People don't want to pay luxury prices for sweatshop items that are below the quality of a nice kate spade bag, or barely above the quality of kate spade.
I don't know about you, but in my experience, the Kate Spade (main line) has pretty good quality! Their leathers aren't anything particularly noteworthy, but they're durable, evenly stitched, and they finish their edges! As a leather craftsman, that's my #1 go to sign for quality: seeing how the edges were finished. A lot of brands skip out on that detail by just skipping or painting it roughly, or you can tell it's faux leather by how wonky it looks on the edges. I especially love their novelty bags! Whenever I go, it's such a pleasant experience, even if I don't buy anything. Your comment kinda makes them seem like they're of poor quality 😮 It might be the outlets you're going to? I never seen outlet pieces except at Nordstrom Rack
@@ms_cartographer Oh gotcha! My bad. I read it in the wrong tone. I became obsessed with Kate Spade because it's one of those fun brands that don't take themselves too seriously. Definitely a pleasant experience whenever I stop by 😁
I love the *esluxy* bag you showed on UA-cam. I want the mini version but it’s $1,200. It’s said to be made of imported leather. Do you know if the knockoff bag is made in China? Another great video!
I have been buying bags for my wife for quite a few years. I think I've purchased over 50 by now (Dior, Prada, Balenciaga, Louboutin, YSL, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy etc etc and she still has them all. These have been for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries and sometimes for no reason. She rarely buys bags herself. I enjoyed picking them, and guessing what i think she will like (luckily i seem to get it mostly right, or maybe she is just kind and says she loves them), although she would occasionally tell me about a specific bag. I noticed a couple of years ago she was getting less and less bothered about luxury items like bags. I appreciate this is not going to be the case for others but i think one of the reasons is over saturation, just too many bags and they all loose their special appeal. We also retired recently an although i can still buy her whatever bag she wants she has said she would much rather we traveled more, had more experiences and spent more time with family and friends. We already do this to a reasonable extent to be fair but i think all the bags and other things were just taking up physical and head space. I think 'stuff' in all its forms as one gets older just starts to be a burden/drain. You have to insure it, Look after it, store it. Its almost like your 'stuff' owns you and not the other way around and it takes some time to realise this is the case. I'm sure i will still buy the odd bag but it will be much less as we move away from all the 'baggage' pun intended we have accumulated.
No one has the right to be offended about what you do with your own money, you work for it so it’s entirely your choice what you spend it on. Enjoy your *esluxy* , don’t feel guilty xxx
Luxury is about superior quality, not about exclusivity, and that is where all these brands have gone wrong. The result is that they are all massively overpriced, crappy snobbish service and low quality. I walked by a Prada shop yesterday, all the bags I could see were this knitted straw-like material with some leather detailing. You can just tell this kind of bag is made in China or in some immigrant sweatshop in Italy and the production cost is likely way under 100 euro..but you can be sure the sales price is a whole lot more.
well said. these days luxury stores remind me of those restaurants/bars where the servers are rude to you on purpose and people go for comedic relief, I guess. the experience isn't luxurious anymore. "you get what you get and you don't get upset." it's like being in bizarro world. and I can't believe all the people who endorse this and defend the brands for being snobby and exclusive, I guess because they got into luxury shopping more recently and enjoy that the items are "hard to access." years ago it was very different. you were welcomed in stores, no lines, no need for appointments, the prices of fashion and accessories proportionally made sense to purchase as an indulgent treat, sales sharks may have existed but they did so by being helpful client advisors, and they even hand wrote you thank you notes... now they act like they don't have to be kind or showcase the products because "luxury sells itself" in the middle of a cost of living crisis. it's so gross.
I think luxury has lost it’s shine because so many of us have dabbled in it now to one degree or another and discovered that expensive stuff doesn’t bring lasting happiness. It not worth racking up debt on a credit card, or denying yourself other pleasures/experiences to save up for one exorbitantly priced bag. Its not worth the anxiety of what if you scratch/damage your new purchase, or what if you get robbed when out and about. And i definitely agree about the quality issues, people are tired of paying top dollar for things that are of similar quality as coach or kate spade
I've been unable to afford to go out for meals , cinema , mini breaks , days trips , even going for coffee and cake because all my disposable income was going on luxury ! Although I enjoyed the search and arrival of the items , which I love and intend to actually ENJOY in the future , it was actually getting me quite down . I decided to draw a line under it ONCE I had acquired a comprehensive collection ! It wasn't easy to stop , there is always SOMETHING else that will pop up , but the trick is to start using what you already have , and when you have the money for the other stuff you end up looking back and wondering WHAT WAS I DOING ALL THAT TIME 😂 !! You don't have to deny yourself forever , maybe you might see the odd wallet or pair of bargain sunglasses , and that way you will still have some ' enjoyment money ' left over !! 😜🙏❤️
I think luxury has also lost its appeal because of the quality of influencers peddling these items, like the Kardashians, as opposed to the supermodels in the 90s selling you an illusion of class, quality and glamour. We now associate these labels with annoying people.
@@prettybird367 you're so correct. We dabbled and realised that the problems we had before didn't miraculously dissipate once we got our hands on a Lady Dior lol. We've demystified this weird world of luxury, and realised that it's actually not that great
For me main issue is quality is so bad now. Small boutique has much better quality for less price. Just no marketing. When I was small girl luxury product was much much nicer than more accessible brand. Not so much this days
Me too! I had a blast in Tokyo a few weeks ago visiting a lot of the vintage shops, got 5 bags- all pristine condition and I couldn’t be happier with the product and the experience. I’m hooked!
Maybe that will be the new wave of luxury. Small and unique boutiques that sell high-quality items, including vintage and custom items that are not too overpriced.
I went to the shopping center here in Bondi, Sydney the other week and was walking past the designer boutiques, decided I would pop into Chanel to look at some white bags in particular the woc. There was only one other customer I could see in the boutique. There was lots of Chanel staff chatting to each other. The security guard at the door was very polite but said I had to wait at the door until they were ready for me. So I was stood behind the rope and was the only one waiting, the security man kept glancing into the boutique whilst making small talk to me saying it shouldn’t be much longer, the SAs kept giving him the 🤚 gesture. After 10 minutes of queuing for no reason I could think of, I decided this was absolutely ridiculous. There was no luxury experience, why would I want to be treated like I was an inconvenience. I could have been served quicker and treated nicer at the deli counter at tescos!!! I told the security guard I was going to leave. He was very apologetic, asked if I wanted to come back later and I said no & would go to the other chanel boutique (other side of the city) instead. I ended up visiting Dior and Saint Laurent instead and they were so lovely in there, made me feel very welcome even though I said I was only browsing. They offered me drinks, showed me stock from the back that wasn’t yet out on display and just made it a fun experience. That’s the kind of treatment I want!!! Soooo even though I was keen on getting a Chanel WOC I think I won’t bother now and just enjoy the designer bags I already own and paid reasonably for them back in the day before all these crazy price hikes. Never thought I would say I would be over luxury handbags but it’s certainly lost its appeal at the moment for me.
It would have been good to say very loudly you were going to visit and spend your money at Dior instead! It’s crazy how the cost of living is gone up so there are less people buying luxury and also losing out to the preloved market so the market for new stock in stores is getting smaller but they are not keen to welcome customers!
@@nikkismith2858 they had the boutique doors closed so they wouldn’t have heard me/nor cared 😆 the security man apologized and was lovely so I didn’t want to be unkind to him. Dior and Saint Laurent super friendly. I’ll keep my money and don’t need a new bag really 😊
Defnitely agree with Chanel doesn’t have a good customer service. My sister went to Chanel to have her jewelry fixed. They weren’t so friendly or helpful. Considering their jewelry are expensive. So I wouldn’t buy their flap bag it’s too pricey and their quality is nowhere near Hermes. Hermes bag definitely a luxurious bag
Now I am convinced that I bought*preluxz* fakes. Luxury brands exaggerate their prices and are not worth it. Even if I had money, I would not buy them. I would rather buy jewelry.
