Tuesday, May 6, 2008
What's in a name? The Brand Snobbery Syndrome
Designer Fashion Brands - Click Here
Priya Tuli
"So how come don't you have one of those handbags with the little monograms marching all over them that everyone seems to favor these days?" Nothing escapes my mother's right eye. She lost peripheral vision in the left eye many years ago, so one would think she might miss catching at least some of life's smaller details. Not a chance! She's talking about the branded `designer' handbags that with-it women have been slinging nonchalantly over their shoulders for years. You know the ones, with the C(hanel), D(ior), P(rada), D&G or LV initials on them.
"Nope, I've never aspired to own one, for two compelling reasons: one, why would I want to use a bag with somebody else's initials on it? And two, why would I want to pay some ridiculously inflated amount for their initials?" But my mother's not satisfied with my response; she's in bear-baiting mode, and would like to hear me growl. "A branded product is a branded product, right? You're so finicky about your brand of coffee, how is that any different from people being finicky about their brand of handbag?" she prods.
This is a trick question. I pause for a long moment before I respond, thinking, ohhh no, you don't want to start me off, Mum! "Ohhh yes, I do!" she shoots back, reading my mind like a pro. Okay, then, here we go. Yes, I'm a brand-snob too, particularly about consumables like the coffee I prefer or the shower gel I use or the mineral/fire water I drink, that sort of thing. But the whole `brand-name accessory' concept? Defeats me!
"You choose a brand, any brand, because you identify with it, you like what it stands for. The taste, smell, cut, values, standards, whatever. My local brand of coffee is top quality. It's locally produced, roasted and packaged; I buy my freshly ground weekly supply, sniff it all the way home, and store it in the fridge so it retains its aroma. (Yes, I'm a borderline fanatic about my coffee.) "I refuse to pay outlandish sums of money for some trumped-up global brand that buys beans on the cheap from subsistence-level coffee farmers in Africa and Latin America -- and then charges a premium for "value added" (snob-value added?) lattes and cappuccinos, in throw-away containers with a fancy logo, that everybody wants to be seen drinking from.
I mean hello, people, Java is famous the world over for its coffee! When in Java, drink Java! "As for handbags, if it were just quality that people were after, they wouldn't give two hoots who else saw the initials. Branded accessories are designed so everyone can see exactly how much you paid for them. "Besides, how about you? Why don't you have one of those fancy branded bags yourself? You've been using that grotty old hand-woven jute bag since the year dot, and you won't even let me replace it for you. It's so full of holes your keys are going to drop out one of these days!"
My long-winded monologue is going to take her a while to counter, so I wander off in search of a caffeine hit while she gathers her thoughts for another assault. I jump out of my skin, nearly smashing my favorite Bodum coffee plunger; she has stealthily followed me into the kitchen and is waggling her index finger at me, an old habit that triggers my Pavlovian "garrrh" reflex even now.
"I'll have you know I bought that jute bag six years ago, from the artisan's bazaar, so the money went to the person who made it, and not some sticky-fingered middleman. It might look a bit shabby, but those holes are the weave pattern and it still has some good years left in it, just like I do!" My mother has finally lost it. She is now comparing herself to an old jute bag full of holes? I refrain from following that train of thought through to its logical conclusion, for obvious reasons.
"Here, I bought you one as well. They're useful when you go supermarketing, so you can tell them you don't want those infernal plastic bags," she says. "Oh, nice! So why didn't you junk yours and buy yourself a new one, too?" "I gave them all away, this is the last one and it's for you."
"You drew my initials on it?!"
"With permanent marker. You like them?"
"Yes, particularly the wonky twisted ones!"
"I thought you would."
I look at her. I look at the bag. "Don't you start!" she warns, waggling her index finger at me again. "Ha!", I said, "your old bag just gave me a brand new bag!" And we're both hooting with laughter. As I've just shared an inside joke, I might have to pay the price in blood later. Anybody out there Group B+, in case I run short?
Priya Tuli
"So how come don't you have one of those handbags with the little monograms marching all over them that everyone seems to favor these days?" Nothing escapes my mother's right eye. She lost peripheral vision in the left eye many years ago, so one would think she might miss catching at least some of life's smaller details. Not a chance! She's talking about the branded `designer' handbags that with-it women have been slinging nonchalantly over their shoulders for years. You know the ones, with the C(hanel), D(ior), P(rada), D&G or LV initials on them.
"Nope, I've never aspired to own one, for two compelling reasons: one, why would I want to use a bag with somebody else's initials on it? And two, why would I want to pay some ridiculously inflated amount for their initials?" But my mother's not satisfied with my response; she's in bear-baiting mode, and would like to hear me growl. "A branded product is a branded product, right? You're so finicky about your brand of coffee, how is that any different from people being finicky about their brand of handbag?" she prods.
This is a trick question. I pause for a long moment before I respond, thinking, ohhh no, you don't want to start me off, Mum! "Ohhh yes, I do!" she shoots back, reading my mind like a pro. Okay, then, here we go. Yes, I'm a brand-snob too, particularly about consumables like the coffee I prefer or the shower gel I use or the mineral/fire water I drink, that sort of thing. But the whole `brand-name accessory' concept? Defeats me!
