Purses are like orgasms: a good one can knock your socks off, but when you fake it, trust me, you’re not fooling anyone.
I don’t get the appeal of fakes. Are you trying to convince people you’re rich? Because when I see you sitting on the subway wearing an Old Navy hoodie and running shoes, I really don’t think you spent $3500 on that “Vuitton” bag you’re carrying. Still, you know what’s even sadder? When the person I’ve just described actually does have a real bag! Seriously, if you got rich selling credit default swaps to suckers, or your dignity to reality TV, go to town, and spend all you want on your accessories. Get all the Speedys and Birkins and whatever else you need to advertise your money and justify your facelift. Whatever. But if you’re middle class (or lower), and you scrimp and save, maybe blow that hard-earned money on some savings bonds or something. Don’t hand it over to a super rich designer to try to convince everyone else on the bus that you’re actually wealthy.
I say this as someone who loves to shop, but there are considerations of proportion and appropriateness. My every day bag right now is a $40 pleather thing from Zara! I get compliments all the time. It fits my needs, it’s good looking, durable, and it’s not meant to be “saying” much about me. It’s meant to get me through the day.
The most I have ever spent is maybe $450, on a Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, or around that for a Furla bought in Italy for much cheaper than they are in North America. The Furla, and the Longchamp , bought in Paris, came out of the vacation budget, not the clothing budget. Where others pay for rides at Disney, or stake themselves gambling money, I build the shopping money into the vacation spend. I suppose I could use a burlap sack, but remember, I am arguing for proportion, not against fashion. I can afford the bags I buy.
For around $300, you can get a nice leather purse, usually made in Canada, from Roots. For $750, you can get a nylon piece of crap from Prada, the sole advantage, for those who see it that way, is that it has their logo on it. Please.
For $50 you can get a knock-off, but it’s well documented that when you buy a fake, you are supporting a shady underground economy. Think about it: the people making the real bags barely make enough to get by; what sort of pay and conditions do you think apply to the poor souls making knock-offs sold on the street? And the money you spend isn’t going to shareholders or into the company pension fund; it’s going to gangsters and drug lords.
Remember that for everything we buy, there are people attached. Someone sewed your clothes, made your shoes, constructed your iPhone. We should think of these people when we decide how we spend- think of who gets the money. Below, John Oliver makes the point far better than I ever could:
In these mean times, with pressure to roll back labour laws and wages, and the rich telling the rest of us “be happy you even have a job”, the only power we have left is how we disburse the money we do have. Vote with your money. Vote by shopping at stores that pay decent wages, don’t import everything, and don’t lobby to cut back workers’ rights. Vote by not giving your money to criminals so you can try to convince people with your “Chloe” bag that you’re in the 1%. You worked hard for your money- spend it wisely.
Step 3, the KonMari purge (attempt) begins now...
I don’t get the appeal of fakes. Are you trying to convince people you’re rich? Because when I see you sitting on the subway wearing an Old Navy hoodie and running shoes, I really don’t think you spent $3500 on that “Vuitton” bag you’re carrying. Still, you know what’s even sadder? When the person I’ve just described actually does have a real bag! Seriously, if you got rich selling credit default swaps to suckers, or your dignity to reality TV, go to town, and spend all you want on your accessories. Get all the Speedys and Birkins and whatever else you need to advertise your money and justify your facelift. Whatever. But if you’re middle class (or lower), and you scrimp and save, maybe blow that hard-earned money on some savings bonds or something. Don’t hand it over to a super rich designer to try to convince everyone else on the bus that you’re actually wealthy.
I say this as someone who loves to shop, but there are considerations of proportion and appropriateness. My every day bag right now is a $40 pleather thing from Zara! I get compliments all the time. It fits my needs, it’s good looking, durable, and it’s not meant to be “saying” much about me. It’s meant to get me through the day.
 |
| This is my favourite purse. $200 from the Barney's Outlet. Store brand. |
For around $300, you can get a nice leather purse, usually made in Canada, from Roots. For $750, you can get a nylon piece of crap from Prada, the sole advantage, for those who see it that way, is that it has their logo on it. Please.
For $50 you can get a knock-off, but it’s well documented that when you buy a fake, you are supporting a shady underground economy. Think about it: the people making the real bags barely make enough to get by; what sort of pay and conditions do you think apply to the poor souls making knock-offs sold on the street? And the money you spend isn’t going to shareholders or into the company pension fund; it’s going to gangsters and drug lords.
Remember that for everything we buy, there are people attached. Someone sewed your clothes, made your shoes, constructed your iPhone. We should think of these people when we decide how we spend- think of who gets the money. Below, John Oliver makes the point far better than I ever could:
In these mean times, with pressure to roll back labour laws and wages, and the rich telling the rest of us “be happy you even have a job”, the only power we have left is how we disburse the money we do have. Vote with your money. Vote by shopping at stores that pay decent wages, don’t import everything, and don’t lobby to cut back workers’ rights. Vote by not giving your money to criminals so you can try to convince people with your “Chloe” bag that you’re in the 1%. You worked hard for your money- spend it wisely.
Step 3, the KonMari purge (attempt) begins now...
Comments
Post a Comment