Fools are the ones who spend $10,000 on a "real" bag. I have a fake Louis Vuitton doctor's bag that I purchased in Korea in 1987. I walked into Neman Marcus with it. Several employees in the handbag section couldn't believe my bag was fake. They are comparing my *esluxy* to the "real" one and they can't see any difference. Mine cost $40, the real deal was $7500.
I used to work for Coach when I was younger and it was such a fun brand. You’re taught to really develop relationships and never judge who comes in. You have to give every customer the same amount of effort and always be approachable and ready to help. I do think the American attitude towards customer service is different to Europe and it shows in the coach staff training. The people who dress the least logo heavy and always the heavy spenders usually! The quality is also impeccable.
I used to work in jewelry in a heavy oil/lumber city, we were actively told that the people who came in the dirtiest had the most money to spend and boy was that true! You learn not to judge so quickly and it's wonderful.
All my small disposable income was going on luxury until quite recently , so I was sacrificing other pleasures like eating out , cinema , day trips ,...even going for coffee and cake , and it was actually starting to get me down . Don't get me wrong , I was addicted to the constant seach , the thrill of the next purchase , but appart from running out of storage space , I realised the hunt was overshadowing the actual use and enjoyment , it fealt wasteful , especially in these hard times ! So I decided to draw a line under the BIG BUYS ! It wasnt easy , I miss the buzz , the Christmas like feeling when the next goody arrived . I knew that there was always going to be JUST ONE MORE , so I had to be tough with myself !!! The trick is to really start to use , enjoy , and appreciate what you already have , and be strong by letting go of items you don't !! Once you have a bit of money for other things you'll soon wonder why it took you SO LONG 😂😂 It doesn't mean , even though you've stopped buying the BIG purchases , you can't still treat youself to the odd luxury small peice , that cute little preloved purse , or cheeky pair of sunglasses , once in a while , but at least that way you'll still have money keft over fir the other things in life you enjoy ! 😜🙏❤️
I agree with you, had a similar experience. To use my bag, out and about also made me realize i could begin selling some after careful consideration because in priced out and would not afford new ones
Personally for me I’m tired of the 20 yo “influencers” dripping in luxury items. I don’t care if I sound snobby or not. It’s like the pre-teens taking over Sephora. As a woman in her 40’s I don’t care to carry around the same bags and wear the same shoes as young adults.
Sophie, I've been just enjoying the bags I already own, and if I shop for bags, it's only at outlets now. I'm enjoying being more minimal and spending less. I love that you talk about these topics!
My thoughts: I have been retired for nearly 10 years. It all started around Covid time. Stuck inside I realised how much stuff ( Lux included) I had and no place to go. It grated on me. When covid was gone, I found people ( and clerks in general ) were often curt or down right rude. It came to me that many many people are under economic and emotional strain. We are downsizing, others are feeling the economic crunch, many are feeling exploited. Then people hear of the workers terrible conditions and identify with them. There is a general malaise. The trend of " if you know you know " and "quiet luxury " is a direct result of social conditions.
UK luxury is struggling because the loss of Tax Free has impacted more severely than expected. Local UK customers are shopping Tax Free in Europe and the tourists who would buy in the UK are now opting for Europe too. It’s a big mess that needs addressing asap before brands start reassessing their commitment to the UK market.
I very much appreciate coach approach. They have texted me to let me know when there are sales. And they always are so helpful. I have been able to randomly walk in when they are busy and still feel like I am important (and the fact they will do a free cleaning of my bag at my convenience even when busy and they don’t expect me to make a purchase).
It is no wonder that quality has gone down, if these companies are so greedy that they use sweatshops. I have had one designer brand fall apart on me at least 3x. I haven't bought a designer bag in a long while.
I think handbags are also losing their appeal because it has become like fast fashion. Everyone has luxury nowadays. There is nothing special about it anymore. I got my first Chanel bag last year and the experience was underwhelming. I ended up giving the bag away to my teenage niece. I think there has been a focus on dressing well on a budget. You don't have to spend a lot of money to look nice.
I don't think they qualify to be called luxury anymore they're designer goods at best. They're still mass produced etc much like fast fashion. Luxury is when goods are produced individually and care goes into their production.
Coach bags have first class workmanship. I owe a few of their bags and has lasted me for years. My favorite are the ones made of glove tanned leather. They feel so luxurious to the touch and I never had an issue with falling them apart.
I'd also suggest that the percentage of customers who are "continuous shoppers" has always been smaller than the overall total of people purchasing from these stores. The pandemic, like you say, created weird economic circumstances and I think that allowed a lot / a ton of people to start buying-in for the first time, but after they had their "fill", did they even feel the need to continue going back? We keep hearing/saying that their are specific classic bags most people would enjoy having; I think there are a lot of people who get a Chanel Flap and then they're done; not due to economic reasons so much, but because beyond that "classic item" they just are not interested/motivated to keep following brand releases because they got what they wanted are are now "done". It's kind of like for most people household goods and appliances are needs that, once met, cease to motivate the consumer from seeking better versions or new options. Are they happy they got the exact refrigerator they needed/wanted? Yes; but now they have it and use it and they're just not interested in continuing to re-visit the topic of finding the best refrigerator.
100% - with a child and being in my 40’s the priority is different! And the quality is just bad now… I got a new Gucci bag at Christmas and the hard wear just started falling off! Over it! Coach for the win!!
A collection became ridiculous amongst influencers - influencers had every colour, size etc - it’s too much. Most ppl just want a1-2 luxury items to compliment a look not confusion
I think we'll start to see people who really appreciate luxury versus those who did all for show a sport, or because it was a "trend". I still love and wear my vintage designer handbags. I don't know any other way. My handbags ARE sturdy and made of high quality. Ive done so well, I don't need to buy more. Right now, I'm enjoying what I have❤
I feel a bit sad because I finally got to a place in life where I could realize my dream of owning a Chanel Classic Flap. I bought it new, a year or so ago, but feel like the curtain has been pulled back and it was all an illusion; like I fell for the hype. 😥
I agree with you on the fact that the prices of luxury brands have reached absurd peaks and the quality has dropped, but the problem is that my gaze never falls on what is cheap! The day before yesterday I went into a Coach store and left after 3 minutes, there was absolutely nothing that I liked. At this point I prefer to buy pre-loved items.
For a long time, as the price of Chanel increased, I no longer thought I could afford it. I think I'll be happy that I have the*jklux* as my travel bag that I don't have to take care of. By the way, I'm sure no one will have a hard time telling the difference. Thanks for the comparison.
I was recently told by Gucci that my bag had to be sent to Florence to be repaired. Bear in mind it was 2 months old and I’d used it 3 times carefully. The leather on the corner piping was peeling off. If I’d have purchased that bag on the high street and not paid 1.5k for it I would have had a refund or exchange immediately. I shall henceforth be selecting my purchases very carefully and mainly just enjoying the bags I own .
I ordered a Songmont bag and it came in perfect condition, strap is wrapped up, hardware with stickers on. When i purchased a ysl bag in the boutique, i asked for a new piece and they said they have a new piece from another store and insisted i pay in full first before they transfer it over. When i came back to collect it, its not new because there is no wrapping on the strap etc. its the same display piece i tried on the other day. Pissed off to this day by the 2 lady SA at ysl.
I love the Savette Pochette too! I will definitely buy it because I know I will buy it to replace the Kelly and/or Mini Kelly. Ultimately, I know I still want the *esluxy* .