"You choose a brand, any brand, because you identify with it, you like what it stands for. The taste, smell, cut, values, standards, whatever. My local brand of coffee is top quality. It's locally produced, roasted and packaged; I buy my freshly ground weekly supply, sniff it all the way home, and store it in the fridge so it retains its aroma. (Yes, I'm a borderline fanatic about my coffee.) "I refuse to pay outlandish sums of money for some trumped-up global brand that buys beans on the cheap from subsistence-level coffee farmers in Africa and Latin America -- and then charges a premium for "value added" (snob-value added?) lattes and cappuccinos, in throw-away containers with a fancy logo, that everybody wants to be seen drinking from.
I mean hello, people, Java is famous the world over for its coffee! When in Java, drink Java! "As for handbags, if it were just quality that people were after, they wouldn't give two hoots who else saw the initials. Branded accessories are designed so everyone can see exactly how much you paid for them. "Besides, how about you? Why don't you have one of those fancy branded bags yourself? You've been using that grotty old hand-woven jute bag since the year dot, and you won't even let me replace it for you. It's so full of holes your keys are going to drop out one of these days!"
My long-winded monologue is going to take her a while to counter, so I wander off in search of a caffeine hit while she gathers her thoughts for another assault. I jump out of my skin, nearly smashing my favorite Bodum coffee plunger; she has stealthily followed me into the kitchen and is waggling her index finger at me, an old habit that triggers my Pavlovian "garrrh" reflex even now.
"I'll have you know I bought that jute bag six years ago, from the artisan's bazaar, so the money went to the person who made it, and not some sticky-fingered middleman. It might look a bit shabby, but those holes are the weave pattern and it still has some good years left in it, just like I do!" My mother has finally lost it. She is now comparing herself to an old jute bag full of holes? I refrain from following that train of thought through to its logical conclusion, for obvious reasons.
"Here, I bought you one as well. They're useful when you go supermarketing, so you can tell them you don't want those infernal plastic bags," she says. "Oh, nice! So why didn't you junk yours and buy yourself a new one, too?" "I gave them all away, this is the last one and it's for you."
"You drew my initials on it?!"
"With permanent marker. You like them?"
"Yes, particularly the wonky twisted ones!"
"I thought you would."
I look at her. I look at the bag. "Don't you start!" she warns, waggling her index finger at me again. "Ha!", I said, "your old bag just gave me a brand new bag!" And we're both hooting with laughter. As I've just shared an inside joke, I might have to pay the price in blood later. Anybody out there Group B+, in case I run short?
Labels: brands boutique, brandsboutique, designer fashion brands, fashion brands, luxury brands
# posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 7:29 PM
Friday, November 16, 2007
eFashionHouse.com Designer Handbag Discounter Saves Shoppers Money
Desert Hot Springs, CA (PRWEB) November 14, 2007 -- Dedicated to offering its customers authentic designer handbags and accessories at discount prices, eFashionHouse.com, named "Best of the Web" by People Magazine StyleWatch for discount designer handbags, offers its valued clientele the chance to receive additional savings through Free Gift News, an email savings program which delivers information about weekly sales and coupon codes to subscribers' emails.
Customers who subscribe to Free Gift News will receive exclusive savings and coupon codes. Each week eFashionHouse.com sends a Free Gift News email announcing special savings and coupon codes to use for an additional 20-30% off eFashionHouse.com's deeply discounted merchandise.
"We are constantly looking for ways to pass the savings onto our customers, which is exactly what Free Gift News does. Subscribers receive additional discounts on their order just by signing up for Free Gift News," says Anna Miller, CEO of eFashionHouse.com. "Each week we feature additional sales on featured brands, as well as holiday promotions and secret sales."
Due to recent updates to the eFashionHouse.com network, Free Gift News was recently unavailable. It's now back and subscribers will receive coupon codes that equal additional savings toward featured designers like Gucci, Prada, Chloe, Tods, Marc Jacobs, Coach, Christian Dior, Fendi and many more of today's brands often hard to find on sale, let alone 50%, 60% or more off retail.
In order to receive the additional savings featured in the Free Gift News, visit http://www.efashionhouse.com and subscribe by entering a designated email address. You'll start receiving savings instantly and can unsubscribe at any time. Free Gift News is free and everyone with an email address is eligible.
As an added incentive for the holidays, eFashionHouse.com is offering free shipping with a minimum purchase and shoppers pay no sales tax world wide.
About eFashionHouse.com:
Anna Miller is the President of i-GlobalMall.com, Inc. She operates the website http://www.efashionhouse.com and sells high-end authentic designer handbags and accessories at off-retail prices. EFashionHouse.com was named Best of the Web by People Magazine StyleWatch for Discount Designer Handbags and Purses. EFashionHouse.com should not be confused with any other website selling a similar product or using a similar name. EfashionHouse.com is the home of five fashion ecommerce stores: BrandsBoutique, LuxuryVintage, DesignersLA, ItalysOutlet, and ValueBags. Anna is considered an Internet Pioneer & Ecommerce Entrepreneur. She's been reselling Designer Merchandise online since the early 90s.
