Nearly everything the average person owns has some sort of brand name or label on it, but in the fashion world, the two words that get tossed around the most are “designer” or “luxury” when referring to brand names or labels. The reason for this is because of marketing and/or status (mostly marketing though from what I’ve learned), and when there’s a big name like Louis Vuitton or Chanel, people will recognize it immediately because of its history within elite/popular culture. Icons like Audrey Hepburn or Lady Diane are just a couple examples of public figures/celebrities who have helped the fashion industry gain its popularity over the years, but as far as history is concerned, I’m not an expert.
So even though I do love fashion, the ideas behind what’s considered luxury and designer are something I never really thought about [until the past couple years] as a small part of me has never really cared for it. At the same time however, if one can look past their own preconceived biases or financial insecurities, one can honestly learn a lot about the history of fashion and why people take such a great interest in it. For me personally, fashion and style is definitely a form of self-expression, but it also allows for a sense of connection to others who enjoy the topic as much as I do. Buying into luxury fashion is something that people do for various reasons, and it’s not always about acquiring some sort of high status or wanting to be liked or seen by others- though, I do feel like these are the most common reasons. With all of this said, I’d say that the differences between the word “luxury” and “designer” are very much subjective.
Designer brands like Michael Kors, Tory Burch, or anything that costs less than $1000 or even $500 could be considered “luxury” if you want to call it that, but quality and craftsmanship becomes questionable depending on the origins of its materials and how they hold up over time per use. When you think about how many products the US receives that are from China, do you also question if the people who are making these products are being treated fairly, or are being given a living wage? The same questions could be applied to imports from India or Italy. None of this is mentioned to be used as a scare tactic, but more so to help educate ourselves on the impact that the fashion industry has on the environment. Luxury brands as well rely on the hard work and effort of factory workers, but again, you’d have to question what makes luxury brands like Chanel, Dior or Prada worth the money. Is it because you know that the quality of the product will stand the test of time? Is the color versatile with the other options you have in your wardrobe? Will this product be well cared for, and will this serve as a forever piece that will actually be used? Again, people will have their own reasons for wanting to buy these things, but for me at least, I think it would be best to consider function first while keeping form and structure in account.
So when looking at the words luxury and designer objectively, the difference in my eyes lies mostly within status. Brands like Dior, Chanel, Prada, etc. are known because you see them being worn by public figures. You’d have to have a multi-figure salary in order to afford those brands, but other designer labels like Michael Kors, Kate Spade or Coach… While they can be expensive depending on its popularity by demand, they can be more catered to the masses (to an extent) because you’ll eventually see these brands on the resale or secondhand market. Granted, you can also find Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton on the secondhand market as well, but the prices are still expensive because there’s more value behind them as they are status pieces.
So if you’ve heard of the saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, then perhaps knowing that can give a bit of a better insight as to why luxury brands are so popular. For some people, there’s just a sense of beauty in looking at a leather handbag that’s been made with the slightest details considered, all the way from stitching to the placement of the logo and the hardware being lined up in a way that’s just right. I really hope this post gives you something to think about in terms of fashion history, or maybe you’ll just gain a better sense of appreciation as to why fashion is important. Thanks for reading and have a great day!
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