When the brands publish information about their business sales, we will see what it looks like. We will also be able to follow it on the news. As I said, I sometimes go to Dior and so far there have been some customers. Sales have been enormous over the last few years, and I don't think it will continue to grow indefinitely. What I don't like is the market for counterfeits and other imitation products. I don't buy anything like that.
Loveee vintage over new pieces! I’m travelling to Tokyo in October to hunt for a vintage saddle bag because it’s cheaper than a new one plus they’ve got more character too, imo. Imagine a new saddle bag going for $6400 in my currency … that’s my budget for the whole 7 day trip 🤦🏽♀️
I'm a Rayban sunglass girl for life. Interestingly enough, a lot of the big designer names are also made by Luxotica who makes Rayban. I'd have been furious if I spent that kind of money on sunglasses to get them bent and scratched! I've always had great service when I've been in Coach, either outlet or boutique. Did you know they have a store on Poshmark too? I got a heck of a good deal on a bag that was from last season through their Poshmark store.
Hi Sophie, I’m curious, did we ever have a luxury cancellation/ pause before? I was only like 16 at the time so don’t really remember but I do remember 2008ish it became very uncool to have luxury, for obvious reasons. If so you should see if you can review any videos or articles from back then and compare them to today. Might be a fun comparaison!!!
Historically speaking, luxury is always the first to go when there are major world events and an economic downturn. Its not only frowned upon, but people simply can’t afford it. It’s also the easiest thing to cut out of your spending and to sell on.
It's somewhat sort of happening right now. With "quiet luxury" trending right now, in a way, it's frownee upon to carry logos -- since we're in the process of a recession right now. When things pick back up, so will luxury. One famous fashion history event was during the war, when people had rations on food and fabric, Christian Dior actually made very fabric heavy dresses -- something frowned upon at that time -- and it somehow became a fashion moment.
Have you ever read the book "Deluxe" How Luxury Lost its Luster, by Dana Thomas. Even though it was written in 2007 about these "multi-billion-dollar global corporations focused on growth, visibility, brand awareness, advertising, and above all profits! Gone are the family-owned businesses dedicated to integrity and quality". A must-read for those who do enjoy "luxury" products. Sophie, you have already addressed many of these issues.
I think manufacturing transparency will be vital to luxury’s return to popularity in the future I.e luxury brands showing the true value of the product. Great, thought-provoking video Sophie ❤
I have a new Longchamp Le Pliage, Dooney and Bourke Canvas bucket bag and I plan on adding a Coach quilted tabby and a Marc Jacobs Tote. I plan on traveling with my son, so I no longer want to travel with an expensive bag. I still want a new speedy B in a size 20 or 25 but I don't know when I will get it now.
With reality tv personalities and all the social media showing luxury , it doesn't seem so luxurious anymore. It has a more common look because I see so much of the same labels. I would consider luxury something that isn't mass produced.
Completely agree with you. Luxury brands have to up the quality control a lot!!!!! The quality of raw materials has deteriorated dramatically, especially in Chanel, lambskin leather in bags (classic flaps in particular) feels like cheap plastic, and don't get me started on the wonky stitching and flap alignment! This is atrocious! They ask us to spend an annual minimum wage to buy a defective bag! They seriously need to get a grip! And fast! Personally, I think I'm done with Chanel, I'd rather spend my hard-earned money on Hermes where the leather and workmanship is pristine, and so is the customer service
There's an interesting video about the history of LVMH and how you have him to thank for our obsession with luxury. (I believe it was by Bliss Foster? Although I may be wrong). In short: designer *was* luxury prior to the huge conglomerate of LVMH. To the middle class, it was unobtainable and strictly for the 1%. When Bernard Arnault ran the company, he *heavily* invested in the runway shows and advertisements and haute couture to be everywhere. Eventually people found out the prices weren't too expensive like once perceived: pricey, yes; unobtainable, no. Of course, LVMH, like any other company, relies on investors and the stock market. This means they will do everything to cut corners and charge higher prices in order to raise their profit margins. It's why and where designer and luxury separated, to give you an idea I recommend checking Bliss Foster out! He goes into more depth than me
The 'c' phase has changed so much. Many people are struggling after the last five years, and the term 'recession' is correct. Some luxury items seem to be poorly made since this occurred. Even the standards in some restaurants have changed, and not for the best. It seems to be all about profits and keeping the businesses afloat. Thanks for your interesting and informative videos. Love from Australia.
Luxury was about scarcity, quality and « savoir-faire ». I remember drooling over beautiful stunning pieces that you couldn’t find anywhere but in « luxury world ». Luxury is not luxury anymore. High end boutiques carry beautiful, well designed, high quality pieces. That’s where smart people are focusing on.
Hi Sophie! I just bought online a summer bag from Michael Kors. It is seriously cute! No big logo. It's a woven like maybe reed? bag with navy leather flap and trim, and all silver hardware, including a heavy silver chain strap. The price was very reasonable and the quality is very good. I'm loving it and it's going to be my bag for summer. Normally I'm not into Michael Kors because they have started doing a lot of "knock-offs", for example they have a bag now that is quite a dupe for Hermes Kelly. But this woven bag won my heart! ❤
Funny you mention that. I have a pink Michael Kors that was “inspired “ by a Lady Dior, but at the time I bought it, I did not know about the Lady Dior. The Kors version is excellent quality. I have had it for at least ten years.
I don’t own anything Dior, but I feel silly now wearing all of my other luxury Items post Dior raid. I expect any business to markup product prices to cover expenses, I just wasn’t aware it approached 20-50x. I feel duped and silly… except for my collection of Vintage Ferragamo shoes! I just love them.
Sometimes preloved us more expensive than new. I saw an ALMA BB canvas for $500 more than on the LV website, and it was available when I saw it last week. Preloved is getting crazy.
The *rrcopys* bags are gorgeous in their size, weight and color. Bought pink, cream and blue. I think I might go back and order the light lilac, light blue and red. I own some high priced designer handbags, but I like these even more!
I found stitching issues on 2 Mulberry bags. The ends were not properly cut and the sewing was clinging on to sweaters and clothes and it felt very coarse to the touch. I returned both and got new ones instead, but get this: the first time, it was easy - they saw it as a defective item. The second time, this year, I literally had to choose from several bags they had in stock because several of them had the same problem and they didn't think my item was really defective. They didn't say it, but I'm almost sure they basically took my returned bag and just put it back for sale as a normally returned item not a defective one. 🙄
I wear a mini bag from Tods and while it’s $1600…. Which is more affordable. The customer service is 10/10, Quality is amazing and I get stopped every single time I wear it
I went to Gucci this past Saturday and it was not busy at all. I enjoyed it actually didn’t feel like the SAs were stressed. I was wearing my very old Gucci hobo bag from 2009, the SA was surprised I still had and spoke on the history of the horsebit hardware that was on it. The hardware surprisingly looks really good not a lot of scratches. I went in looking for a particular item but not in stock so they ordered it for me. I had a wonderful experience
Yes, Yes, YESSSSSS, sensible and real, as always.....I think this sort of talk/topic is definitely your thing! You should do a talk about how to save or "get ahead" in this sort of economy! Its so bloody hard, the price of living is no joke.
I wanted a ysl patent leather purse that was way out of my price range at 3500. I ended up fining it pre-loved for 1,000 with no scratches and looks like it was maybe used once or not at all. I am soooo happy with it!!! no bag is worth 3500 in my opinion.
Agree. I bought a small wallet from coach. Been throwing it like crazy not minding hardware scratches. It still looks good. The C hardware stayed the same. And because of that, I am buying coach again.
