I’ve always looked at magazines like Vogue as concentrated OJ. You’re not supposed to drink it right out of the can; you have to dilute it with water first. Vogue is the inspiration. One should try to adapt the ideas to their own life.

How about the AARP Magazine? OK OK I KNOW YOU’RE JUST A YOUNG THANG! But — every time I read a new issue of that rag (when you hit 50 they figure you’re automatically an old folk and start sending you copies), I think about your blog. It contains a LOT of PF ideas, especially stuff on living well frugally & long-term financial planning — some of the articles are very short, but they give you ideas for things to track down.

Sometimes I get the opportunity to meet with them directly, and that is a HUGELY educational experience!

Someone is very protective of their $1,500 sandals! What a waste of money! There is a fine line between spending on what makes you happy, and just throwing money into a fire pit. lol

The products in Vogue are indeed primarily very high-quality clothing and accessories that reflect not only the required marketing and brand snobbery of luxury goods, but also the materials and labor that go into them. An Hermes Birkin, for example, starts at about $5,000, which may seem like an awful lot to spend on a purse, but when you consider the type of material used (only the very best leather in the world, including rare crocodile and ostrich), the amount of labor involved (it’s entirely handmade and takes anywhere from 2 to 5 weeks), and the fact that most women who buy this will keep it for their entire lifetime and will likely pass it on to their daughters, the price tag seems reasonable. I couldn’t ever afford one, but I would never judge someone with the privilege to own one.

I do own a Fendi, which my mother bought for me for about $350 or so when I was in college and have had for almost 20 years. ($350 was a lot to pay for a purse back in the late ’80s!) Unlike all the cheap, $20 purses I’ve bought at Target and discount shops over the years, this one has remained a sturdy, beautiful purse that has withstood all the years of use and travel I’ve inflicted on it. I used it for years in Japan (where I lived for a couple of years after college), South Carolina (where I attended graduate school), Texas (where I grew up), and now Colorado (where I currently live). It looks almost brand new, and when the strap broke, I took it to the Fendi counter at Neiman Marcus. They fixed the broken clasp in no time, and at no charge whatsoever.

On the other hand, most cheap purses will last no more than a couple of seasons, given how much abuse they endure. They’re exposed to the elements, often hold a tremendous amount of load, and often don’t have “feet” (the metal posts screwed underneath the purse to protect the leather from dirt and scratches), so it would indeed be unusual if they withstood all of that without so much as a scratch. And they often reflect a very specific trend that looks dated within a year, whereas luxury purses — especially because they hold up so well — generally have very classic looks that last a lifetime, if not longer.

As M mentioned, with all due respect, I would be very surprised if you were able to create even “reasonable facsimile” of a $1500 shoe, purse or even scarf. As someone who loves fashion but detests cheap trends, I respect the art and creativity and craftsmanship that go into the creation of a luxury product and understand that, unlike the Made-in-China purses and shoes overflowing the shelves at Wal-Mart, quality, durability and beauty will always come at a price.

Salut,
Marjorie

It’s about discipline and balance. I don’t view the magazines as promoting superfluosness or consuermism. Fashion is art and self-express. I read Vogue sometimes for inspiration clothing and writing styles. I love to study the colors, patterns and shapes in clothing through those magazines. Anna Wintour is one of the most revered fashion editors in the business not because of her clothes but for her magazine’s well-written pieces and ability to revolutionize style. You’re paying for $1,500 shoes because of quality. In Marie Claire there’s a section that dissects the difference between a knockoff and an authentic purse or shoe and breaks down the cost. It’s the subtle differences such as the zipper used or the quality of the leather.

The high cost is because of the materials, craftsmanship and labor. Quality leather shoes can’t replace genuine imitation leather. Try it on for size before you write off the $1500 shoes. I just dumped a pair of $20 sandals from Mervyns made in China. I purchased a pair of leather pumps that were made in Brazil. I got them for $20 but they were originally $200. The smooth leather and solid construction (heel wise) can’t replace a $50 Nine West pump made in China.

Your time is valuable clearly. You wouldn’t want to waste it on constructing a shoe for a better price. That kind of labor takes years of experience you must hone. The book “naked economics” book in the trade and globalization chapter describes what you wrote about constructing your own shoe vs having someone make it and sell it at the store. It will change your mindset.

