong, was shown wearing a baseball cap. Except this wasn’t just a cheap one from Yankee Stadium, but a $630 Loro Piana cap.
That is very similar to @Hari_Seldon’s T shirt actually: it’s about signaling to an elite group while whooshing past everyone else. The “right people” will get the joke and admire the T shirt, impressed by it even, know they are in the same club, and a different group of “right people” recognize that the hat is not just a cheap cap and similarly be impressed. Secret handshakes.
My story to share: I have a business partner who knows her luxury fashion and knows that I am not a luxury goods or brands person. My mother in law’s “partner” died a few years back. I was his shoe size and she gave me some of his old shoes. So I come into work wearing what seem to me basic black shoes only to have my partner tease me for wearing some luxury brand by recognizing something on their soles. It made me self conscious about wearing them!
I’m in the same club. I bought that t shirt for my husband.
Well that’s the kind of status signaling I’d expect out of this crew. Seriously.
I’d suspect a large number of Dopers (not all) would pay a bit extra to avoid the symbol that signifies how expensive what they have is, but would happily even tattoo on a symbol that only an intellectual of some sort would notice as meaning something. Especially something humorous. And seeing the latter on someone would impress most of us more than the luxury clothing, wristwatch, or even car would.
We are a snobby group. Just a certain sort of snobbery.
The only designer-type items I own are a couple of Dooney & Bourke handbags, and that’s because they are tough as old leather boots. I am hell on handbags, usually wear one out in 6 months. The D&Bs hold up for literal decades.
I don’t carry a full handbag anymore, but on the rare occasions when I do, it’s still the ol’ black D&B saddlebag style, looking none the worse for 20+ years of wear.
Clothes just have to fit. The only time I ever felt self-conscious about it was when I used to have to conduct enrollment meetings with clients at Century City or in Beverly Hills. Those are some of the judgiest most label-conscious people in the world. I’m sure my off-the-rack togs were noted.
I no longer conduct in-person enrollment meetings. This makes me happy. Hated driving there, too!
Yep, although it happens that virtually none of my clothes have any distinguishing elements to them except for a few shirts with a small Nike swoosh. Both of us have some clothing purchased as souvenirs but we don’t really wear them.
Following the link, it looks like the hat does sort a sizable - tho monochromatic - logo.
What I found curious was the beanies/knit caps. How could the cotton one ($560) cost more than the cashmere one ($500)?!
That’s a challenge for us short guys. I can find pants my waist often enough, even on the sales racks, but the half the time I have to spend as much getting them hemmed as the pants cost. Not much selection in stock 29 to 30 inch inseam.
I’m with the OP, I really dislike clothes and other items that make me feel like a walking billboard. On the other hand, I have a bow tie designed by George Takei, and not a damn clip-on, either.
I have a necktie designed by Jerry Garcia.
I have five … but ties as conversation pieces is my work thing.
That’s not an uncommon length for women’s pants. But the hips are cut differently enough that you might not be comfortable wearing them. I know i can’t buy men’s pants, because they don’t fit well.
I’ve got several up in my closet - unworn for many a year. I remember seeing a teeny doodle of Jerry’s that supposedly “inspired” one of my ties. Nevertheless, pretty cool ties.
Last few weddings and funerals I’ve been to, very few people wore ties. I should further winnow out my tie rack - but it doesn’t take up much closet space.
Heh. My wife had ordered herself some new jeans and I thought they were for me because same 30” waist and she had told me she was going order me a new pair or so. Put them on and complained to her that they rested a bit low and the pockets were small but otherwise not too far off. And the length was fine! But the small pockets were bad.
Growing up three of my older sibs were girls so I often wore girl hand me downs. A little flare at the bottom and more embroidery but otherwise they were fine.
I know a few fashion designers, and you do indeed get high-quality bespoke clothes crafted from good materials. At least one of them was able, as her boutique expanded, to hire some assistants so she did not have to sew 100% of every single item herself. Each dress does indeed cost thousands, but apparently she was able to build a reputation and get the clientele to stay in business. Not everyone going into the fashion business may be so lucky.
Cayce Pollard was more opposed to it than anyone I’ve met in real life. It was pretty close to an allergy with her.