I love your Videos Sophie you talk so much sense!.On the quality issue just wanted to share i recently bought an Lv Speedy 20 from Lv website ajd when it arrived i couldnt believe how poorly it was made .The piping on one side of the front and the back of the bag was completly uneven compared to the other side and almost recessed into the bag so the profile of the bag was terrible .This was a 'made in France' bag and i couldnt believe how poor the craftsmanship was. .I was so disappointed and returned the bag.Has anyone else noticed a decline in Lv quality recently?
Sophie - I'd love it if you could do a video on Farfetch pre-owned pieces. They have some good pieces but the prices are so highly inflated compared with places like Fashionphile etc.
Remember also, Sophie, many of us are now retired or retiring, and we no longer need or want the throw away money items or to play the prestige money game.
I’m sure that luxury fashion will bounce back because there’s always gonna be a market for people that don’t mind spending money that they don’t have to look richer than they are. I’m just really hoping that there will be some innovation and the items will actually look interesting and fresh. There are so many hideous bags that’s been around for many years that are still coveted, like pretty much everything from Christian Dior, including the saddlebag🤢🤮
SOOO appreciate your thoughts on all this and talking out about what is long about luxury good and staying honest. So many want to keep kissing up and sweeping it under the rug. Local follower!
I think what Chanel sent you was probably a show model - I have had one SA tell me the only one they had was the show piece - which was dirty, handled, and looking like it had been used for months. The fact that they were willing to sell it to me turned me off. I have often had to wait for them to courier another bag from another store because the one they had in stock was flawed. For the price, every piece should be perfect.
I don’t know, I don’t find pre-loved very affordable….unless you are looking for a less popular bag. The big brands are either full price or minimal savings. To me, the fear of buying a fake or someone else’s filth is just not worth it for a couple hundred dollar savings on a bag that cost thousands🤷🏻♀️. I always love your videos, Sophie. 🩵
A lot of luxury brands have been getting cheap with their quality control while raising prices on top of that. Like any market they need to crash so it can get better again. Also luxury brands are lacking creativity and have been offering nothing interesting aside from their classic staples. Could be due to COVID but a lot of brands are boring right now
I agree with going into luxury stores, you feel like you’re being looked at from head to toe. Very unnerving ala Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. I probably will only go in if I am sure I am going to buy something.
I feel luxury has become overstated. Everyone had logo mania. The uneducated customer just buys because of the logo or name behind a product. Maybe I’m being hard since I work in the development and manufacturing of luxury goods. I buy smaller brands at Dover street market and collect comme des garçons runway (not play) because I want to collect unique designs and concepts. I don’t care if people know the brand but the quality and the uniqueness is what I want… and even in a big city like NY I don’t see any one wearing what I wear.’y husband says it’s luxury but I don’t shop with that way of thinking. Unfortunately most people want to belong and carry that bag or tshirt to belong to a certain look or group. I hope people start buying into quality and uniqueness now instead of the big name items. Also the only true luxury the major brands make ( not all) is haute couture but haveing worked in this industry only a small group can afford to buy haute couture and it is not available to the masses… understandable because of price point
Well, this is advertising for brands that offer cheaper alternatives to Desinger products like LV. That's what we earn here. So the criticism of Dior has a purpose. It's about making the counterfeit products interesting and selling them to customers. So it's not a real criticism of Dior, it's just selling the products from which you earn money.
Thank you for honest, really deep, thoughtful, insightful videos! Love you Sophie! I'm thinking about my first luxury bag, but I'm really afraid it will be poor quality, it will lose its beautiful appearance too soon and I won't be able to look after it as good as it deserves to save it. I was wondering if you could make a video about true British brands? Maybe small niche brands. As a foreigner I'm really interested in something authentic
You’re so sweet! Thank you for the lovely feedback my friend ☺️🥰 I can certainly do a video on this. One brand that comes to mind is Launer, they’re really good xx
Hello my friend! That’s so kind of you to say, thank you! You might be amazed, since it was under £9.99 on YesStyle! You can get it in lots of colours too xx🩷🩷
Hi Sophie, really enjoying these videos :) I was wondering what you think about Strathberry. Would love to get your opinion on this brand, I quite like it and it's in the affordable but good quality range. xxx
Yes! Pre-loved I think is the best way. I just got myself for my birthday pristine Jimmy choo trainers in the box for £80+ shipping… they £595 😅🤣 shop smart really is the way 👌✨
Interesting your approval of Coach goods as Coach is 100% Chinese made. Coach decided it was too expensive to import Chinese laborers a la Dior, but simply decided to access Chines automation and sweatshops directly. But for what it is, Coach Outlet is all the same craftsmanship, if you can call it that, and the sweatshop prices are not marked up to luxury craftsman levels. If it comes from China, it comes from a sweatshop.
I know wealthy women who carry replicas. The main reason they gave is that they just understand the value of money and don't want to spend too much money on bags... so more people choose fashionable*jklux* bags. However, they do spend a lot of money on fine jewelry and other things.
Personally I don’t think the problem is covid or low quality or sweatshops. People would still keep on buying luxury bags because they are a status symbol for middle upper class. I think people are just tired of seeing huge hauls and every influencer showing the same old bag trending at that moment. It cheapens the effort. If you see something everywhere then it is not special is it. And if you see dupes of it in every Zara and H&M boutique it makes it even worse.
People don't want to pay luxury prices for sweatshop items that are below the quality of a nice kate spade bag, or barely above the quality of kate spade.
I don't know about you, but in my experience, the Kate Spade (main line) has pretty good quality! Their leathers aren't anything particularly noteworthy, but they're durable, evenly stitched, and they finish their edges! As a leather craftsman, that's my #1 go to sign for quality: seeing how the edges were finished. A lot of brands skip out on that detail by just skipping or painting it roughly, or you can tell it's faux leather by how wonky it looks on the edges.
I especially love their novelty bags! Whenever I go, it's such a pleasant experience, even if I don't buy anything. Your comment kinda makes them seem like they're of poor quality 😮 It might be the outlets you're going to? I never seen outlet pieces except at Nordstrom Rack
@@christopherfeatherley they are excellent quality. I own several kate spade bags. But their prices are better than these 'luxury' brands.
@@christopherfeatherleyout of curiosity, which brands (luxury and non-luxury) have the best leather?
@@ms_cartographer Oh gotcha! My bad. I read it in the wrong tone. I became obsessed with Kate Spade because it's one of those fun brands that don't take themselves too seriously. Definitely a pleasant experience whenever I stop by 😁
I love the *esluxy* bag you showed on UA-cam. I want the mini version but it’s $1,200. It’s said to be made of imported leather. Do you know if the knockoff bag is made in China? Another great video!
I have been buying bags for my wife for quite a few years. I think I've purchased over 50 by now (Dior, Prada, Balenciaga, Louboutin, YSL, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy etc etc and she still has them all. These have been for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries and sometimes for no reason. She rarely buys bags herself. I enjoyed picking them, and guessing what i think she will like (luckily i seem to get it mostly right, or maybe she is just kind and says she loves them), although she would occasionally tell me about a specific bag. I noticed a couple of years ago she was getting less and less bothered about luxury items like bags. I appreciate this is not going to be the case for others but i think one of the reasons is over saturation, just too many bags and they all loose their special appeal. We also retired recently an although i can still buy her whatever bag she wants she has said she would much rather we traveled more, had more experiences and spent more time with family and friends. We already do this to a reasonable extent to be fair but i think all the bags and other things were just taking up physical and head space. I think 'stuff' in all its forms as one gets older just starts to be a burden/drain. You have to insure it, Look after it, store it. Its almost like your 'stuff' owns you and not the other way around and it takes some time to realise this is the case. I'm sure i will still buy the odd bag but it will be much less as we move away from all the 'baggage' pun intended we have accumulated.
What a wonderful husband you are. If you feel like having 2 wives please give me all call 😂.
So well said!
This is such an insight i will remember in my present late 30s.