With all due respect and I mean this with no animosity or obnoxiousness whatsoever (sometimes tone is hard to read online), I don’t believe the average person could design and manufacture anything closely similar to the products featured in Vogue and similar magazines anymore than the average person could recreate something like a Pollack or Rothko–despite thinking he can when visiting the modern art wing of a museum.

Besides, part of what you pay for is the design itself, a cost you don’t have to worry about when replicating someone else’s original work. If you could come up with an equally appealing design and recreate a piece of equal quality and worksmanship, why perhaps you are in the wrong field and ought to be a shoemaker, designer, etc.

If you are a skilled, talented shoemaker, seamstress, etc, perhaps you can create something like one or two items found in Vogue. Even then probably something only slightly similar, and even then likely only if not studied at close range. I have never seen a $10 shoe that is in any way similar in quality and craftsmanship as a $500+ or even $200 pair.

Also, I believe art, which fashion is, is largely about aesthetics and beauty. Functional art, like fashion and design is about beauty *and* utility–throwing together a homemade replica of a designer sandal is not likely to truly replicate the level of either the form or function found in the $1500 pair.

Would your sandal be made impeccably, with some of the finest materials available, using sound design principles, be aesthetically pleasing, last for many years despite repeated wear, stand out as exceptional in its category of product, etc. as the Vogue pair would be? If so there is no way the cost could be anything even close to $10. And if so, like I said earlier, you must have a previously not revealed talent and skill that is quite impressive.

In addition to including lots of high quality writing within its pages, Vogue offers readers insight into the fashion industry, and in depth coverage of concepts regarding design and fashion.

The magazine features the more “upscale” version of the fashion equivalents of $20 cheeses or $400 video game systems, in that the products featured are merely high-quality splurges for those who care about fashion just as the higher priced cheese is a splurge for a food lover, or some other higher than average priced item is a splurge for those who care about whatever category that particular item is in.

You just today wrote about being frugal precisely so we can afford those things which we care about and that bring joy to our lives and that might be considered “splurging.” For you it might be food or video games or whatever, for someone else it might be traveling, an art collection, cars, or clothing and $1500 shoes.

Why are the splurges in Vogue a reflection of what is wrong with consumer culture but the pricey video game systems, or cheeses, or sportscars or whatever people spend more than necessary on are acceptable choices for splurging?

I don’t buy that it has anything to do with the actual absolute cost because many pricey items are considered acceptable splurges, despite costing much more than $1500; and the cost of course has to considered relative to the category the item is in ($1500 for shoe vs. $1500 for a glass of wine will be quite different).

I think for at least some who think this way it is because it is about the desire for clothing, which many consider frivolous and unimportant and shallow,that that judgment is made. Otherwise, the principle is no different from that of paying a high price for a fancy, high quality dinner, or for a nice vacation or whatever else.

The point is the common denominator with any splurge is that you could get a much cheaper substitute but choose not to. You (meaning “one” not you personally) could buy a used Atari instead of a Wii, it is all about what you want, care about, consider worth it, etc. To some the Atari would be a perfectly fine replacement, to others that would be a joke, just as your $10 sandal might seem a good substitute for you for $1500 designer sandals (usually sandals don’t cost that much however, even for the most exp. brands), but to others, ridiculous.

The “worth-it-ness” of the splurge is in the eye of the beholder and buyer, and if one splurge is okay, I can’t understand then judging other’s splurges based on simply not being particularly interested in that category of item or experience.

I believe many people are just fine with splurging and see it as a good thing when it is planned for and one can afford it, just so long as the splurge is on an item they personally consider worth the cost. In other words it often boils down to a case of “What I splurge on is worth it; your splurge is outrageous and represents consumer culture gone awry.”

Part of the fun of reading fashion mags is trying to figure out how to duplicate the look for a fraction of the cost. Kind of like IKEAHacker but with clothes. Get it? I would think this is almost exactly in keeping with the spirit of your blog…..

I recently got some inspiration from a free local paper that is directed towards people under 35. That’s where I got piece on improving your credit. (This particular publication is mostly dedicated to articles related to the consumption of alcohol, but every once in awhile I will find a gem with really bad career or financial advice that turns into a post on my site).