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Originally Posted by Marco911
That's because Joe Boxers aren't quality underwear to begin with.
The real luxury items don't have the brand plastered anywhere on the outside of the garment, but you can tell by the cut, the quality of the materials used and the country of origin (Europe). From the way you describe yourself, it is apparent that you are putting money into things that are apparent to others, while skimping on the things that are hidden from view (underwear, wallet, socks), so I wouldn't describe you as a true luxury shopper. I like beautiful things and I buy them for its appeal to me. As an ancillary benefit, most people know I have great taste.  |
you might be right, but i would not consider any underwear or socks etc to ever fall into the realm of luxury items. i mean, i take off my shoes and enter a restaurant and i can basically make my own appetizer from the bits n pieces on the bottom of my socks from other diners. They're basically disposable good.
Same for a wallet. I almost never use a wallet and so I could never justify spending even $10 on one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco911
That's like saying just because you went to Harvard doesn't make you smarter than anyone else. It might not be true in every case, but generally it is true. You either opt in to play "the game" of cosumerism or you opt out. If you purchase aspirational luxury items like a nice watch, or a Lacoste top or whatever, you are opting into this game. Yes, that guy that buys the $2000 wallet is better than you (exceptions being people who spend a lot of money on clothes but have no taste i.e. mainland chinese)
My older brother is totally the opposite of me and completely opts out of the game. He's probably worth a couple of million $ but he does not care about luxury items whatsoever. He drives a Jetta Diesel and buys items for function rather than style. Since he has opted out of the game, then no, I cannot say I am better than him.
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I disagree. You make it sound like any singular purchase of an item that so much as borders luxury - whether by material, origin of manufacture, or brand (lacoste) - would necessitate similar purchases in every domain; and failure to do so results a lowering of score on some arbitrary scoreboard. Buying a montblanc starwalker simply because of i think the floating star is pretty cool does not mean that I will go out and buy silk or kevlar overalls for when i crawl under my car.
Spending money on nice bath towels because i'll be wrapping it around me does not mean I will buy the same quality of towels to do dishes with - one will last me at least a year, the other will last me maybe a 2weeks!
So I completely disagree that purchasing one luxury or near-luxury artifact demands that I maintain that line of purchasing.
And this whole ''someone else being better than you, you being better than your brother'' i think it's a crock! "James is better than me because he has a wallet, but Ernie's watch and shoes combined are worth more than Jame's car, but Helen's purse costs more than all of our houses combined." I mean, is your value and worth, everything that is you, summed up in the msrp and brand and place of manufacture of your swiss underwear + your wardrobe? Some guy in the states probably paid more for his freshman year of university than my entire undergrad here in canada. does that make him smarter than me too? even if we studied the same major? Is he better than me because he paid more?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco911
This is a myth and is not how manufacturing businesses operate. As a contract manufacturer, the factory that makes polo tops for Polo Ralph Lauren charges the same if not less than if I approached the factory to make polo shirts for Marco911.
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I'm sorry. I dont think i was clear about it in my last post. What I meant was that the workers don't approach my friends dad and ask if they can make their own clothes with their names on em. They go in after hours. There is no contract. There is no price. It's basically stealing electricity, and materials and increasing wear and use of machinery. None of which they pay for.