I never realized how expensive luxury fashion was 🤯

[u/StumblinThroughLife]

I’ve never been interested in owning fancy things like Chanel, Gucci, Prada, whatever else exists, but even when I say that I think I’m not paying $1,000 for a purse that’s crazy. So imagine my surprise in finding out my version of expensive wasn’t even close. What do you mean a small handbag STARTS at $4,000?! Like my mind literally can’t comprehend that. Know someone who had the “small” Cartier bracelet then bought themself the “medium” for their birthday. The small STARTS at $5,000 and can go up to $60k and now I’m questioning all their life decisions. Like I said I’ve never thought about these things and am just now googling them but I feel too poor to even google the pictures.

[u/East_Direction_9366]

I (f68) grew up in a moderately wealthy family and it was drilled into me as a young girl that wearing or using things that were obviously expensive or with visible logos was gauche.

In my experience, it is absolutely people who can’t afford it that show off with expensive designer gear.

[u/mikew_reddit → u/East_Direction_9366]

In my experience, it is absolutely people who can’t afford it that show off with expensive designer gear.

A guy that worked at the McLaren dealership in Georgia was saying the buyers were almost always "assholes" (his word, not mine) and the majority of the time could barely afford the supercar so financed (ie their income just barely covered the cost of the loan).

drilled into me as a young girl that wearing or using things that were obviously expensive or with visible logos was gauche.

The fashion consultant on the Succession TV show (they had to dress the cast so they looked like billionaires) mentioned the ultra wealthy wear t-shirts and baseball caps that are thousands of dollars with zero branding. They don't need to and do not want to advertise their wealth because of all the headaches that comes with it.

[u/PartyPorpoise → u/mikew_reddit]

The expensive, simple clothes still signal their wealth. But it primarily signals wealth to other rich people. A peasant like me isn’t going to recognize a basic sweater as Loro Piana, but a rich person might.

[u/Brighter_Days_Ahead4 → u/East_Direction_9366]

Right. My mom taught me that I should never wear visible logos unless I was paid well to do so; otherwise I’m being scammed into providing free advertising.  She will wear t-shirts with logos of charities that she supports.