Ah, that's great. Hope you never have to go through this! Yes, if you have a *esluxy* bag with a double zipper, that's a practical solution too.
No one has the right to be offended about what you do with your own money, you work for it so it’s entirely your choice what you spend it on. Enjoy your *esluxy* , don’t feel guilty xxx
Luxury is about superior quality, not about exclusivity, and that is where all these brands have gone wrong. The result is that they are all massively overpriced, crappy snobbish service and low quality. I walked by a Prada shop yesterday, all the bags I could see were this knitted straw-like material with some leather detailing. You can just tell this kind of bag is made in China or in some immigrant sweatshop in Italy and the production cost is likely way under 100 euro..but you can be sure the sales price is a whole lot more.
Completely agree.
well said. these days luxury stores remind me of those restaurants/bars where the servers are rude to you on purpose and people go for comedic relief, I guess. the experience isn't luxurious anymore. "you get what you get and you don't get upset." it's like being in bizarro world. and I can't believe all the people who endorse this and defend the brands for being snobby and exclusive, I guess because they got into luxury shopping more recently and enjoy that the items are "hard to access." years ago it was very different. you were welcomed in stores, no lines, no need for appointments, the prices of fashion and accessories proportionally made sense to purchase as an indulgent treat, sales sharks may have existed but they did so by being helpful client advisors, and they even hand wrote you thank you notes... now they act like they don't have to be kind or showcase the products because "luxury sells itself" in the middle of a cost of living crisis. it's so gross.
When made with Chinese leather you never know where it comes from or what the leather is made of*preluxz* .
Love*jklux* the way you show it! You really focus on showing off the bag. I don't think any other UA-camr can show off bags in as much detail as you.
To me, the *esluxy* looks more like a Victoria (Hermès). Also, I love that bag you bought! I bought it because of you.
I think luxury has lost it’s shine because so many of us have dabbled in it now to one degree or another and discovered that expensive stuff doesn’t bring lasting happiness. It not worth racking up debt on a credit card, or denying yourself other pleasures/experiences to save up for one exorbitantly priced bag. Its not worth the anxiety of what if you scratch/damage your new purchase, or what if you get robbed when out and about. And i definitely agree about the quality issues, people are tired of paying top dollar for things that are of similar quality as coach or kate spade
I've been unable to afford to go out for meals , cinema , mini breaks , days trips , even going for coffee and cake because all my disposable income was going on luxury ! Although I enjoyed the search and arrival of the items , which I love and intend to actually ENJOY in the future , it was actually getting me quite down . I decided to draw a line under it ONCE I had acquired a comprehensive collection ! It wasn't easy to stop , there is always SOMETHING else that will pop up , but the trick is to start using what you already have , and when you have the money for the other stuff you end up looking back and wondering WHAT WAS I DOING ALL THAT TIME 😂 !! You don't have to deny yourself forever , maybe you might see the odd wallet or pair of bargain sunglasses , and that way you will still have some ' enjoyment money ' left over !! 😜🙏❤️
You're absolutely correct!
Some people are just over it. 🙅♀️🤷♀️
I think luxury has also lost its appeal because of the quality of influencers peddling these items, like the Kardashians, as opposed to the supermodels in the 90s selling you an illusion of class, quality and glamour. We now associate these labels with annoying people.
@@prettybird367 you're so correct. We dabbled and realised that the problems we had before didn't miraculously dissipate once we got our hands on a Lady Dior lol. We've demystified this weird world of luxury, and realised that it's actually not that great
For me main issue is quality is so bad now. Small boutique has much better quality for less price. Just no marketing. When I was small girl luxury product was much much nicer than more accessible brand. Not so much this days
This, it’s mid range smaller brands for me
Exactly...I'm buying luxury but only vintage designer as those items were much better made.
Me too! I had a blast in Tokyo a few weeks ago visiting a lot of the vintage shops, got 5 bags- all pristine condition and I couldn’t be happier with the product and the experience. I’m hooked!
Maybe that will be the new wave of luxury. Small and unique boutiques that sell high-quality items, including vintage and custom items that are not too overpriced.
I went to the shopping center here in Bondi, Sydney the other week and was walking past the designer boutiques, decided I would pop into Chanel to look at some white bags in particular the woc.
There was only one other customer I could see in the boutique. There was lots of Chanel staff chatting to each other.
The security guard at the door was very polite but said I had to wait at the door until they were ready for me. So I was stood behind the rope and was the only one waiting, the security man kept glancing into the boutique whilst making small talk to me saying it shouldn’t be much longer, the SAs kept giving him the 🤚 gesture. After 10 minutes of queuing for no reason I could think of, I decided this was absolutely ridiculous. There was no luxury experience, why would I want to be treated like I was an inconvenience.
I could have been served quicker and treated nicer at the deli counter at tescos!!!
I told the security guard I was going to leave. He was very apologetic, asked if I wanted to come back later and I said no & would go to the other chanel boutique (other side of the city) instead.
I ended up visiting Dior and Saint Laurent instead and they were so lovely in there, made me feel very welcome even though I said I was only browsing. They offered me drinks, showed me stock from the back that wasn’t yet out on display and just made it a fun experience. That’s the kind of treatment I want!!!
Soooo even though I was keen on getting a Chanel WOC I think I won’t bother now and just enjoy the designer bags I already own and paid reasonably for them back in the day before all these crazy price hikes. Never thought I would say I would be over luxury handbags but it’s certainly lost its appeal at the moment for me.
It would have been good to say very loudly you were going to visit and spend your money at Dior instead! It’s crazy how the cost of living is gone up so there are less people buying luxury and also losing out to the preloved market so the market for new stock in stores is getting smaller but they are not keen to welcome customers!
@@nikkismith2858 they had the boutique doors closed so they wouldn’t have heard me/nor cared 😆 the security man apologized and was lovely so I didn’t want to be unkind to him. Dior and Saint Laurent super friendly. I’ll keep my money and don’t need a new bag really 😊
Defnitely agree with Chanel doesn’t have a good customer service. My sister went to Chanel to have her jewelry fixed. They weren’t so friendly or helpful. Considering their jewelry are expensive. So I wouldn’t buy their flap bag it’s too pricey and their quality is nowhere near Hermes. Hermes bag definitely a luxurious bag
I always find so dumb that Chanel faux pearls necklace “Faux pearls” for a 2000 necklace, are you kidding me.
Now I am convinced that I bought*preluxz* fakes. Luxury brands exaggerate their prices and are not worth it. Even if I had money, I would not buy them. I would rather buy jewelry.
Fools are the ones who spend $10,000 on a "real" bag. I have a fake Louis Vuitton doctor's bag that I purchased in Korea in 1987. I walked into Neman Marcus with it. Several employees in the handbag section couldn't believe my bag was fake. They are comparing my *esluxy* to the "real" one and they can't see any difference. Mine cost $40, the real deal was $7500.
Bought the clear bag from *esluxy* to go to a concert. It was GREAT! Breezed through security and wore it as a crossbody so I could dance and groove!!
I used to work for Coach when I was younger and it was such a fun brand. You’re taught to really develop relationships and never judge who comes in. You have to give every customer the same amount of effort and always be approachable and ready to help. I do think the American attitude towards customer service is different to Europe and it shows in the coach staff training. The people who dress the least logo heavy and always the heavy spenders usually! The quality is also impeccable.
Was about to say I'm Australian. We have the similar to europe vibe. Not to say bad service doesn't happen.
I used to work in jewelry in a heavy oil/lumber city, we were actively told that the people who came in the dirtiest had the most money to spend and boy was that true! You learn not to judge so quickly and it's wonderful.