Labels: authentic designer handbags, designer handbags, efashionhouse, famous brand names, fashion brands, free shipping, online shopping
# posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 12:24 AM
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Latest Hottest Brands in Designer Handbags
By William Brister The popularity, accessibility and the increasing incomes of the people have led to a new surge of trendsetters widening greatly the horizons of the fashion world. They have given rise to ostentatious and designer clothing, designer accessories and designer handbags that serve to perfectly complement the fashion conscious generation. Gucci, Christian Dior, D&G, Louis Vuitton, Chanel are only some of the preferred designers world over that create exquisitely crafted purses and handbags.
For the greatest pleasure of their clients, those original brands are always coming up with new purses and handbags, with newer models always more desirable that the previous ones. No matter how much you desired the previous designer handbag you bought, their next designer handbag promises to be more even more desirable!
Designer handbags by Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton are specially designed for people, both men and women who want to accessorize their wardrobe with something more than just everyday, normal traditional handbags. Whether it is a formal or an informal event, casual or business, trendy designer handbags remain distinctively a class apart. The exclusivity and value, brands like D&G, Chanel and Gucci offer, are outstanding; not only are they made of materials of the highest quality they represent the sophistication and richness of high-end designer wear.
Popular designer handbag brand names include Gucci, Coach, DKNY, Chanel, Chritian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Kenneth Cole, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Prada, and Armani.
The latest and stylish selections of some of the designer handbags from Gucci, Chanel, D&G are exclusive and include jewelled purses, rhinestone studs, western looks, patchwork and leather. Exhibiting an enticing and unique amalgamation of the tradition and contemporary, each product offered by these designers is created to add a new dimension to your personality! Evening bags, fine leather purses, stylish recycled handbags, slings and totes and even traditional weaves are all a part of the designer handbag collection offered by Gucci, Chanel and the likes.
Of course, when thinking about authentic designer handbags, the first idea that comes to mind is certainly the price tag they all come along with!
In a world that is highly fashion conscious and where people are swooning over glitterati, looking to emulate whatever the rich and the famous do, the problem of imitations is one to beware of. Several South East and Far East Asian countries have a large and thriving business of manufacturing replica designer wear, especially designer handbags. They use the same star quality in their replica designer handbags and sell them at the most economical prices. They ensure that all the replica designer handbags have the correct identical markings as the original purses. Like any Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Chanel designer handbags, they have the same heat embossed stamps, designer emblems, engraved hardware and beautiful interior linings.
With such opportunities available in the market today, the priceless designer handbag from Chanel or Gucci that you could only once dream of is now not only affordable and available to you but also the envy of your neighbour.
If you are a demanding and fastidious fashion conscious customer only looking for the real designer handbag, please visit authorized dealers or exclusive designer showrooms. For the rest there are several online sites offering original replica designer handbags!
Labels: brands boutique, brandsboutique, designer brands, designer handbags, discount designer handbags, discount designer purses, efashionhouse, fashion brands, handbags, purses
# posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 1:38 PM
Welcome to the Brands Boutique Blog
Brands Boutique is an online Designer Fashion Accessory store offering its shoppers deep discounts on authentic designer handbags, purses and accessories. Brands Boutique has an online presence for over twelve years. The BrandsBoutique online store sells the most popular styles of designer purses from current or pre season collections. All the merchandise found at BrandsBoutique is guaranteed to be authentic designer products.
Everything sold at BrandsBoutique is new and unused. There are a variety of designer handbags made of leather, monogram canvas and other quality fabrications. The designer fashion accessories found at the website location can also be found at famous department stores throughout the world at higher prices.
BrandsBoutique was created to offer people on a budget an opportunity to own an expensive designer handbag without paying full retail price. Since its conception in the early 1990's Brands Boutique has been able to maintain its promise. The website offers its customers very deep discounts on famous designer brands. There's also a layaway plan for people who want to make purchases over a period of time.
BrandsBoutique is part of a group of online fashion accessory stores at eFashionHouse.com. There's also a Yahoo! Store which directs most of its traffic to the updated BrandsBoutique online shop.
BrandsBoutique is part of a group of online fashion accessory stores at eFashionHouse.com. There's also a Yahoo! Store which directs most of its traffic to the updated BrandsBoutique online shop.
Most women carry handbags, and some men do, too. Designer handbags have become very popular over the past decade because as an accessory, a handbag adds style to any outfit. Handbags are functional and serve a purpose, too. People are on the go from dawn to dusk and need to tote essentials. Make the tote exciting, stylish and fashionable without paying full price.
Some of the media reports a decline in the handbags business. Seems as though the prediction is totally unpredictable seeing as women are the major customer for handbags. And, you know as well as I trying to predict a woman is almost impossible to do!
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Enter coupon code BBFREE at checkout.
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Labels: brands boutique, brandsboutique, designer brands, designer handbags, discount designer handbags, discount designer purses, efashionhouse, fashion brands, handbags, purses, tano handbags
# posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 10:09 AM
