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Please explain the rationality of the modern luxury market in consumer goods
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In the past, where resources and talent were harder to come by and the manufacturing of luxury goods was often a bespoke process where a dressmaker or designer often custom made a rich person's clothing or furnishings, one could see why the cost for those top of the line items were so expensive. If it took a tailor or seamstress a whole week to make a fine suit or dress then the labor costs would be rolled into the cost of the garment. Likewise, if a carpenter required specialized skills to make exotic furniture then the cost would be high.
However, most luxury goods that are not exclusively bespoke, are mass market items like clothes, bags and furnishings that are factory made and assembled in quantities of the tens of thousands. Therefore, for the most part they are indistinguishable from lesser priced consumer goods but command high prices that rich people willingly buy.
What do you make of the phenomena where the wealthy spend considerable sums of money on mass produced luxury goods that differ from their downscale counterparts only by the brand label.
Note: I'm not talking about experiences, entertainment or travel as those purchases can often be justified by the rich. Also, I'm not talking about affluent, aspirational brands but one like Gucci, LVMH and their ilk.
Top Comment: I'm not sure it's the wealthy who are buying the type of mass produced products you describe. It's more likely the middle class stretching themselves to be perceived as wealthy.
What was normal 20-25 years ago, but is considered a luxury now?
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Back in the day, a simple landline with a dial-up connection was all we needed. Now, I'm amazed by how having a smartphone feels like owning a small piece of the future. Remember when streaming a movie meant a trip to Blockbuster? Now, it's all about Netflix and chill. Even having a reliable internet connection at home used to be a luxury.
Top Comment: Quality cotton clothing
What little luxuries do you allow yourself to keep life enjoyable while saving a lot and rarely shopping etc.?
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What little luxuries do you allow yourself to keep life enjoyable while saving a lot and rarely shopping etc.?
Top Comment: Tools. Having high quality, correctly purposed tools for the project at hand contributes significantly to my sense of calm. Coffee. Good beans, manual burr grinder, unbleached filters, and the time to pour-over brew is a small luxury. Noise canceling headphones. The extra space it takes up in my work bag is a luxury, but the increased focus is a good payoff. Fountain pen with good ink. I write so infrequently that having a very satisfying pen to paper contact when writing a check or jotting a note seems significant.
Is anyone else bored with the persistence of the quiet luxury trend?
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Maybe its just because Im extremely into fashion, and thats all I think about, but im so bored with quiet luxury. I currently work part time at a clothing store, and our inventory that we get in is so bland and sad. It just feels like brands are making Items that look like the most watered down version of what the item is supposed to be. without adding any details that elevate the item and its getting comical.
Even brands known for their details such as true religion have been releasing things without their Iconic horseshoe design on their pockets. and expensive brands that should be adding luxury details into their clothing have been skimping.
Is it tacky to have personality within the clothes we wear and buy? If I were being honest. I feel like brands heard 'quiet luxury" and threw out the luxury aspect and are just using this as an excuse to make clothes for cheaper. Its not very 'quiet luxury' for a sweater to be 100% acrylic, or jeans to be borderline jeggings. and this is not to say that those items are bad, its just to say that you cannot charge over 200$ for something that in their factories is being made for 5.
Top Comment: "quiet luxury" is just a re-branding of minimalism to get people to buy bland clothes that are cheap to make. Everything is shapeless boring beige and neutrals. But I do love the lack of those tacky logos, I hope they never come back. Visible branding is so corny, like the wearer is trying to seem rich or is desperate for approval.
What high end clothing brands are actually worth it?
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I’ve never been one to spend a lot on clothing (early 30s man) but I have been looking to invest in some higher end pieces for my wardrobe.
Main criteria is natural fibers (not going to spend thousands for polyester or synthetic), and pieces that work for both casual or more formal settings.
Some brands I am looking at: Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, The Row, Celine, Saint Laurent.
Currently looking at knitwear and coats. These brands seems to all run around $2k-$3k for a sweater and $5k-$10k for a coat or jacket.
Top Comment: I really like Loro Piana but I don't like the direction Cucinelli is going. I have a knitwear addiction. To save a lot of money but still get heirloom pieces, on eBay, search for brands such as Barrie, John Liang, Ballantyne, Peter Scott, Alan Paine, Hawico, Pringle, William Lockie, Johnstons of Elgin, Malo, Fedeli, Della Ciana, Cruciani, and Gran Sasso. I'd recommend forming a good relationship with a tailor. CEGO in Manhattan is very well priced, even for his shirts made in the city. For the ones made out house, he sends them to Individualized Shirts in NJ (you can find other tailor shops offering IS for less). For suits your best bet is a traveling british tailor or one of the Hong Kong tailors. My favorite british tailor is Leonard Logsdail (he's been in NYC for nearly 50 years now) but he's well beyond your price range, but I've had Steed make me the odd suit or two and he's well within your price range and almost as good. I can't recommend any of the HK tailors but I hear people like Gordon Yao. For ties you know the usual suspect but it's a real treat to visit SEIGO on madison ave. This nice Japanese gentleman has been designing ties as long as I've been alive and then he has them made in his Japanese factory. He will also do custom ties. After I couldn't find an Hermes tie that I loved in different colors (I stupidly got only 1), I brought it to him and he copied it in several colors for me. The price was more than reasonable. Lastly, if you want a treat try a shirt from anna matuozzo. You have to go to Naples for the full experience (and the pizza) but she has a long distance custom option as well, I think. I avoid trendy brands, other than patagonia, so i can't help you there.
What was normal 20-30 years ago, but is considered a luxury now?
Main Post: What was normal 20-30 years ago, but is considered a luxury now?
Top Comment: New furniture made out of real wood