All my small disposable income was going on luxury until quite recently , so I was sacrificing other pleasures like eating out , cinema , day trips ,...even going for coffee and cake , and it was actually starting to get me down . Don't get me wrong , I was addicted to the constant seach , the thrill of the next purchase , but appart from running out of storage space , I realised the hunt was overshadowing the actual use and enjoyment , it fealt wasteful , especially in these hard times ! So I decided to draw a line under the BIG BUYS ! It wasnt easy , I miss the buzz , the Christmas like feeling when the next goody arrived . I knew that there was always going to be JUST ONE MORE , so I had to be tough with myself !!! The trick is to really start to use , enjoy , and appreciate what you already have , and be strong by letting go of items you don't !! Once you have a bit of money for other things you'll soon wonder why it took you SO LONG 😂😂 It doesn't mean , even though you've stopped buying the BIG purchases , you can't still treat youself to the odd luxury small peice , that cute little preloved purse , or cheeky pair of sunglasses , once in a while , but at least that way you'll still have money keft over fir the other things in life you enjoy ! 😜🙏❤️
I agree with you, had a similar experience. To use my bag, out and about also made me realize i could begin selling some after careful consideration because in priced out and would not afford new ones
I’m going through this right now! Nice to know there’s others too. Great advice ❤
Personally for me I’m tired of the 20 yo “influencers” dripping in luxury items. I don’t care if I sound snobby or not. It’s like the pre-teens taking over Sephora. As a woman in her 40’s I don’t care to carry around the same bags and wear the same shoes as young adults.
I don’t know what others think, but in my experience, pre-loved has often better quality, even the materials the clothing is made of are better.
Sophie, I've been just enjoying the bags I already own, and if I shop for bags, it's only at outlets now. I'm enjoying being more minimal and spending less. I love that you talk about these topics!
My thoughts: I have been retired for nearly 10 years. It all started around Covid time. Stuck inside I realised how much stuff ( Lux included) I had and no place to go. It grated on me. When covid was gone, I found people ( and clerks in general ) were often curt or down right rude. It came to me that many many people are under economic and emotional strain. We are downsizing, others are feeling the economic crunch, many are feeling exploited. Then people hear of the workers terrible conditions and identify with them. There is a general malaise. The trend of " if you know you know " and "quiet luxury " is a direct result of social conditions.
This 👆🏼
UK luxury is struggling because the loss of Tax Free has impacted more severely than expected. Local UK customers are shopping Tax Free in Europe and the tourists who would buy in the UK are now opting for Europe too. It’s a big mess that needs addressing asap before brands start reassessing their commitment to the UK market.
I very much appreciate coach approach. They have texted me to let me know when there are sales. And they always are so helpful. I have been able to randomly walk in when they are busy and still feel like I am important (and the fact they will do a free cleaning of my bag at my convenience even when busy and they don’t expect me to make a purchase).
you’re literally my comfort person i love you*preluxz* .
It is no wonder that quality has gone down, if these companies are so greedy that they use sweatshops. I have had one designer brand fall apart on me at least 3x. I haven't bought a designer bag in a long while.
my mom has a bag that was made to order and it still last for 3 years , and it was 200 or 300
I think handbags are also losing their appeal because it has become like fast fashion. Everyone has luxury nowadays. There is nothing special about it anymore. I got my first Chanel bag last year and the experience was underwhelming. I ended up giving the bag away to my teenage niece. I think there has been a focus on dressing well on a budget. You don't have to spend a lot of money to look nice.
Did you not love the bag?
@@Taylor987-h8j I am a little over luxury. I am pretty much over recognizable handbags.
Everything has a cycle, including the luxury industry.
@LatzkaAmbler Scammer, this comment is from a scammer.
I don't think they qualify to be called luxury anymore they're designer goods at best.
They're still mass produced etc much like fast fashion.
Luxury is when goods are produced individually and care goes into their production.
Coach bags have first class workmanship. I owe a few of their bags and has lasted me for years. My favorite are the ones made of glove tanned leather. They feel so luxurious to the touch and I never had an issue with falling them apart.
I'd also suggest that the percentage of customers who are "continuous shoppers" has always been smaller than the overall total of people purchasing from these stores. The pandemic, like you say, created weird economic circumstances and I think that allowed a lot / a ton of people to start buying-in for the first time, but after they had their "fill", did they even feel the need to continue going back?
We keep hearing/saying that their are specific classic bags most people would enjoy having; I think there are a lot of people who get a Chanel Flap and then they're done; not due to economic reasons so much, but because beyond that "classic item" they just are not interested/motivated to keep following brand releases because they got what they wanted are are now "done".
It's kind of like for most people household goods and appliances are needs that, once met, cease to motivate the consumer from seeking better versions or new options. Are they happy they got the exact refrigerator they needed/wanted? Yes; but now they have it and use it and they're just not interested in continuing to re-visit the topic of finding the best refrigerator.
100% - with a child and being in my 40’s the priority is different! And the quality is just bad now… I got a new Gucci bag at Christmas and the hard wear just started falling off! Over it! Coach for the win!!
A collection became ridiculous amongst influencers - influencers had every colour, size etc - it’s too much. Most ppl just want a1-2 luxury items to compliment a look not confusion
I think we'll start to see people who really appreciate luxury versus those who did all for show a sport, or because it was a "trend". I still love and wear my vintage designer handbags. I don't know any other way. My handbags ARE sturdy and made of high quality. Ive done so well, I don't need to buy more. Right now, I'm enjoying what I have❤
I feel a bit sad because I finally got to a place in life where I could realize my dream of owning a Chanel Classic Flap. I bought it new, a year or so ago, but feel like the curtain has been pulled back and it was all an illusion; like I fell for the hype. 😥
@@Cherrysmith2809 it's not that deep. Enjoy your purse
I agree with you on the fact that the prices of luxury brands have reached absurd peaks and the quality has dropped, but the problem is that my gaze never falls on what is cheap! The day before yesterday I went into a Coach store and left after 3 minutes, there was absolutely nothing that I liked. At this point I prefer to buy pre-loved items.
Me too. Give me the old stuff I dreamed of as a girl. At least the quality won’t fail
For a long time, as the price of Chanel increased, I no longer thought I could afford it. I think I'll be happy that I have the*jklux* as my travel bag that I don't have to take care of. By the way, I'm sure no one will have a hard time telling the difference. Thanks for the comparison.
I was recently told by Gucci that my bag had to be sent to Florence to be repaired. Bear in mind it was 2 months old and I’d used it 3 times carefully. The leather on the corner piping was peeling off. If I’d have purchased that bag on the high street and not paid 1.5k for it I would have had a refund or exchange immediately. I shall henceforth be selecting my purchases very carefully and mainly just enjoying the bags I own .
I ordered a Songmont bag and it came in perfect condition, strap is wrapped up, hardware with stickers on. When i purchased a ysl bag in the boutique, i asked for a new piece and they said they have a new piece from another store and insisted i pay in full first before they transfer it over. When i came back to collect it, its not new because there is no wrapping on the strap etc. its the same display piece i tried on the other day. Pissed off to this day by the 2 lady SA at ysl.
I love the Savette Pochette too! I will definitely buy it because I know I will buy it to replace the Kelly and/or Mini Kelly. Ultimately, I know I still want the *esluxy* .
When the brands publish information about their business sales, we will see what it looks like. We will also be able to follow it on the news. As I said, I sometimes go to Dior and so far there have been some customers. Sales have been enormous over the last few years, and I don't think it will continue to grow indefinitely. What I don't like is the market for counterfeits and other imitation products. I don't buy anything like that.
Loveee vintage over new pieces! I’m travelling to Tokyo in October to hunt for a vintage saddle bag because it’s cheaper than a new one plus they’ve got more character too, imo. Imagine a new saddle bag going for $6400 in my currency … that’s my budget for the whole 7 day trip 🤦🏽♀️
Same here. Vintage or pre-owned almost vintage only for me. I’m also using the one in/one out moto.
What stores in Tokyo are you planning on visiting?
I'm a Rayban sunglass girl for life. Interestingly enough, a lot of the big designer names are also made by Luxotica who makes Rayban. I'd have been furious if I spent that kind of money on sunglasses to get them bent and scratched! I've always had great service when I've been in Coach, either outlet or boutique. Did you know they have a store on Poshmark too? I got a heck of a good deal on a bag that was from last season through their Poshmark store.
Didnt know that. Good to know.
Hi Sophie, I’m curious, did we ever have a luxury cancellation/ pause before? I was only like 16 at the time so don’t really remember but I do remember 2008ish it became very uncool to have luxury, for obvious reasons. If so you should see if you can review any videos or articles from back then and compare them to today. Might be a fun comparaison!!!
It's cyclical it goes with the market, recession times lux goes down when it fixes itself it goes back up. This is nothing new.
Historically speaking, luxury is always the first to go when there are major world events and an economic downturn. Its not only frowned upon, but people simply can’t afford it. It’s also the easiest thing to cut out of your spending and to sell on.
It's somewhat sort of happening right now. With "quiet luxury" trending right now, in a way, it's frownee upon to carry logos -- since we're in the process of a recession right now. When things pick back up, so will luxury.
One famous fashion history event was during the war, when people had rations on food and fabric, Christian Dior actually made very fabric heavy dresses -- something frowned upon at that time -- and it somehow became a fashion moment.
Have you ever read the book "Deluxe" How Luxury Lost its Luster, by Dana Thomas. Even though it was written in 2007 about these "multi-billion-dollar global corporations focused on growth, visibility, brand awareness, advertising, and above all profits! Gone are the family-owned businesses dedicated to integrity and quality". A must-read for those who do enjoy "luxury" products. Sophie, you have already addressed many of these issues.
I think manufacturing transparency will be vital to luxury’s return to popularity in the future I.e luxury brands showing the true value of the product. Great, thought-provoking video Sophie ❤
I agree that people who bought a bag or two a year are not doing that anymore. Which taxes have gone up?? I didnt even realise this!
Bought the clear bag from *esluxy* to go to a concert. It was GREAT! Breezed through security and wore it as a crossbody so I could dance and groove!!
I have a new Longchamp Le Pliage, Dooney and Bourke Canvas bucket bag and I plan on adding a Coach quilted tabby and a Marc Jacobs Tote. I plan on traveling with my son, so I no longer want to travel with an expensive bag. I still want a new speedy B in a size 20 or 25 but I don't know when I will get it now.
We’re bored of the luxury items, we want something fresh !
Tory Burch quality also dropped... price is up there but the quality is poor.
With reality tv personalities and all the social media showing luxury , it doesn't seem so luxurious anymore. It has a more common look because I see so much of the same labels. I would consider luxury something that isn't mass produced.
Completely agree with you. Luxury brands have to up the quality control a lot!!!!! The quality of raw materials has deteriorated dramatically, especially in Chanel, lambskin leather in bags (classic flaps in particular) feels like cheap plastic, and don't get me started on the wonky stitching and flap alignment! This is atrocious! They ask us to spend an annual minimum wage to buy a defective bag! They seriously need to get a grip! And fast! Personally, I think I'm done with Chanel, I'd rather spend my hard-earned money on Hermes where the leather and workmanship is pristine, and so is the customer service
Designer does not equal luxury - to me - anymore. It’s just plain old designer products, when did we decide these items are luxury?
There's an interesting video about the history of LVMH and how you have him to thank for our obsession with luxury. (I believe it was by Bliss Foster? Although I may be wrong).
In short: designer *was* luxury prior to the huge conglomerate of LVMH. To the middle class, it was unobtainable and strictly for the 1%. When Bernard Arnault ran the company, he *heavily* invested in the runway shows and advertisements and haute couture to be everywhere. Eventually people found out the prices weren't too expensive like once perceived: pricey, yes; unobtainable, no.
Of course, LVMH, like any other company, relies on investors and the stock market. This means they will do everything to cut corners and charge higher prices in order to raise their profit margins. It's why and where designer and luxury separated, to give you an idea
I recommend checking Bliss Foster out! He goes into more depth than me
The 'c' phase has changed so much. Many people are struggling after the last five years, and the term 'recession' is correct. Some luxury items seem to be poorly made since this occurred. Even the standards in some restaurants have changed, and not for the best. It seems to be all about profits and keeping the businesses afloat. Thanks for your interesting and informative videos. Love from Australia.
Luxury was about scarcity, quality and « savoir-faire ». I remember drooling over beautiful stunning pieces that you couldn’t find anywhere but in « luxury world ».
Luxury is not luxury anymore.
High end boutiques carry beautiful, well designed, high quality pieces.
That’s where smart people are focusing on.
the new luxury is supporting local artisan good price not overly charge , not massive corporate luxury
@@kenfern2259 until the masses get a hold of it.
Hi Sophie! I just bought online a summer bag from Michael Kors. It is seriously cute! No big logo. It's a woven like maybe reed? bag with navy leather flap and trim, and all silver hardware, including a heavy silver chain strap. The price was very reasonable and the quality is very good. I'm loving it and it's going to be my bag for summer. Normally I'm not into Michael Kors because they have started doing a lot of "knock-offs", for example they have a bag now that is quite a dupe for Hermes Kelly. But this woven bag won my heart! ❤
Funny you mention that. I have a pink Michael Kors that was “inspired “ by a Lady Dior, but at the time I bought it, I did not know about the Lady Dior. The Kors version is excellent quality. I have had it for at least ten years.
@@Cherrysmith2809 It sounds lovely! MK has backed off putting the logo everywhere, and I like it much better!
I don’t own anything Dior, but I feel silly now wearing all of my other luxury Items post Dior raid. I expect any business to markup product prices to cover expenses, I just wasn’t aware it approached 20-50x. I feel duped and silly… except for my collection of Vintage Ferragamo shoes! I just love them.
Sometimes preloved us more expensive than new. I saw an ALMA BB canvas for $500 more than on the LV website, and it was available when I saw it last week. Preloved is getting crazy.
@@lindamurphy3969 you were looking in the wrong place. They have plenty of preloved at great prices
I only buy pre-loved items that are not super sought after or worn by everyone. That’s the way to save a lot of money.
The *rrcopys* bags are gorgeous in their size, weight and color. Bought pink, cream and blue. I think I might go back and order the light lilac, light blue and red. I own some high priced designer handbags, but I like these even more!
I found stitching issues on 2 Mulberry bags. The ends were not properly cut and the sewing was clinging on to sweaters and clothes and it felt very coarse to the touch. I returned both and got new ones instead, but get this: the first time, it was easy - they saw it as a defective item. The second time, this year, I literally had to choose from several bags they had in stock because several of them had the same problem and they didn't think my item was really defective. They didn't say it, but I'm almost sure they basically took my returned bag and just put it back for sale as a normally returned item not a defective one. 🙄
I wear a mini bag from Tods and while it’s $1600…. Which is more affordable. The customer service is 10/10, Quality is amazing and I get stopped every single time I wear it
It’s wild recession right now but they are not saying it out loud. 🌸
Hi Sophie. Could you do a video on/have you heard of a brand called Lalage Beaumont?
Thank you so much for posting and for your candid opinion always.
In the UK you also have to remember that since you are no longer part of the EU there are some crazy challenges for the supply chain all around
I went to Gucci this past Saturday and it was not busy at all. I enjoyed it actually didn’t feel like the SAs were stressed. I was wearing my very old Gucci hobo bag from 2009, the SA was surprised I still had and spoke on the history of the horsebit hardware that was on it. The hardware surprisingly looks really good not a lot of scratches. I went in looking for a particular item but not in stock so they ordered it for me. I had a wonderful experience
Yes, Yes, YESSSSSS, sensible and real, as always.....I think this sort of talk/topic is definitely your thing! You should do a talk about how to save or "get ahead" in this sort of economy! Its so bloody hard, the price of living is no joke.
Post pandemic, inflation etc…
I have never seen as many designer bags on the street as I do these days.
Aldo’s bags are AMAZING ! 😍
I wanted a ysl patent leather purse that was way out of my price range at 3500. I ended up fining it pre-loved for 1,000 with no scratches and looks like it was maybe used once or not at all. I am soooo happy with it!!! no bag is worth 3500 in my opinion.
Agree. I bought a small wallet from coach. Been throwing it like crazy not minding hardware scratches. It still looks good. The C hardware stayed the same. And because of that, I am buying coach again.
I love your Videos Sophie you talk so much sense!.On the quality issue just wanted to share i recently bought an Lv Speedy 20 from Lv website ajd when it arrived i couldnt believe how poorly it was made .The piping on one side of the front and the back of the bag was completly uneven compared to the other side and almost recessed into the bag so the profile of the bag was terrible .This was a 'made in France' bag and i couldnt believe how poor the craftsmanship was. .I was so disappointed and returned the bag.Has anyone else noticed a decline in Lv quality recently?
Slightly on/off topic. Please do a video on the Nordstrom sale discussing the Coach bags special order for Nordstorn only.
Sophie - I'd love it if you could do a video on Farfetch pre-owned pieces. They have some good pieces but the prices are so highly inflated compared with places like Fashionphile etc.
Remember also, Sophie, many of us are now retired or retiring, and we no longer need or want the
throw away money items or to play the prestige money game.
I’m sure that luxury fashion will bounce back because there’s always gonna be a market for people that don’t mind spending money that they don’t have to look richer than they are. I’m just really hoping that there will be some innovation and the items will actually look interesting and fresh. There are so many hideous bags that’s been around for many years that are still coveted, like pretty much everything from Christian Dior, including the saddlebag🤢🤮
SOOO appreciate your thoughts on all this and talking out about what is long about luxury good and staying honest. So many want to keep kissing up and sweeping it under the rug. Local follower!
I think what Chanel sent you was probably a show model - I have had one SA tell me the only one they had was the show piece - which was dirty, handled, and looking like it had been used for months. The fact that they were willing to sell it to me turned me off. I have often had to wait for them to courier another bag from another store because the one they had in stock was flawed. For the price, every piece should be perfect.
I wear my older bags The Lv bags rotate they look knew. WE have a huge money issue. your correct.
I don’t know, I don’t find pre-loved very affordable….unless you are looking for a less popular bag. The big brands are either full price or minimal savings. To me, the fear of buying a fake or someone else’s filth is just not worth it for a couple hundred dollar savings on a bag that cost thousands🤷🏻♀️. I always love your videos, Sophie. 🩵
A lot of luxury brands have been getting cheap with their quality control while raising prices on top of that. Like any market they need to crash so it can get better again. Also luxury brands are lacking creativity and have been offering nothing interesting aside from their classic staples. Could be due to COVID but a lot of brands are boring right now
As customers we gave them power, we can take it away
‘‘twas about time it lost its appeal
I agree with going into luxury stores, you feel like you’re being looked at from head to toe. Very unnerving ala Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. I probably will only go in if I am sure I am going to buy something.
I feel luxury has become overstated. Everyone had logo mania. The uneducated customer just buys because of the logo or name behind a product. Maybe I’m being hard since I work in the development and manufacturing of luxury goods. I buy smaller brands at Dover street market and collect comme des garçons runway (not play) because I want to collect unique designs and concepts. I don’t care if people know the brand but the quality and the uniqueness is what I want… and even in a big city like NY I don’t see any one wearing what I wear.’y husband says it’s luxury but I don’t shop with that way of thinking. Unfortunately most people want to belong and carry that bag or tshirt to belong to a certain look or group. I hope people start buying into quality and uniqueness now instead of the big name items. Also the only true luxury the major brands make ( not all) is haute couture but haveing worked in this industry only a small group can afford to buy haute couture and it is not available to the masses… understandable because of price point
Well, this is advertising for brands that offer cheaper alternatives to Desinger products like LV. That's what we earn here. So the criticism of Dior has a purpose. It's about making the counterfeit products interesting and selling them to customers.
So it's not a real criticism of Dior, it's just selling the products from which you earn money.
Real luxury can never be cancelled. Funny how many influencers are flogging their bags at the moment.
😅Including Sophie !!
Thank you for honest, really deep, thoughtful, insightful videos! Love you Sophie!
I'm thinking about my first luxury bag, but I'm really afraid it will be poor quality, it will lose its beautiful appearance too soon and I won't be able to look after it as good as it deserves to save it.
I was wondering if you could make a video about true British brands? Maybe small niche brands. As a foreigner I'm really interested in something authentic
You’re so sweet! Thank you for the lovely feedback my friend ☺️🥰 I can certainly do a video on this. One brand that comes to mind is Launer, they’re really good xx
Sophie where is your top from? I love it! X
Hello my friend! That’s so kind of you to say, thank you! You might be amazed, since it was under £9.99 on YesStyle! You can get it in lots of colours too xx🩷🩷
Edit: I just got the link for you. It’s gone up in price to £11 xx
www.yesstyle.com/en/info.html/pid.1125397570
Hi Sophie, really enjoying these videos :) I was wondering what you think about Strathberry. Would love to get your opinion on this brand, I quite like it and it's in the affordable but good quality range. xxx
Good analysis, Sophie. Thank you!
Yes! Pre-loved I think is the best way. I just got myself for my birthday pristine Jimmy choo trainers in the box for £80+ shipping… they £595 😅🤣 shop smart really is the way 👌✨
Interesting your approval of Coach goods as Coach is 100% Chinese made. Coach decided it was too expensive to import Chinese laborers a la Dior, but simply decided to access Chines automation and sweatshops directly. But for what it is, Coach Outlet is all the same craftsmanship, if you can call it that, and the sweatshop prices are not marked up to luxury craftsman levels. If it comes from China, it comes from a sweatshop.
People in the US act like we are the only ones dealing with these financial problems. It seems to be a world problem.
Customer service and quality are the two things I judge luxury brands on. One or both of these things missing? Sorry. I'm out the door.
Well…I bought a “beach” bag at a local store today. Very good qual. handmade, instead loewe or Celine bag, which was on my list this sommer. So…..
Love love Coach. Great customer service wonderful SAs and they clean my bags for free.
Hi Sophie!!!! Super quick tonight !!! Hugs xx
Hello Jill!!xx🩷🩷
We need a huge makeover in the industry.
Thank you for the video Sophie! 👍
Always enjoy your insights ❤😊
Can I shop even if I am in the USA ?
The only place I felt appreciated each time was dior boutique, other places I don’t even want to start lol
Sophie what is your opinion on Brahmin bags? I’ve never heard you talk about this brand, thank you so much for your great videos!
All these reminds me of an old quote from Karl Lagerfeld, “If you’re cheap, nothing helps!”
"I think it's a cycle. I used to think luxury was tacky, then it became prettier, and now I find it tacky again.
I know wealthy women who carry replicas. The main reason they gave is that they just understand the value of money and don't want to spend too much money on bags... so more people choose fashionable*jklux* bags. However, they do spend a lot of money on fine jewelry and other things.
I love Coach!!
Personally I don’t think the problem is covid or low quality or sweatshops. People would still keep on buying luxury bags because they are a status symbol for middle upper class. I think people are just tired of seeing huge hauls and every influencer showing the same old bag trending at that moment. It cheapens the effort. If you see something everywhere then it is not special is it. And if you see dupes of it in every Zara and H&M boutique it makes it even worse.